Yahoo Finance·2025-12-23 19:03Market Trends - Car buyers rushed to dealerships in the first half of the year to secure purchases before anticipated price increases due to higher tariffs [1] - Automakers provided substantial incentives to maintain sales momentum, despite rising prices [3] - Consumer interest in the auto industry declined in the second half of the year as incentive spending decreased and car prices rose [3] Sales Data - New car sales showed weakness in Q3 and continued to decline in Q4, with December's annual sales rate expected to be around 15.9 million, down from 16.8 million in December of the previous year but up from 15.6 million in November [4] - In November, the average price paid for new vehicles reached $49,814, a 1.3% increase year-over-year and only $54 higher than October's average [5] Incentives and Pricing - Dealer incentives decreased, with the average discount on cars falling to 6.7% in November from 7.9% the previous year [9] - Throughout 2025, average incentives are projected to be 7% of the final sales price [9] Consumer Behavior - Many new-car buyers are in their peak earning years and are less sensitive to price, opting for higher-end vehicles that offer desired features [10]