Mixed Manufacturing

A combination of cheap financing, longer car notes (84 months), employment growth and an old fleet culminated in sales of 17.5 million cars in 2015, breaking the record of 17.3 million set in 2000 let alone the 2009 trough of 10.4 million. Yet manufacturing has been in recession for two months! It’s because agriculture, energy, mining, and exports are all slumping due to low prices and/or a strong dollar.