CPI: New Vehicles

## What this measures

The price level of new cars and trucks bought by urban consumers, as measured in the Consumer Price Index. It is an index (1982-84 = 100), seasonally adjusted, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

## Why it matters

New-vehicle prices move slowly and reflect supply, dealer incentives and tariffs on parts and finished cars. Read beside used-vehicle prices, the gap shows where pressure in the auto market sits.

## How to read it

Compare the 12-month change. Sustained increases usually follow supply shortfalls or cost shocks upstream; declines usually mean incentives are back.

## What it does not say

It is a transaction price adjusted for quality changes, not the sticker price. It does not show sales volumes or financing terms.

## Source

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, series CUSR0000SETA01 (public domain). Palanor pulls it from the FRED API nightly.