KBB: Average New-Vehicle Prices Rise to Record High in December

IRVINE, Calif. — Average transaction prices closed the year on a strong note, rising nearly 2% in December to a record high of $36,113, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reported last week. The increase from the year-ago average was actually 1.6%, or $583. Compared to November, December’s average transaction price was up $66, or 0.2%. “Incentive ... Read More »

KBB: Flat Prices, Higher Incentive Spending Signals Headwinds for New-Car Market

Business Leaders Cautiously Optimistic About Trump, Economic, Auto Sales

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Twenty senior industry leaders expressed cautious optimism about the economy and the automotive retail industry in White Clarke Group’s annual U.S. Auto and Equipment Survey. The chief executive officers, directors, chairmen and president surveyed by the technology firm were optimistic about new-vehicle sales, which are on the decline but should remain among ... Read More »

S&P/Experian: Auto Default Rate Registers Largest Increase Since December 2011

NEW YORK — Auto loan defaults in increased nine basis points from July to August, the largest month-over-month increase since December 2011, according to the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices. Despite the drop, the auto loan default rate remains low relative to historical levels. In fact, the rate is closer to levels recorded one year ... Read More »

S&P/Experian: Auto Default Rate Registers Largest Increase Since December 2011

NEW YORK — Auto loan defaults in increased nine basis points from July to August, the largest month-over-month increase since December 2011, according to the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices. Despite the drop, the auto loan default rate remains low relative to historical levels. In fact, the rate is closer to levels recorded one year ... Read More »

Average Transaction Price Rises in January

IRVINE, Calif. — The average transaction for a new vehicle increased by $1,123, or 3.3%, from a year ago to $34,968, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates. The average, however, was down by $453, or 1.3%, from December 2016. Driving the year-over-year strength in pricing was a sales mix in favor of utility vehicles, with ... Read More »

NADA: 17.4 Million Units Possible for 2017

LOS ANGELES — Noting that the economic outlook is a little less certain than a week ago, the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Steven Szakaly called for a 17.1 million-unit year in 2017. But the NADA’s chief economist said he’ll have a better read by the end of February, beginning of March. By that time, Szakaly ... Read More »

New-Vehicle Registrations Return to Prerecession Levels

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — New-vehicle registration volumes for light-duty vehicles reached the highest point in nine years, with more than 17 million new vehicles registered within the United States between Nov. 1, 2014 and Oct. 31, 2015, according to Experian Automotive. The highest number of new registration volumes on record was 17.4 million in 2006, while ... Read More »

New-Vehicle Transaction Prices Rise More Than 1% in October

KBB Predicts 12% Increase in New-Vehicle Sales

IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book said this week it expects new-vehicle sales to increase nearly 12% year over year to a total of 1.43 million units in October, a predication that would put the seasonally adjusted annual rate at 197.9 million if realized. It would also be the highest October sales total since 2001. ... Read More »