The Auto Market Brief – Ep. #12

Why strong consumer spending may not tell the whole story: Consumer spending continues to rise, but much of the growth is being driven by necessities while household expenses are increasing faster than income, creating ongoing affordability pressure.

What labor market data is really signaling: Employment remains strong, but declining labor force participation raises important questions about the true strength of the workforce and where future growth will come from.

How EV lease residuals are reshaping the market: Negative equity positions are becoming a growing concern for leased EVs, prompting automakers to explore new strategies to retain customers and keep vehicles out of wholesale channels.

The discussion also covers USMCA renewal uncertainty, June sales performance, autonomous vehicle regulation, and the competitive pressures confronting global automakers.