February 14, 2012
Auto Affordability Improved in 4Q 2011, Comerica Bank Reports
DALLAS — A report by Comerica Bank indicated that the purchase and financing of an average-priced new vehicle took 23.1 weeks of median family income in the fourth quarter of 2011, the best affordability reading since the third quarter of 2009.
Consumers on average spent $1,050 less on new cars in the fourth quarter, a 4 percent drop.
"Auto affordability improved at the end of 2011, boosted by gains in personal income that were, in turn, supported by stronger job creation," said Robert Dye, chief rconomist of Comerica Bank in Dallas. "Household credit conditions also are improving, as shown by the low household financial obligations ratio, which measures total debt payments as a percentage of income. When you put those two concepts together, it means that households are increasingly willing to take on a reasonable amount of debt by purchasing an attractively priced automobile."
The report incorporates the latest data on consumer spending on light vehicles and on the terms available on auto loans. For more information, visit http://www.comerica.com.