American Car Sales Hit 15.3 Million Units Annually

[VBRonPaulFan]

this. people are buying a payment to get a new car. drive it off the lot and it depreciates 25%. if you have money to burn - not a bad deal.

yeah, in our case we'll keep this car for a very long time... probably at least 10 years. it just made more sense to get a new car with a manufacturer warranty for a little bit higher payment than to buy a 4 year old used car as-is. i think a lot of people are taking that route simply because the rates are so low and the credit is pretty easy to get.

[Zippyjuan]

One reason for the recent boost in car sales was that people had been putting off replacing their cars - they got tired of waiting and found low interest rates and dealer incentives so they finally took the plunge. But this "pent up demand" is a rolling number. It could continue now that people are out looking again.

[madengr]

There will be no recovery, that I am seeing . Employment numbers suck and will for the future .

I agree, welcome to the new economy. Corporations are doing just fine working their people harder with reduced benefits and pay, and increasing automation and worker efficiency. Those jobs (specific jobs) are not coming back.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/12/03/news...its/index.html

Just four years after the worst shock to the economy since the Great Depression, U.S. corporate profits are stronger than ever.
In the third quarter, corporate earnings were $1.75 trillion, up 18.6% from a year ago, according to last week'si gross domestic product report. That took after-tax profits to their greatest percentage of GDP in history.....

[libertariantexas]

who are buying these cars? the chinese? the chinese love european and american cars.

I'm pretty sure this is for sales in the US, from all manufacturers, American and domestic- for light vehicles (cars, light trucks, vans, SUVs).

[torchbearer]

One reason for the recent boost in car sales was that people had been putting off replacing their cars - they got tired of waiting and found low interest rates and dealer incentives so they finally took the plunge. But this "pent up demand" is a rolling number. It could continue now that people are out looking again.

care to guess how many of those car purchases on done against future purchases... ie, via debt?