December’s 6% year-over-year rise in the daily selling rate capped off a fourth quarter rebound after demand dropped in Q2 and Q3. The return to growth was aided by rising inventory, increased retail incentives and lower interest rates, while pull-ahead volume of electric vehicles from expectations of cuts in government incentives could have played a part. Also, improved consumer confidence in October and November likely helped, while a sudden downturn in confidence in December – as well as an above-normal drain to inventory during the month - might explain some reported softening in demand at the end of the period compared with pre-holiday trajectories.

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