With an annual inflation rate of 9.1%, volatile stock markets, record-high gas prices, and rising interest rates, there are many factors that are dampening consumer sentiment in the United States. An economic slowdown will impact everyone, and each household will feel it differently. America’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.9% in the second quarter of 2022. This common measure of economic health signals that a recession is already happening. How will a recession impact car sales? How will car buyers be affected by this recession? Will it be the same as 2008, or are things different this time around?

Every Recession is Different. What Do We Know About This One?

Diane Swonk is one of the most respected macroeconomists today, and this is what she had to say in a recent interview with PBS NewsHour. “I think the probability of recession is very high in the second half of the year and as we move into 2023. In fact, we’re forecasting what’s called a growth recession, which is when growth is not enough to hold unemployment down, and it continues to rise in 2023 to derail the inflation we have and get it back to being insignificant to most consumers.”

In 2008, the banking and lending crisis caused the housing market to collapse, dragging the whole economy down with it. 2020’s recession was brought on by COVID lockdowns. This time, it’s a combination of rapid inflation, high fuel prices, and poor consumer sentiment in a world full of conflict that is causing people to refrain from big spending, and businesses are doing the same. Less investment means less growth, and less growth means fewer jobs. Unemployment remains very low, so it remains to be seen how the job market will be impacted. Rather than taking a deep dive into the many unknowns of an economy in recession, let’s focus on how this recession will affect the auto industry.

What Happens to Auto Sales in an Economic Recession?

For most consumers, the mere mention of a recession is cause for cutting back, saving money and spending less. Discretionary spending, essentially spending by choice rather than by need, always plummets in a recession. For some (but not all) households, discretionary spending includes that shiny new car you’ve had your eye on. For others, a car is essential for work, etc. In a recession, auto sales decline significantly as many (but not all) buyers back out of the market. However, a recession in 2022 is not going to be the same for car buying as it was in 2008 and 2020. 

New vehicle sales in the U.S. fell nearly 40 percent during the ‘Great Recession’ of 2008. Gas-guzzlers were hit the worst, and hybrid powertrains made their big break. 2020’s pandemic-driven recession was the shortest in history, lasting just two months. Even then, auto sales were down 15 percent compared to 2019. 

What’s different now? New car inventory is at record lows. If you’ve seen those empty dealer lots, you’re well aware. In the 2008 recession, there was an overabundance of new car inventory, and little demand. Today, the demand for new and used vehicles far exceeds the supply of vehicles. If a recession weakens the demand for cars, it may drive prices down slightly, but it won’t be a massive decrease in car prices like we saw in 2008 and 2020. 

If you’re thinking about selling, you should decide sooner rather than later. We track used car prices weekly, and we’ve seen five weeks of declines on wholesale markets. Soon enough, lower used car prices will likely spill over to retail markets. On the other hand, those thinking of buying could save thousands of dollars by waiting a month or two. New car inventory remains very low, but there are signs that it’s improving. A recession may help to increase inventory as buyers pull back on spending. 

See the latest used car price trends and new vehicle inventory. The market is changing! 

How Will a Recession Affect Electric Vehicle Sales and Availability?

Again, demand exceeds the supply of electric vehicles, and that will cushion the effects of a recession on EV sales and prices. EV market share has hit record highs, and dealers and direct-to-consumer automakers are having no problem selling every EV they have. The severity of this recession will determine the magnitude of effects on EV sales and pricing. If we start to see car sales decline by 20% or more, we could see price reductions. Still, here’s why that’s unlikely to happen. We’re seeing the highest rates of inflation in 40 years, so automakers are paying more to build electric cars, and can’t afford to lower MSRPs. Ford executives recently admitted that inflation and the subsequent increase in cost for raw materials has eliminated the narrow profits Ford had been making on the Mustang Mach-E. They’re no longer turning a profit on their EVs. 

In summary, don’t expect an economic recession to lower EV prices unless it becomes a severe recession, and inflation eases significantly. In fact, we may see EV prices continue to rise. 

With the average electric vehicle transaction $10,000 more than the average combustion-powered vehicle, EV incentives are a big factor in deciding whether or not EVs make sense for your bottom line. Here’s the latest on federal EV incentives and the best state incentives. 

YAA’s Take

The truth is, no one knows what the economy has in store over the next few years. Inflation, fuel prices and consumer spending habits all point towards a recession. The latest GDP numbers verify that our economy is indeed retracting. Regardless of the details, it would be wise to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best, even if that means putting off the purchase of your next vehicle. If you’re thinking of selling a car, now would be the best time to do it, as used car prices are in their 5th week of declines. 

Our prediction, based on the latest data, is that an economic recession will be with us for 12+ months and that we’re already in the beginning stages of it.