Here's the Thing

Pump prices up three cents over a week ago



(July 21, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite another week of lackluster demand for gasoline, pump prices rose three cents since last Thursday to $3.58. The primary culprit is a higher oil price, which has recently increased to the mid-$70s per barrel.

Latest driver death rates highlight dangers of small cars and muscle cars



(July 17, 2023) American muscle cars with high horsepower and a hot rod image rank among the deadliest vehicles on the road, both for their own drivers and for people in other vehicles, recent calculations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show.

Range Rover Sport eases into third generation with 2023 model



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(July 19, 2023) Offered in four trims including the limited production First Edition model, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a slightly smaller version of the company’s flagship Range Rover full-size SUV with a slightly more economical price tag. And it still has that sophisticated British air that gives you a feeling of driving not just a fully off-road capable SUV but a piece of history as well as an urge to stop in somewhere for a cuppa and scones.

Higher cost of oil nudges pump prices up



(July 14, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. —Despite a notable cratering in gas demand in the days since the July 4th holiday, pump prices crept higher over the past week by three cents to reach $3.55. The main culprit is a higher price for oil, which moved from the upper $60s per barrel recently to the mid-$70s.

AAA says prioritize roadway safety before raising speed limits



By Andrew Gross
Manager, AAA Public Relations

(July 14, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Drivers desiring faster commutes might view a higher speed limit as a boon, but is it always the safest choice? And what about the safety needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and others?  A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that raising posted speed limits may do little to save time and increase traffic flow but could lead to more crashes, injuries, and deaths.

June new-vehicle transaction price rise smallest in four years



(July 13, 2023) ATLANTA — The average price Americans paid for a new vehicle in June was 1.6% higher than one year ago, the smallest year-over-year price increase since the start of the global pandemic. According to Kelley Blue Book the average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle in June was $48,808, a month-over-month increase of 0.3% ($150) from an upwardly revised May reading of $48,658.

General Motors solidifying its lead in U.S. sales



(July 10, 2023) General Motors is showing that the end of its nine-decade reign as the U.S. sales leader was just a one-year blip, not a groundbreaking shift in the industry's pecking order. For a second consecutive year since, GM is solidly No. 1 at the halfway point. And the automaker is widening its lead over second-place Toyota amid signs that the market is strengthening, according to Automotive News.

Subaru ups Crosstrek's off-roading capability for 2024 model



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(July 8, 2023) The Subaru Crosstrek moves into its third generation with a new trim added to 2024 models to boost its off-roading capabilities. At 9.3 inches, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness sits a little more than a half-inch higher than the 8.7-inch ground clearance for other Crosstrek trims, and the continuously variable transmission has been revised to give it a little more climbing capability.

Pump prices not affected by holiday surge



(July 7, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pump prices barely budged over the past week, despite the expected demand surge due to the July 4th holiday. AAA predicted that more than 43 million people would hit the road to celebrate the nation’s birthday. Despite the record number, the national average for a gallon of gas drifted two cents lower since last week to $3.52.

Edmunds: Car shoppers feeling the heat from scorching finance costs



Record share of consumers take on
$1,000+ monthly car payments

(July 5, 2023) SANTA MONICA, Calif. —  The cost of financing a new vehicle remains at an all-time high as car shoppers search for a new ride this summer, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. New vehicle transaction data from Edmunds reveals that the record-breaking financing figures from Q1 were unyielding in the second quarter.