According to Comerica, the average vehicle took 23.6 weeks of median family income to purchase, over the second quarter of this year.
Although median family income went up slightly (about 2.4 percent), the average cost of a new car went up by $200 to $27,950.
While that figure might be higher than the average purchase price of $24,000 to $25,000 we’ve cited recently, the Comerica figure includes finance costs as part of the price.
Those average figures might have also been influenced by some unusual economic trends. Sales in the near-luxury and luxury segments surged, as those who could afford a vehicle took advantage of discounts and incentives, while sales continued to lag in the middle of the market as economic uncertainty persisted. Small-car sales, as well, continued to lag expectations.
The hidden story here buried under the medians and averages is that it’s quite likely, for those few families who were shopping in the middle of the market—for a mid-size sedan like the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu or crossover like the 2010 Ford Flex, for instance—it has been the season for the very affordable vehicle.
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