(May 5, 2012) ST. LOUIS — American families take an average of 4.5 trips every year. This year, it might be harder to do that, since the most recent Travel Price Index rose 3.6 percent year over year. This is primarily a result of rising gas prices, but lodging is getting more expensive, as well.

(May 4, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Incentive spending on new car sales in April hit its lowest level in almost seven years, says Edmunds.com. Edmunds  reports that the average True Cost of Incentives (TCISM) per vehicle in April was $2,071, the lowest average spend since automakers spent an average of $1,962 in October 2005.

(May 2, 2012) McLEAN, Va. — While automakers reported mixed results for U.S. new-car and light-truck sales in April, Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), highlighted several factors that are expected to boost sales over the next several months.

"Modest economic growth and declining gasoline prices, low interest rates, more leasing options and aging vehicles that need to be replaced will likely result in higher auto sales over the next several months," Taylor said.

(April 30, 2012) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — The auto insurance shopping rate has reached the lowest point in the past five years, with only 25 percent of insurance customers indicating they shopped for a new insurer in the past 12 months, down eight percentage points from 2011, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study released today.

(April 29, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) projects new-vehicle sales to reach 1,148,000 units, or a 14.0 million seasonally adjusted sales rate (SAAR), this month.  This will account for a less than 1 percent decline in volume relative to April 2011, when the industry posted sales of nearly 1,158,000. 

(April 27, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — April auto sales will continue at the strong pace set in the first quarter for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) this month of 14.4 million light vehicles, according to Edmunds.com. The surging sales performance so far this year has forced Edmunds.com to revise its 2012 auto sales forecast from 13.6 million to 14.4 million units.

(April 26, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — U.S. consumers averaged an 11 percent down payment on new car purchases in 2011, according to Edmunds.com. The average is only slightly more than half of Edmunds.com's recommended 20 percent down payment, and puts buyers at risk of immediately owing more than the car is worth.

(April 26, 2012) YONKERS, N.Y. — With its large back seat, easy access and ample cargo space, the family-friendly Honda CR-V narrowly topped the Mazda CX-5 in Consumer Reports' latest head-to-head small SUVs tests.

On paper, the redesigned CR-V and new CX-5 appear very similar. Both can accommodate five passengers, have comparable dimensions, are available with front- or all-wheel drive, and are priced about the same. They also finished very close in CR's overall road-test scores—with a 77 and a 75, respectively — just under the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester.

(April 24, 2012) BEIJING — A changing economic and regulatory environment, coupled with more products and dealerships, have led China vehicle dealers to report lower profits on 2011 operations, compared with 2010, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2012 China Dealer Attitude Study.

(April 23, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) today reports that rising used-car values are aiding new-vehicle sales.  According to Kelley Blue Book's Blue Book Market Report for April 2012, after a sluggish start to the year, gains in used-car values have accelerated in recent weeks.  Rising used-car values likely have played a role in supporting the increase in new-vehicle sales in recent months, especially sales of fuel-efficient vehicles.