A Personal, Insider Opening
What a month. We started August with explosive CPI/PPI Data and ended it with the stark reality of a full-blown supply crunch. The data didn’t just shift; it performed a hairpin turn at high speed. If you felt whiplash from the headlines, you weren’t alone.
This month proved, once again, that the real story is always buried deeper in the data. Thank you for trusting me to be your guide through the noise. Here’s a no-spin breakdown of the biggest stories that truly mattered in August.
The Data Points of the Month (The August Recap)
| Metric (Based on latest July data) | Key Figure | Status / Trend |
| New Vehicle Total Inventory | 2.68 Million | Massive Decline (Down 150k) |
| New Vehicle Days’ Supply | 73 Days | Sharply Declining (Down from 80) |
| Used Vehicle Days’ Supply | 43 Days | Sharply Tightening (Down from 47) |
| Used <$15k Days’ Supply | 31 Days | Critical Shortage (Down from 32) |
| Used Car Prices (CPI MoM) | ▲ +0.5% | Reversed / Now Rising |
| Auto Parts Costs (PPI MoM) | ▲ +1.0% | Exploding Costs |
| Auto Insurance (CPI YoY) | ▲ +5.3% | Relentless Increase |
My Analysis:
What This Data Tells Us
Taken together, these numbers paint a clear and concerning picture of a market under extreme pressure. The narrative is no longer about a simple “inventory glut” or “strong sales”—it’s about The Great Squeeze.
The sharp decline in new and used vehicle supply proves that consumer demand is incredibly resilient, absorbing cars faster than the system can replenish them. However, the explosive rise in producer costs (PPI) and ownership costs (CPI) reveals that this demand is becoming increasingly unprofitable for automakers and unaffordable for consumers.
In short, August was the month this conflict came to a head. Both the industry and the car buyer are being squeezed from all sides, a trend we will be monitoring closely as we head into the fall.
A.S.M.R. Incoming Addition
Your New Safety Tool:
This month, I launched the new Recall Checker page, a free tool with direct links to every major brand to keep you and your family safe.
Link to Recall Checker page
The “On the Lot” Story
As we close out August here in Daytona, the tightening inventory we’ve been reporting on is the real deal. The best selection of new and, more importantly, quality used vehicles is right now, but it’s shrinking. If you’re in the market, this Labor Day weekend is a critical window before supply gets even tighter this fall. As a professional on the ground, my advice is simple: the deals are solid, but the best cars won’t last.
A Look Ahead:
What I’m Watching in September
Next month is all about data drops. My eyes are on four things:
- The official U.S. Total Auto Sales figures for the Month of August.
- The official August Days’ Supply report to see if this inventory crunch worsened
- The August CPI/PPI reports to see if inflation is cooling or continuing to spike
- The Consumer Credit report to check the financial health of the car buyer.
Stay tuned, but in the meantime here is everything you missed from August! Thanks again for the support.
Breaking Market Reports:
The Inventory Reversal:
We broke down the stunning report that saw new car supply plummet, signaling the end of the “glut” and the start of a potential supply crunch.
Link to ‘New Car Supply Plummets’ Article
The Great Squeeze:
Our definitive, 5-chapter analysis connecting all the dots: strong consumer demand is running headfirst into a wall of exploding producer costs, trapping the industry in the middle.
Link to ‘The Great Squeeze’ Article
The Inflation Double-Punch (CPI):
We delivered same-day analysis on the government reports that proved costs are exploding for both manufacturers (PPI) and consumers (CPI), confirming the “margin squeeze” from every angle.
Link to CPI Article
The Inflation Double-Punch (PPI):
We delivered same-day analysis on the government reports that proved costs are exploding for both manufacturers (PPI) and consumers (CPI), confirming the “margin squeeze” from every angle.
Link to PPI Article
July’s High Sales Volume:
Our initial analysis showed why the high sales numbers were masking a deeper crisis in profitability and inventory.
Link to ‘July’s High Sales’ Article
Saturday’s Selections: The Insider’s Edge
The Trade-In Exposé:
We pulled back the curtain on the “black box” of the dealership appraisal process, revealing the data-driven steps that determine your car’s true value.
Link to ‘The Black Box Revealed’ Article
The ‘Car as a Subscription’ Future:
Our first Saturday Selection exposed the industry’s push towards monthly fees for features your car already has, explaining why automakers are so desperate for this new revenue stream.
Link to ‘Car as a Subscription’ Article
Foundational Deep Dives:
The Future of Car Buying (DTC):
An analysis of the dealership model vs. the direct-to-consumer trend, including our theory on how the big players would pivot and maintain influence.
Link to ‘Future of Car Buying’ Article
The EV Supply Chain:
We went beyond the showroom to analyze the high-stakes global race for the critical minerals that power every EV.
Link to ‘EV Supply Chain’ Article
The Back-to-School Report:
Our data-driven guide for parents and students on the safest and most reliable cars, based on IIHS and reliability data.
Link to ‘Back-to-School’ Article
Recalls by the Numbers:
Our mid-year report analyzing which automakers had the highest recall-to-sales ratio.
Link to ‘Recalls’ Article
I appreciate you reading this, and encourage you to engage with me in the comments and on social media. You can get the latest automotive updates as soon as they are published by subscribing above. Thanks for the support, and until next time!
TheLoganZone 
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