Marketwatch iconMarketwatchOct 1, 2026

Cars have become unaffordable for many Americans. Here’s what the numbers show.

At today's prices and rates, even the average used vehicle can exceed some commonly used affordability measures.

Cars have become unaffordable for many Americans. Here’s what the numbers show.

Share this story

Send the public story page.

Useful takeaways from this story.

At today's prices and rates, even the average used vehicle can exceed some commonly used affordability measures.

Building the complete brief

The page is ready to read now. The fuller skim-friendly version will appear here automatically.

The useful part

At today's prices and rates, even the average used vehicle can exceed some commonly used affordability measures.

Keep reading in the app

Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.

Open in app