AGILE AUTO ECONOMIC Inflation Accelerating: September CPI increased 0.6% month over month and 3.7% year over year. Gasoline prices jumped 9.1% in September, putting additional pressure on household budgets. Employment Slowing: September added just 29,000 jobs, with unemployment at 4.2%. Wage growth of 3% annually is trailing inflation. Consumer Spending Outpacing Income: August consumer…
AGILE AUTO MARKET UPDATE October 8, 2026 Market Overview: Q4 Begins With New Challenges and Opportunities As we enter the final quarter of 2026, the automotive market continues to demonstrate resilience despite growing economic pressures. Higher interest rates, rising fuel costs, weakening consumer confidence, and slower employment growth are creating new challenges for dealerships.…
AGILE AUTO MARKET UPDATE October 1, 2026 Economic: The U.S. economy and automotive market remain resilient despite persistent affordability pressure. Consumers are navigating higher fuel costs, elevated interest rates, and cumulative inflation while income growth struggles to keep pace with rising expenses. Yet spending—and vehicle demand—remains surprisingly durable. A major contributor is the wealth effect.…
Sponsored by Agile Auto Economics: Economy remains resilient: The Fed raised rates 25 bps but because of stronger than expected economy. 4.1% unemployment 4.4% GDP private sector Lowest layoff rates every recorded Egg prices are down ~30% YoY; down ~45% vs. 2024 highs Milk & dairy are down 5–8% YoY; down ~12% vs.…
AGILE AUTO MARKET UPDATE September 17, 2026 ECONOMY The U.S. economy continues to show resilience, but affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing the automotive consumer. The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds target range by 25 basis points this week to 3.75% to 4.00%. Importantly, the Fed continues to describe economic…
Sponsored by Agile Auto Economy 5,000 taxpayer dividends for overpayment could fund down payments for next tax season Unemployment is holding around 4.1–4.3%, indicating a balanced labor market. August job gains were strong at 162,000 and layoffs remain historically The Fed is expected to raise rates by 25 bps in September and then…
Sponsored by Agile Auto Economy Economic growth continues, although the pace has slowed. Real GDP grew at a 1.5% annualized rate in the second quarter, down from 2.1% in the first quarter. However, consumer spending and private fixed investment combined grew at a stronger 4.2% annualized pace, showing underlying demand remained healthy. BEA…
Sponsored by Agile Auto Economic Update Economy Stronger Than the Headlines, but Rates Remain a Risk Last week brought several important economic signals, highlighted by Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech. The biggest takeaway: the underlying economy appears stronger than headline GDP suggests, but that strength could keep interest rates higher for…
Sponsored by Agile Auto ECONOMIC The biggest story continues to be interest rates, inflation and pressure on the consumer. Long term Treasury yields moved sharply higher last week, with the 30-year Treasury reaching levels not seen since before the financial crisis. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded by increasing planned purchases of longer…
Sponsored by Agile Auto Economic: The Consumer Is Becoming the Story The U.S. economy continues to expand, but the underlying picture is becoming more complicated. Inflation is cooling, employment growth is weakening, consumers are showing signs of strain, and long term borrowing costs remain elevated. Inflation is improving, but the Fed is not declaring…