Americans’ love affair with autos is still alive

  As an old runner I used to dream of 26.2 miles, but had to settle for 13.1 (now down to 6.2 in my dotage).

Here I offer some observations on what's been holding back the recovery. Two of the most important sectors in U.S. business cycle fluctuations are autos and housing. For example, in the 2007:Q4-2009:Q2 recession, real GDP fell on average at a 2.7% annual rate, with autos and housing accounting for about half of this decline all by themselves.

America's love affair with the car continues. Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) saw both new and used car sales up double digits in the third quarter. This Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) is an attractive value stock with a forward P/E of 11.4.

The automotive industry's growing love affair with Mexico was celebrated here on Saturday as Audi executives laid the foundation stone for its first assembly plant in the Americas. Volkswagen AG's premium ...

SAN JOSE CHIAPA, Mexico (Reuters) - The automotive industry's growing love affair with Mexico was celebrated here on Saturday as Audi executives laid the foundation stone for its first assembly plant in the Americas.

It’s pretty grim really. These surveys are pointing to a pretty deep recession LONDON/SINGAPORE — Eurozone factories sank deeper into recession in December as new orders tumbled, business surveys showed on Wednesday, a sharp contrast to continuing signs of revival in China. U.S. manufacturing reports, to be released later in the day, are expected to show activity in the world’s largest economy to have expanded modestly.

US and other auto manufacturers banking on increased car sales in China for 2012 have three reasons to be concerned. Blistering growth in Chinese auto sales is expected to plunge China is taking efforts to dampen foreign investment in autos Trade wars The Wall Street Journal reports