Consumer Credit Archives

The Gap Between Dealership Leads and Customer Needs

I love the contrast between what dealerships focus on and what customers actually need. Here’s what customers are feeling right now. If you have kids like I do, you already know: groceries, insurance, everything went up. So I’m not surprised...

April 17, 2026

Auto-Finance Risk Climbed in 2025. The Data Now Shows How Much

Consumer Credit

Auto-Finance Risk Climbed in 2025. The Data Now Shows How Much

Vehicle sales stabilized, incentives returned in pockets, and interest rates finally showed signs of easing. Yet beneath that surface calm, consumer risk continued to build. New data released by TransUnion and LendingTree makes that reality harder to ignore. According to...

January 24, 2026

Auto Delinquencies Rise for the Fifth Straight Year: Why Smarter Decisioning Matters More Than Ever

Consumer Credit

Auto Delinquencies Rise for the Fifth Straight Year: Why Smarter Decisioning Matters More Than Ever

Auto finance is entering a more complex risk environment. According to TransUnion’s latest Consumer Credit Forecast, auto loan delinquencies are projected to rise for the fifth consecutive year, with accounts 60 days or more past due expected to reach approximately...

January 10, 2026

What I Took From FICO’s Shams Blanc on Auto Finance Heading Into 2026

Automotive Finance Consumer Credit Credit Approvals Prequalification

What I Took From FICO’s Shams Blanc on Auto Finance Heading Into 2026

Author: Andre Martin Hobbs I spend my time in the operational reality of dealership performance, lender alignment, lead quality, and what actually converts through sales and F&I. So I do not listen to industry podcasts looking for “surprises.” I listen...

December 20, 2025

Amazon + Ford CPO: What This New Partnership Signals for Your Dealership

Consumer Credit Digital Retailing

Amazon + Ford CPO: What This New Partnership Signals for Your Dealership

On Monday, Ford and Amazon quietly did something that will have loud consequences for the rest of the retail auto industry: certified pre-owned Ford vehicles are now available for purchase on Amazon Autos, with customers completing most of the transaction...

November 20, 2025

Mid-September 2025: A Lesson for Dealers as Canada’s Credit Squeeze Deepens

Automotive Finance Consumer Credit

Mid-September 2025: A Lesson for Dealers as Canada’s Credit Squeeze Deepens

As we enter the fall of 2025, Canadian consumers are carrying heavier financial burdens than at any point since the last financial crisis. Inflation has cooled from its highs, but high interest rates, mortgage renewals, and record non-mortgage debt are...

September 15, 2025

Summer Heat and Loosening Auto Credit: What It Means for Canadian Car Buyers and Dealers

Consumer Credit

Summer Heat and Loosening Auto Credit: What It Means for Canadian Car Buyers and Dealers

As temperatures climb across the country, Canadian car buyers may find some relief—not just from the weather, but from improving credit conditions that could make auto financing more accessible. The latest data from Cox Automotive’s Dealertrack Credit Availability Index shows...

July 11, 2025

Auto Loan Delinquencies Hit Record High in Q1 — Canadians Struggle with Rising Vehicle Ownership Costs

Consumer Credit Latest News Repossessions

Auto Loan Delinquencies Hit Record High in Q1 — Canadians Struggle with Rising Vehicle Ownership Costs

Late payments on auto loans have hit a new high across North America in early 2025, and Canadians aren’t immune. The growing burden of vehicle ownership — from record-high insurance premiums to skyrocketing repair costs — is making it harder...

June 18, 2025

Consumer Sentiment Is Brightening, but Payment Pressures Persist

Consumer Credit

Consumer Sentiment Is Brightening, but Payment Pressures Persist

Cox Automotive says unique credit applications per dealer on Dealertrack rose 2 percent year‑over‑year last week—a sign that shoppers may be edging back toward the finance office. Yet whether customers are truly comfortable signing for a new vehicle depends on which...

May 29, 2025

Rising Consumer Debt and Auto Finance: Why Smarter Decisioning is More Critical Than Ever

Consumer Credit Latest News

Rising Consumer Debt and Auto Finance: Why Smarter Decisioning is More Critical Than Ever

As household debt in the U.S. continues to soar, the auto finance industry faces growing risks — and growing opportunities — in how it navigates consumer credit challenges. According to Experian, auto loan balances alone ballooned from $1.1 trillion in...

April 27, 2025