Episode 47: The Auto Market and Economic Indicators with Guest Bob Clapper - 11/15/2025

Guest Bob Clapper, a collector car expert, provides a pulse on the automotive market, which serves as a leading economic indicator. Clapper discusses his career shift from nearly 40 years in the retail car business to focusing on collector car sales and vintage restoration through his dealership, Clapper Motorcars. While the new car day supply is stable at an optimal 61 days, the market shows signs of slowing. Alarming trends include 29% of trade-ins having negative equity, averaging $6,900. High interest rates, reaching 7.5% in 2024, are preventing consumers from chipping away at their loan balances, contributing to this negative equity. Customer loyalty has also dropped significantly—down 25%—due to 80% of customers paying sticker price or more and being charged unexpected fees during shortages.