Overview
Retail sales of used vehicles rose in October, outpacing the new-vehicle market according to Cox Automotive, as inventories tightened slightly and certified pre-owned (CPO) activity accelerated. The company cites improved credit access and the used market’s value proposition as contributors to the momentum.
Key metrics
- Used retail sales: 1.4 million vehicles in October; +3.4% month over month; +1.5% year over year.
- Days’ supply: 48 days; down 1 day from the start of October; up 1 day versus a year ago.
- CPO sales: 208,948 in October; +7.5% from September (194,341); +2.6% year over year; year to date running +2.6% versus the same period in 2024.
Market context and interpretation
After a September slowdown and stabilization, October saw higher sales, with slightly tighter inventory indicating firmer demand as the month progressed. Cox Automotive reports that used-vehicle retail sales and CPO transactions outperformed the broader new-vehicle market on a year-over-year basis; however, specific new-vehicle figures were not included in this update.
Methodology and data adjustments
- Estimates are based on observed unit changes from the vAuto Live Market View database, which tracks sales pace and volume.
- The monthly retail sales figure reflects the most recent 30-day period, aligned with the monthly inventory report; historical data were revised for comparability.
- Implied sold counts and days’ supply for 2024 were normalized to account for the CDK outage’s operational disruptions.
- Annual totals are derived from DMV registrations and other sources and are updated once per year.
Notable details
- CPO led month-to-month gains (+7.5%), signaling steady demand for late-model vehicles with manufacturer-backed assurances.
- Overall days’ supply remained near last year’s level despite higher sales, suggesting the flow of vehicles kept pace with demand.
- The report did not include pricing, incentives, or segment/region breakdowns.
Outlook
Cox Automotive plans continued monthly tracking via vAuto to monitor sales pace and inventory health through year-end, with annual registration-based updates potentially differing from high-frequency estimates.
