4 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: May 26, 2026
This post explains that new vehicle prices are approaching a record high—driven largely by core, high-demand segments like trucks and SUVs. Increasing gas prices are adding further pressure on affordability. More importantly, it argues this isn’t a...
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3 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: May 4, 2026
This post breaks down why new car prices are climbing back toward record highs in 2026 and why this time the increases are baked into MSRPs rather...
6 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: April 30, 2026
This post examines how buyer behavior shifted in Q1 2026, where demand strengthened and softened across the market, and what those shifts signal for...
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2 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: March 25, 2026
After hitting a 20-month high, the gap between vehicles that sell and those that sit is widening—precision is how you close it. At the start of this...
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1 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: March 19, 2026
At the start of the year, Catalyst IQ predicted a tighter 2026 automotive market. Ten weeks in, the forecast is holding true, and it helps explain...
3 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: March 13, 2026
If you’re looking at your lot and thinking, “This used to be easier,” you’re not alone.
3 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: February 25, 2026
Pricing trends are widening by country of origin. At retail, those gaps are starting to matter. For decades, German and Japanese automakers have...
3 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: January 22, 2026
The automotive market didn't crash in early 2026, and it didn't recover. It reallocated. Affordability pressure reshaped buying behavior, demand...
3 min read
Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: January 14, 2026
As the automotive market closed out 2025, one thing became clear: demand didn’t disappear; it sharpened. Buyers grew more selective, more...
