This edition of the Auto Market Weekly Summary provides a deep dive on a topic introduced in Chapter 9 of the Q3 2026 Cox Automotive Sales Forecast Update.
Bottom Line Up Front
The economic news was light last week. Gas prices have continued to slowly rise, hitting $4.49 Friday morning, while diesel may have hit its ceiling for now, holding close to the all-time record set last Tuesday at $6.53. The growing concern over rising diesel prices and the knock-on economic impact has continued to raise concerns about accelerating inflation, driving Treasury yields higher, with notable gains in both the 2-year and 10-year again last week. And those fears have further increased the probability of additional rate increases through 2026 and into 2027. This week, be on the lookout for key updates on personal income and expense, as well as PCE inflation, and the jobs report for…
