Market Insights and Outlook - Cox Automotive Inc.

Smoke on Cars Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke shares his insights on macroeconomic trends, business cycles, demand and the economic factors influencing the automotive industry today.

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Auto Market Weekly Summary 11/23/2020 Daily new COVID-19 cases continue an upward trend that is producing records. We saw more than 186,000 on Thursday. At this pace, we will likely see 200,000 today or tomorrow. Hospitalizations are also at new record highs, and daily deaths are rising. Consumer sentiment plummets: This third and bigger wave of COVID-19 is taking a toll on consumer sentiment. The index of consumer sentiment from Morning… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars Economy & Trends

Loans in Accommodation Decrease, Delinquencies Increase in October 11/20/2020 We have observed auto loan credit loosening this fall, and access to all types of auto loans continued to improve in October. However, access remains tighter than year-ago and pre-pandemic availability levels. Credit access for used vehicles sold by independent dealers improved the most in October. On a year-over-year basis, all loan types are tighter, with certified pre-owned having tightened the most while independent used has… Read Article

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Week #35 Special Edition: Economic Impact on Auto Sales with Jonathan Smoke 11/17/2020 Our Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke joins us once again from his home studio in Atlanta, GA, with the latest on the impacts of COVID-19 on the automotive industry. The latest on COVID-19’s nationwide impactContinuing jobless claims and impacts by stateConsumer sentiment in the U.S. and in the largest DMAsCox Automotive consumer survey results on shopping and service0% APR offersNew- and used-vehicle inventoryWholesale and retail prices and… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars

Introducing the Cox Automotive/Moody’s Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index 11/17/2020 Affordability has been an important issue for housing for a decade now. When I left real estate and joined Cox Automotive in early 2017, affordability was becoming a worry in the auto market as well. In my nearly four years following the auto industry, I’ve watched transaction prices climb relentlessly and just last month hit an all-time high. We’re now within reach of $40,000 being the… Read Article

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Is the Auto Retail Industry Poised For a Strong Start to 2021? – Jonathan Smoke 11/17/2020 CBT News, Nov. 17, 2020 – There have been many ups and downs throughout 2020 for the automotive industry. Dealers are coming off an incredible Q3, but will it carry over through Q4 and into the new year? Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke joined CBT News, to discuss the latest trends for retailers and what can be expected in the days ahead. After losing a little momentum… Read Article

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Auto Market Weekly Summary 11/16/2020 Daily new COVID-19 cases continue an upward trend that is producing records. The U.S. saw more than 160,000 cases last Thursday alone. At this pace, the U.S. will hit 200,000 new cases a day before Thanksgiving. Hospitalizations are also at new records. That has led state and local governments to impose restrictions on activity and gatherings. Consumer sentiment has declined in November as a result of… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars

Week #34 Special Edition: Economic Impact on Auto Sales with Jonathan Smoke 11/10/2020 Our Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke joins us once again from his home studio in Atlanta, GA, with the latest on the impacts of COVID-19 on the automotive industry. The latest on COVID-19’s nationwide impactContinuing jobless claims and impacts by stateConsumer sentiment in the U.S. and in the largest DMAsCox Automotive consumer survey results on shopping and service0% APR offersNew- and used-vehicle inventoryWholesale and retail prices and… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars

What Biden’s Narrow Victory Means for the Auto Industry 11/10/2020 Last month, and following the established projections at the time, I posted initial thoughts on how a Biden administration, supported by a blue wave of Democratic support in both the Senate and the House, would influence the auto industry and economy in the coming years. The projected blue wave never arrived and, instead, appears to be hardly more than a slow rising tide. Now, a week… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars Economy & Trends

Auto Market Weekly Summary 11/09/2020 Daily new COVID-19 cases continue an upward trend that is producing records. We saw more than 121,000 last Thursday and at this pace could see 200,000 by Thanksgiving. Hospitalizations are also at new records. The job recovery continues, but the pace is slowing. More of the remaining 10.1 million jobs lost in the pandemic are now permanent. We continue to see an elevated number of weekly… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars Economy & Trends

Fed Meeting a Non-Event as We Await Election Outcome 11/05/2020 Not much was expected from today’s Federal Reserve announcement given the yet settled outcome from the election. The key items of interest were about expectations for the economy, any new guidance on rates long term, and any new insights into their bond buying plans. Nothing new emerged from their official statement. The most significant change, if you can call it that, in the official statement was… Read Article

Market Insights Smoke on Cars Economy & Trends

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