February 2018

Gasoline demand dips, prices continue to drop

(February 28, 2018) As the month draws to a close, the national gas price average of $2.52 is the cheapest pump price seen in February. The national gas price average for February is $2.56, which is 29-cents more expensive than the $2.28 average of February 2017. On the week, gas prices decreased 1 cent, according to AAA.

“Gas prices continue to trend cheaper for the majority of motorists as demand for consumer gasoline declines for a second week,” said Jeanette Casselano.

Edmunds forecasts auto sales to continue downward slide in February

(February 23, 2018) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds forecasts that 1,273,428 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in February for an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.8 million. This reflects a 10.8 percent increase in sales from January but a 4.1 percent decrease from February 2017.

"This year is going to be a bitter but necessary pill for the auto industry to swallow," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds executive director of industry analysis.

Top certified pre-owned deals for February, according to Autotrader

(February 22, 2018) ATLANTA — Few things are as sweet as sharing Valentine's Day with loved ones, but the red-hot incentives being offered this month come pretty close, according to Autotrader. For car shoppers seeking the dependability of a new car, but looking to stick to a lower budget, certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles can be the perfect match.

Kelley Blue Book adds CPO Price Advisor to product suite

(February 21, 2018) IRVINE, Calif. —  Kelley Blue Book has announced it will add to its Price Advisor product suite with the launch of an all-new CPO Price Advisor, which will further drive transparency in the certified pre-owned (CPO) selling and buying marketplace. 

Now available on KBB.com and on Participating Dealer websites, Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor for CPO is based on recent certified vehicle sales transactions, updated weekly, and is adjusted for local market conditions and seasonal trends.

Business traveler survey — Balancing work with personal time

(February 20, 2018) ST. LOUIS — The secret is out — frequent business travelers are taking time for fun and personal activities during their business trips. And, although most feel their break from work is well-deserved, many business travelers avoid telling their managers, co-workers and even spouses.

New research from the first National Car Rental State of Business Travel Survey shows frequent business travelers are displaying a healthy habit of managing work/life balance on the road — but many are keeping it to themselves.

Gas price averages trending cheaper on the week nationwide

(February 20, 2018) The national gas price average has been steadily decreasing for nearly two weeks dropping from the year-to-date high of $2.61 (on Feb. 5) to today’s national average of $2.53. Motorists in nearly every state are paying less on the week with Midwest and Southern states seeing the largest price drops at the pump. Hawaii (+2 cents) and Indiana (+1 cent) were the only states to see increases, according to statistics compiled by AAA.

New GasBuddy feature provides drivers with vehicle recall notifications

(February 16, 2018) BOSTON — Vehicle recalls in the United States increased 222 percent from 2012 to 2016. Despite tens of millions of vehicle recalls issued every year, more than 25 percent of drivers don’t get their cars repaired, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.

That’s why GasBuddy, a smartphone app connecting more than 70 million drivers with the Perfect Pit Stop, has announced the new Car Profile feature, providing drivers the easiest way to track and be notified of important vehicle recall information.

Buick, Lexus lead 2018 J.D. Power dependability study

(February 15, 2018) Buick has reclaimed the title as the most dependable mass-market brand after three years of vehicle ownership while luxury marque Lexus again topped the industry, according to the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.

Buick led the mass-market segment with 116 reported problems per 100 vehicles, 10 fewer than last year. That was good for third place overall and its third mass-market win in four years. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus topped the chart as the most dependable brand for the seventh year in a row, followed by Porsche.

Autolist survey: Car shoppers unwilling to wait for Tesla Model 3 delays

(February 15, 2018) A majority of car buyers would tolerate little to no delay in the delivery of their Tesla Model 3, according to a new survey by Autolist.

Last week, Tesla announced that its losses in the fourth quarter of 2017 were the highest in its history. The automaker also made it clear that it was facing additional delays in getting Model 3 production up to its weekly target of 5,000 vehicles.

Four ways the nation's mood influences the car you drive

(February 14, 2018) In the mood for something a little sportier the next time you buy a car? A lot of other people may be also. It seems that as goes the nation’s social mood, so go the types of vehicles we demand from the automobile industry. And at least for the moment, that mood is optimistic, as evidenced by the surging stock market.