(April 4, 2017) Gas prices are on the move, reaching an average price of $2.33 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Today’s price is four cents more than a week ago, one cent more compared to one month ago and 27 cents more than the same date last year, according to a survey by AAA.

National gas prices have increased six of the last seven days. Although the increase in prices has been moderate, it is possible this trend could continue as refinery maintenance wraps up, more expensive summer-blend gasoline becomes available and driving demand increases this spring. 

(April 3, 2017) IRVINE, Calif. — The analysts at Kelley Blue Book kbb.com today reported the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $34,342 in March. New-car prices have increased by $587 (up 1.7 percent) from March 2016, while falling $133 (down 0.4 percent) from last month.  

"New-car prices are up yet again by just under 2 percent, which is a slightly lower increase than in the first two months of the year," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

(March 31, 2017) LONDON — Fully driverless technology will spark a transformation of personal mobility, enabling consumers to abandon costly vehicle ownership and summon shared vehicles when needed. ABI Research predicts that this will transform the vehicle interior, which car manufacturers will design to be reconfigurable per the individual needs and preferences of whoever is using the vehicle at the time.

(March 30, 2017) WABAN, Mass. — Lexus and Kia deliver the best customer experience across auto dealers, according to the 2017 Temkin Experience Ratings, an annual customer experience ranking of companies based on a survey of 10,000 U.S. consumers. Lexus took the top spot out of the 21 auto dealers included in this year's ratings, earning a score of 77% and coming in 38th place overall out of 331 companies across 20 industries.

(March 29, 2017) HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — New research released today by CDK Global, a global provider of integrated information technology and digital marketing solutions to the automotive retail and adjacent industries, reveals that all potential car buyers are not alike when it comes to language that entices them. In fact, according to the fourth edition of the company's Language of Closers series, different buyers respond better or worse to completely different words when deciding which car to buy.

(March 29, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C.  — A new AAA survey reveals that nearly a quarter of consumers believe the price at the pump is already too high. AAA projects the national average for a gallon of gasoline to increase 40 cents this summer, peaking near $2.70. To offset the increase in gas prices (about a 70 cent increase from last year at this time), more than 70 percent of consumers say they would make everyday lifestyle or driving habit changes.

(March 28, 2017) ITASCA, Ill. — A new survey from the National Safety Council found 39 percent of drivers with new safety technologies in their vehicles say sometimes their vehicles act in ways that scare or surprise them. To help educate drivers and understand new vehicle safety technologies, the Council and the University of Iowa have developed the first-of-its-kind virtual reality mobile phone app, CarTech VR360, which gives drivers a 360-degree tour of some of the safety systems so drivers have a better understanding how the technologies work.

(March 27, 2017) BOSTON — GasBuddy has announced it has named Frank Beard to the new position of analyst/evangelist of convenience store and retail trends. Beard made waves in the convenience store industry when he documented himself eating every meal at a gas station for 30 consecutive days. Not only did he avoid gaining weight, he lost six pounds and proved that the industry has evolved and expanded its offerings to include healthier food options.

(March 25, 2017) IRVINE, Calif. — New-vehicle sales are expected to increase 3 percent year-over-year to a total of 1.63 million units in March 2017, resulting in an estimated 17.4 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to Kelley Blue Book kbb.com. At 1.63 million units this month, the first quarter total comes in at 4.1 million units, up 3 percent year-over-year. 

This would be the second highest first quarter on record, surpassed only by Q1 of 2000.  This also would be the highest March sales total since 2000, when sales hit 1.66 million total units.