The Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch™ Reports are a quarterly barometer of which brands are hot and which ones are not. Consumers who are shopping on KBB.com, who are in the market for a new vehicle within a year, are surveyed to find out what is driving their opinions and buying decisions. This study provides … Continued
COVID cases increased again last week and exceeded levels seen at the same time last year. However, severity indicators, like fatalities and ICU admissions, remain at or near pandemic lows. COVID cases combined with the war in Ukraine, rising inflation and a volatile stock market are negatively impacting consumer sentiment. Retail sales increased solidly, indicating … Continued
Service revenue increased at U.S. franchised dealerships in April on fewer repair order tickets, according to the latest Cox Automotive analysis of Xtime metrics. The Repair Order Volume Index decreased month over month in April. Meanwhile, the Repair Order Revenue Index increased month over month to the highest level for the index, dating back to … Continued
Revised, June 16, 2022 – A spring sales bounce that has been late coming and more spread out than expected has now led to used-vehicle supply holding largely steady in April, according to the Cox Automotive analysis of vAuto Available Inventory data. The average retail list price, however, resumed its upward trajectory, surpassing the $28,000 … Continued
Revised, June 16, 2022 – New-vehicle inventory barely budged in April due to continued supply chain disruptions, according to a Cox Automotive analysis of vAuto Available Inventory data. Inventory of imports and small, fuel-efficient models were among the lowest due to strong demand driven in part by rising gas prices. Prices in April rose as … Continued
Wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis) increased 0.7% in the first 15 days of May compared to the full month of April. This brought the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to 222.7, which was up 9.7% from May 2021. The non-adjusted price change in the first half of May was … Continued
New-vehicle affordability declined slightly in April despite revised data indicating stronger income gains, according to the latest Cox Automotive/Moody’s Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index. The inputs to the index again moved in differing directions in the month. The number of median weeks of income needed to purchase the average new vehicle in April increased to 40.6 … Continued
COVID cases increased again as Omicron subvariants push case numbers up to levels last seen in mid-February. Measures of consumer sentiment have shown declines so far in May, as inflation and stock market declines weigh on consumer attitudes. Inflation decelerated slightly in April, but rent and services saw gains. Consumer credit grew at an accelerated … Continued
South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor, which includes the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, posted a better-than-expected rise in its first-quarter profit as favorable exchange rates more than made up for higher raw material costs and a drop in vehicles sales caused by the global computer chip shortage. The U.S. is one of the most important … Continued
Surging gas prices in March led one-in-four shoppers to consider electrified vehicles, particularly EVs and hybrids, a trend likely to accelerate as new models hit showrooms soon, according to the Q1 2022 Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch™ report. The Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch report is a consumer perception survey that also weaves in consumer … Continued