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What's going on in the car business.

Prices, interest rates, recalls and the conditions that decide what you can actually get approved for. Updated weekly, with a link to the original reporting every time so you can read it yourself.

Cox Automotive insights cover graphic for Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index market reporting
Prices & rates 2026-10-12

Manheim September: wholesale used prices down 1.1% — Cox cuts year-end forecast to +0.2%

Cox Automotive’s full-month September Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) printed at 205.9 — down 1.1% from August and 0.6% year over year after mix, mileage, and seasonality adjustments. Non-adjusted wholesale prices fell 1.3% month over month and 1.2% year over year as third-quarter depreciation accelerated, Cox said in its Oct. 7, 2026 release.

On the same report, Cox cut its year-end valuation outlook sharply: it now expects the Manheim index to finish 2026 up only about 0.2% year over year, down from the 2% gain forecast in July. Higher fuel costs, rising interest rates, and softer demand for large pickups and SUVs weighed on values, while EVs and compact cars held up better; wholesale days’ supply ended September at 28.

What it means for you: If you are shopping a used car or truck in Houston or East Texas, treat last month’s wholesale screenshot as stale — the full September print softened further and Cox’s year-end price outlook is nearly flat. Compare asking price, payment, and total cost on the unit in front of you. Steven at Kramer Autoplex helps buyers with good, bad, thin, or no credit shop a wide lender network; same-day standi

Read the full article Cox Automotive / Manheim
Industry desk graphic: American Honda Q3 2026 sales up 9.3%, hybrids over 106,000, key-model inventory 16–17 days
Industry news 2026-10-05

Honda Q3 sales climb — hybrids hit a record as key models run thin

American Honda reported Oct. 1 that combined Honda and Acura U.S. sales rose 9.3% in the third quarter to 392,341 vehicles, and September sales climbed 15.9% to 121,796 — the brand’s best September since 2020. Honda hybrid models set an all-time Q3 record with more than 106,000 units sold, while the CR-V posted record Q3 volume of 110,730 (+16.6%) and a record September of 34,788 (+21.9%), with CR-V hybrids making up 53% of the mix.

Those gains came despite very tight stock: American Honda said key models were sitting at only about 16–17 days of supply, and the CR-V specifically at about 17 days. Year-to-date through September, American Honda sales reached 1,149,261 vehicles (+4.7%), with Honda brand passenger cars up 16.5% YTD as buyers leaned into more affordable cars and hybrids.

What it means for you: If you are shopping Houston or East Texas for a hybrid or popular compact SUV, inventory on the hot sellers is already thin — so compare payment and total cost on what is actually on the lot, not just the brochure model. Steven Wilson at Kramer Autoplex helps buyers with good, bad, thin, or no credit shop a wide lender network; a same-day standing answer is typical, not a guarantee. Start with a q

Read the full article American Honda (Honda News)
Cox Automotive Auto Market Weekly Summary graphic — financing and rate backdrop for late September 2026
Prices & rates 2026-09-28

Treasury yields climb — auto loan rates already edging higher

Cox Automotive’s Sept. 21 Auto Market Weekly Summary reports that new-vehicle loan rates have risen about 20 basis points over the past two months, while used-vehicle rates are up about 10 basis points — after the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike since 2023, which lifted the federal funds target range to 3.75%–4.0%.

CNBC reported Sept. 24 that five- and 10-year Treasury yields had spiked to multi-decade highs. NADA chief economist Patrick Manzi noted that many auto loan rates move with those notes, so buyers shopping financing now should expect more upward pressure even if a single quarter-point Fed move alone is only a few dollars on a typical payment.

What it means for you: If you are shopping Houston or East Texas this week, treat last month’s rate screenshot as stale — compare payment and total cost across lenders, not just the first approval. Steven at Kramer Autoplex helps buyers with good, bad, thin, or no credit shop a wide lender network; same-day standing answer is typical, not guaranteed. Start with a quick name + phone/email on stevensellscars.com (~20 seco

Read the full article CNBC / Cox Automotive / NADA
Cars lined up at auction (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, Pokemonprime) — illustrative of wholesale used-vehicle market tracked by Manheim MUVVI
Prices & rates 2026-09-21

Manheim mid-September: wholesale used prices down 1%

Cox Automotive’s mid-September Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) fell to 206.2 — a 1% drop in wholesale used-vehicle prices (mix-, mileage-, and seasonality-adjusted) in the first 15 days of September versus August. The index was also down 0.4% versus September 2025, tipping the year-over-year comparison negative for the first time in 2026, Cox said on September 18, 2026.

Non-adjusted wholesale prices fell 1.1% in the first half of September and are down 1.1% year over year. Cox notes Compact Cars and EVs were the only major segments still above year-ago levels as fuel prices rose, while wholesale days’ supply drifted up to 27.8. The Fed’s first rate hike in more than three years is flagged as another demand headwind, though Cox says auto-loan rates tend to track longer-term Treasury yields more closely than the federal funds rate.

What it means for you: If you are shopping a used car or truck in Houston or East Texas, softer wholesale prints can mean more room to negotiate — but payments still follow the rate you actually get approved for. Steven at Kramer Autoplex helps buyers with good, bad, thin, or no credit shop a wide lender network; same-day answers are typical, not guaranteed. Related read: https://stevensellscars.com/blog/mid-sept-wh

Read the full article Cox Automotive / Manheim
Ford F-150 pickup truck (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, OWS Photography) — illustrative of the model line under NHTSA recall 26V578000
Recalls 2026-09-14

Ford recalling ~223,500 F-150s over fuel tank straps

NHTSA campaign 26V578000 covers certain 2023–2027 Ford F-150 pickup trucks after Ford reported that the fuel tank may be improperly secured. According to the official recall filing, a tank that comes loose can become a road hazard and raise crash risk; a fuel leak can stall the engine or increase fire risk. Reuters reported the U.S. action on September 12, 2026, citing about 223,472 vehicles.

The fix is a free dealer inspection and replacement of fuel tank straps as needed. Ford’s remedy number is 26S69. Owner notification letters are expected around September 21, 2026, and affected VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 14, 2026. Ford customer service for the recall is listed as 1-866-436-7332.

What it means for you: If you drive a late-model F-150 in Houston or East Texas, run your VIN at NHTSA.gov before you buy, sell, or trade — open recalls are free safety fixes, not a reason to skip the truck. Shopping or financing a used F-150? Steven at Kramer Autoplex can walk the recall check with you and help Houston/East Texas buyers get financed (good, bad, thin, or no credit) through a wide lender network; same-da

Read the full article Reuters / NHTSA
Cox Automotive insights graphic for August 2026 Dealertrack Credit Availability Index
Prices & rates 2026-09-14

Auto credit access highest since 2015 — but average rates climbed

Cox Automotive’s Dealertrack Credit Availability Index rose for a fourth straight month in August to 105.3 — the highest reading since November 2015. Approvals nudged up to 73.9%, and used-vehicle credit channels set series highs even as overall lending stayed selective.

Access improved mainly through deal structure, not cheaper money: loans longer than 72 months hit a record 31.3% share, negative equity rose to 57.4%, and the average contract rate climbed 9 basis points to 10.99%. Subprime share also edged up to 16.6%. Credit is easier to reach than it was a year ago; the monthly payment math is still getting harder.

What it means for you: If you are shopping Houston or East Texas this week, easier access does not mean a better rate — shop payment and total cost, not just the approval. On stevensellscars.com we start with a quick name-and-contact step (no credit check yet), then work a wide lender network for a same-day standing answer before you commit. No approval is guaranteed. More on what Texas buyers should watch on rates: htt

Read the full article Cox Automotive / Dealertrack
Cox Automotive insights cover graphic for Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index August 2026 trends
Prices & rates 2026-09-12

Manheim August Print: Wholesale Used Prices Eased Again

Cox Automotive’s September 8 release put the August Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index at 208.2 — up 0.4% from a year ago, but down 0.9% from July. That is softer than the long-term August pattern, which usually ticks higher month to month.

The same report shows older, more affordable used cars holding up better than younger stock, while retail used supply tightened to about 44 days by month-end. Pickups and SUVs remain softer year over year; compact cars and EVs look relatively stronger.

What it means for you: If you are shopping or trading a used car in Houston or East Texas this week, treat last month’s book screenshot as stale — wholesale eased again in August, and the gap between vehicle types is real. On stevensellscars.com we still start with a quick name-and-contact step (no credit check yet), then shop a wide lender network so you get a same-day standing answer on payment before you commit. Rela

Read the full article Cox Automotive / Manheim

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