- Maximum Bob Goes Full Throttle For GM
- GM's Second Chance
- Are Diesels Better Than Hybrids?
- Residual Values Hold Up Through Bankruptcy
- GM A Step Closer To Exiting Bankruptcy
- Are Gas Prices Still Scaring Car Buyers?
- Ford Passes Toyota For #2 In The U.S.
- Studs, Duds, And The Musical Chairs In Autoland
- Going Fast. Deals And Models Harder To Find
- GM Enters Stretch Run To Exit Bankruptcy
|
CNBC'S MOST SHARED
- WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell on the Ad Recession
- Unemployed? Bored? Make Money Playing Beer Pong
- Social Networking's 'Naked' Truth
- Merrill's McCann Seen as UBS Wealth Frontrunner
- The View From Newark
- Warren Buffett's Top Three Investment Rules for the Average American
- Eric Schmidt on Government Scrutiny and Economic Recovery
- Roginsky: No More Mr. Nice Guy
- Why You Should Watch Fund Flows
- Warren Buffett's Complete Sun Valley CNBC Interview - Transcript and Video
- Eric Schmidt on Government Scrutiny and Economic Recovery
- Market 360: The Week's Best & Worst
- Geek Squad V. Gizmodo
- Brandt: Google Chrome OS in the Post-PC Age
- Other People Are Weirder Than We Are
- Bank Failures: Is The Nightmare Over? (Video)
- California Here I Go? No.
- Roginsky: No More Mr. Nice Guy
- Commercial Conundrum
- Buffett's Top 3 Investment Rules for Average Americans
- Market Insider: Earnings Loom in the Week Ahead
- White House Weighing Assistance for Small Businesses
- How Serious Is White House About Second Stimulus?
- Bulls Get Summertime Blues, But It's Hot Fun for Bears
- As Banks Fail, Strong Institutions Become More Visible
- Merrill's McCann Seen as UBS Wealth Frontrunner
- It's Not the Wealthy Who Are Leaving California: Study
- Atlantic City Takes Hit as Pennsylvania Casino Opens
RSS FEED

You know what I've heard a lot this week? Auto sales will stay weak through 2010. This has me wondering where the buyer has gone, and why some are convinced the buyer won't come around anytime soon.
Let's be honest, what started with people driving less because of high gas prices has carried over to people deciding the are reluctant to take on a monthly car payment. In this economy, I can't blame them. Doesn't matter how sweet the deal is, if you aren't comfortable with your monthly finances, you won't sign up for more debt if you can avoid it.
But when did people start to buy into the idea auto sales will stay weak for the next 2 years? When I've brought this up to people who track sales in the industry, almost everyone says it's too hard to tell what might happen beyond next year. Sounds to me like it's the fear of a struggling economy that's driving the pessimism about sales.
A few weeks ago I asked how many of you are in the market for a new or used car and how many of you are putting it off. The vast majority said they are delaying buying a car right now, but hope to in the next year.
My gut says that type of pent up demand will fuel a rebound, however modest, in auto sales by the end of 2009. I could be wrong, but then again, my guess is no less. Reliable at this point than the gloom others are currently forecasting.
_____________________________________
Click on Ticker to Track Corporate News:
- Ford Motor [F
Loading...
()
]
- General Motors [GM
Loading...
()
]
- Nissan [NSANY
Loading...
()
]
- Honda Motor [HMC
Loading...
()
]
_____________________________________
Questions? Comments?






