U.S. new vehicle sales to fall in December as high prices deter buyers

U.S. total new vehicle retail sales are expected to decline in December as high vehicle prices and rising borrowing costs pushed consumers to cut back spending, a report from industry consultants J.D. Power-LMC Automotive showed on Wednesday.

“Elevated pricing, coupled with repeated interest rate increases, continue to inflate monthly loan payments,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power.

The average monthly payment for a new vehicle loan in December was $718, up $47 from a year ago, per the report.

Retail sales of new vehicles this month are expected to touch over 1.04 million units, down 2.8% from last year.

Total new vehicle sales in December, including retail and non-retail transactions, are likely to be over 1.25 million units, a 5.3% increase from last year, according to the report.

The consultants expect retail sales in the United States to increase next year, with improving inventory levels.

“Even with the probability of an economic downturn, pent-up consumer demand from the past two years will keep inventory levels relatively low,” King said.

Globally, vehicle sales are projected to end at 80.7 million units this year, a 1% contraction from 2021.

They project global sales to grow 6% to 85.7 million units in 2023, even as markets grapple with the prospects of an economic recession.

“We expect 2023 to carry a high level of risk and uncertainty as several markets could be dealing with a recession,” Jeff Schuster, president, global forecasts, LMC Automotive said.

(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil)

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