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MotorJudge
Market Pulse · May 23, 2026

Where the auto market sits today.

Refreshed every weekday morning from public data: Federal Reserve consumer credit, AAA fuel, Manheim used vehicle index, and active manufacturer offers. We do not have a crystal ball, but we do have a fresh snapshot.

Market Pulse · Updated May 23, 2026
See the full dashboard
Refi APR
6.2%
Best lease deal this week
$249/mo
2026 Honda Civic LX · 36mo / 12k mi
Used car index (MoM)
-0.8%
Avg gas (US regular)
$3.42
Deeper data

What buyers are actually paying

Avg new loan APR
7.8%
Good credit, new vehicle
Avg transaction price
48,900
Across all new vehicles
Avg down payment
6,800
Cash + trade equity
Top selling model
2026 Ford F-150
Highest US sales this month
EV market share
11.2%
of new car sales

What the numbers mean

A drop in average refi APR usually means lenders are competing harder for new originations. If you took a loan when rates were peaking, you can probably do better now.

A drop in the used car index means depreciation is accelerating. If you have been thinking about selling your car, that is the kind of move that turns thinking into action.

A flat or rising gas number changes the math on commuter vehicles versus larger ones. Worth pairing with our Lease vs Buy and Sell or Keep tools.

Avg loan APR, transaction price, and down payment reflect industry-wide averages for new vehicles. Top selling model is the highest-volume US nameplate this month. EV market share reflects battery-electric vehicles as a percent of total new car sales.