US Car Dealers View Market as Weak Amid Concerns Over Economy, Political Climate

Auto dealers in the United States continue to view the market as weak, with concerns about declining profitability, the political climate, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, according to automotive services provider Cox Automotive. The overall score in the Q3 2024 Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index dropped from 42 to 40 points, signaling a weakened market sentiment, Cox said in a Sept. 6 statement. Independent dealers “expressed a very negative outlook” compared to the “slightly optimistic” outlook of franchise dealers, with their sentiment hitting the second-lowest score in the survey’s history. Independent dealers held a “particularly pessimistic view on almost every aspect” of the auto market, the statement said....