Used Retail Vehicle Sales Accelerate in February Zainal Abidin, 22/12/2025 According to vAuto Live Market View data estimates, retail used-vehicle sales in February increased from January and were up by 13.5% month over month. A total of 1.49 million used vehicles were sold at retail – from both franchised and independent dealers – during February, up 10.7% year over year and the highest volume since March 2023. Spring fever and tax refund season boosted used retail sales through the month of February and dropped days’ supply to 44 at the beginning of March, down from a revised 53 at the beginning of February. Monthly Used-Vehicle Retail Sales Volume“Historically used retail sales peak in March or April of a given year as tax refunds inject money into the economy,” said Jeremy Robb, senior director of Economic and Industry Insights at Cox Automotive. “As the average tax refund is up 6% so far in 2024, consumers have been driven to the used retail market earlier in the year, leading to stronger used-vehicles sales in February than we have seen the last couple of years.”The retail used-vehicle sales estimates are based on observed unit changes tracked by vAuto, a Cox Automotive company specializing in inventory management. Retail used-vehicle sales this year,… Continue Reading
Americans increasingly upside down on auto loans as used car values fall Zainal Abidin, 10/12/2025 Nevada ranked the second highest auto insurance rates in the country, according to Insurify.Used car prices are starting to edge down after soaring for years after the pandemic hit, and while the trend is a much-welcome relief for buyers, it is also causing trouble for some consumers who purchased their vehicles at higher prices.Edmunds’ latest used vehicle report found a growing number of Americans are upside down on their auto loans as used prices decline, and the average number of consumers are underwater is at an all-time high.Used vehicle prices have eased from a year ago, but the average amount of consumers is upside-down on car loans hit a record high. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images / Getty Images)The report found the average transaction price (ATP) for all used vehicles declined to $28,371 in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 4.4% decrease from the same quarter the year before, when the ATP sat at $29,690.At the same time, the percentage of new vehicle sales that had a trade-in with negative equity jumped to 20.4%, up from 17.7% in 2022 and 14.9% in 2021.WAGES IN THE US ARE FALLING AT A ‘STRIKING’ PACE, INDEED … Continue Reading