The Auto Market Brief

Consumers are still spending, unemployment remains low, and auto sales continue to outperform expectations. But a closer look at the data reveals a more complicated story. In this episode of The Auto Market Brief , Erin Keating and Jeremy Robb unpack the latest economic indicators, from consumer spending and labor participation to trade negotiations and EV lease economics, to better understand wha...

How did the industry's push toward EVs reshape product development, and what are the long-term consequences? In this special episode of The Auto Market Brief , host Erin Keating is joined by John Murphy, founder of Murphy Automotive Partners, to discuss findings from his newly released automotive product pipeline analysis and the concept he calls the "EV head fake". How EV investments disrupted th...

Gas prices are finally coming down, but how much does that actually improve the total cost of buying and owning a vehicle? In this episode of The Auto Market Brief , Erin Keating and Jeremy Robb break down the latest economic signals shaping the market, from declining fuel costs and improving sentiment to the ongoing pressures tied to inflation, interest rates, and vehicle pricing. How much lower...

How should we really think about mobility, and what does it mean for the future of transportation, ownership, and the automotive industry? In this episode of The Auto Market Brief , Erin Keating sits down with Joe George, President of Cox Automotive Mobility Solutions, for a conversation that explores the impacts of changes to mobility, from how goods move across the economy to how affordability,...

What do newly-released May sales numbers, rising hybrid demand, and shifting consumer behavior reveal about today’s auto market? In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Host and Executive Analyst Erin Keating is joined by Jeremy Robb, Cox Automotive’s Chief Economist, to break down May sales performance, evolving demand, and the latest data shaping how the market is responding to ongoing economi...

What are today’s economic signals really telling us about where the auto market is headed next? In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating is joined by Chief Economist, Jeremy Robb, to break down the latest data shaping the market, from interest rate volatility and inflation trends to consumer spending behavior and recent shifts in vehicle sales perform...

How are rising gas prices influencing what consumers want, and what they’re willing to buy next? In this bonus episode of The Auto Market Brief , Erin Keating is joined by Alex Bland, Cox Automotive's Sr. Director of Market and Customer Research and Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox Automotive's Director of Industry Insights, to uncover findings from a recent Cox Automotive consumer survey exploring h...

Pricing pressures are building across the auto market while inflation remains elevated, labor signals are mixed, and demand continues to adjust rather than retreat. In this episode of The Auto Market Brief , Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating and Chief Economist Jeremy Robb walk through the latest economic signals and explain how broader market pressure is showing up most clearly in veh...

Service departments are no longer just another revenue stream for dealers, they’re a critical inventory funnel, customer relationship engine, and profit driver. In this special episode of The Auto Market Brief , Erin Keating is joined by Alex Bland, Cox Automotive's Sr. Director of Market and Customer Research, to break down new consumer and dealer research exposing what's changed in fixed operati...

Consumer spending remains unexpectedly strong as the auto market moves through the heart of the spring selling season. In this episode of The Auto Market Brief , Erin Keating is joined by Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jeremy Robb to break down the latest retail spending data, new‑ and used‑vehicle sales performance, and what's shaping demand across the market. Consumer spending and retail sales t...

New inflation readings, geopolitical uncertainty, and lingering tariff pressure continue to cloud the economic outlook, but the auto market is proving more resilient than the headlines suggest. From inflation reading timing and consumer income dynamics to tightening used supply and disciplined OEM strategies, this episode unpacks why rising uncertainty has not yet translated into market disruption...

Car shoppers aren’t following a linear path to purchase anymore. Instead, they’re validating information across platforms, formats, and voices, reshaping how automotive content is created and consumed. In this conversation, Erin Keating is joined by Michelle Clark, Director of Editorial for Cox Automotive’s consumer brands, to explore these shifts in behavior and what it means for the future of au...

Soaring gas prices, ongoing geopolitical tension, and shifting rate expectations continue to collide with a key spring selling period for the auto market. From fuel price volatility and interest rate pressure to evolving consumer shopping behavior and industry cost complexities, this episode unpacks the dynamics shaping demand, market resilience, and decision-making across the automotive landscape...

Consumer sentiment is wavering as higher gas prices, global conflicts, and interest rate uncertainty intersect with an auto market entering the spring selling season.  From geopolitical risk and fuel costs to strengthening used EV performance and growing macro uncertainty, this episode breaks down the forces reshaping demand, pricing power, and strategy across the automotive market as the year unf...

Geopolitical tensions are on the rise, and they’re creating ripple effects across energy markets and global supply chains. So, what does that mean for the automotive industry right now?  In this special bonus episode, we break down how the conflict involving Iran could show up in the market over the near term and what auto leaders should be paying attention to in the weeks ahead: Fuel prices and c...

Policy uncertainty, inflation pressure, and productivity shifts are redefining how auto leaders compete. From GDP slowdown and Federal Reserve inflation concerns to tariffs, savings erosion, and tax refund dynamics, this episode connects the macro signals shaping automotive strategy in 2026: Macro economy, inflation, and productivity: Fresh insights from the NABE Economic Policy Conference reveal...

Jobs market momentum is slowing and automakers are under pressure. What does it all mean for sales, credit, and pricing decisions across the automotive market? From labor market weakness and rising debt levels to disciplined incentives and inventory strain, this episode breaks down the forces reshaping demand, profitability, and strategy as we get further into the first quarter of the year: Labor,...

As the auto industry closes the book on 2025, interest rates ease, consumer signals stay mixed, and automakers reveal who gained ground, and who didn’t. Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating, joined by Interim Chief Economist Jeremy Robb, unpacks sales momentum, credit trends, CES 2026 takeaways, and what it all means for navigating a more uncertain 2026. In this episode: Where interest ra...

Looking for clarity in the chaos of the automotive market? You're in the right place.  The Auto Market Brief is your fast, focused update on the trends, data, and decisions shaping the automotive market. From macroeconomic signals like inflation, GDP, and Federal Reserve policy to industry-specific factors like auto loan interest rates, pricing pressure, consumer credit, and sentiment; we help you...