Auto Things Used Cars
Weekly Update
Economics
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Fed held interest rates steady with a unanimous vote
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2026 inflation forecast increased to 3.6%
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Housing starts fell 15.4% month over month
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Auto retail sales rebounded in May
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June used retail sales is holding steady despite financing and affordability challenges.
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National gas prices have fallen roughly $0.65 per gallon since their May peak
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Dealer sentiment improved in Q2 2026.
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Cox Auto Adjusted 2026 Forecast
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New vehicle sales are expected to soften in 2026,
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Leasing continues to decline projected down 7%
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Used vehicle demand remains resilient. essentially flat year over year
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Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales are expected to decline (-1.7%).
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Wholesale used vehicle values are projected to finish 2026 2% higher than 2025
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Summary
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Focus on used vehicles. Be selective on inventory, avoid slower-turning inventory.
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Expect tighter used vehicle supply.
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Protect inventory turns to control expenses
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Watch consumer affordability as it shifts quarter to quarter
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Use YOUR data first then market data to guide acquisition and pricing strategies
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John Ellis, Founder & CEO Agile Auto
John Ellis is a nationally recognized automotive retail executive with more than 25 years of experience in dealership operations and automotive technology. Throughout his career, he has held executive positions with ADP, Gulf States Toyota, and Cox Automotive, and now serves as Founder and CEO of Agile Auto, a used vehicle operations intelligence platform.