On the Dash:
- Car buying ease hit a three-year low in April.
- Fewer than half of buyers, 44%, found the vehicle they wanted on the lot.
- Tight inventory drove many buyers to visit multiple stores.
April was a tough month for new car buyers. CDK Global’s Ease of Purchase Scorecard fell to 81%, the lowest April reading in three years. The CDK report blames shrinking inventory and sinking consumer confidence for the drop.
The score dropped from 88% in March and fell well below the 87% to 90% range of previous Aprils. Fewer than half of all buyers, 44%, found the vehicle they wanted in stock. That’s down from 57% in March and four percentage points below the April 2023 low of 48%.
Inventory shortages forced buyers to work harder and make more compromises. More than a quarter purchased a vehicle in transit. Fourteen percent gave up on their first choice and bought a different vehicle already on the lot. North American domestically produced inventory sits at its lowest point since July 2023, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data.
Shoppers also visited more dealerships before completing their purchase. Just 37% completed their purchase at a single dealership, down from 43% in March.
Time at the dealership also worsened. Less than half of buyers, 43%, said the process took as long as they expected, down from 54% in March. Forty percent said it took longer than anticipated, a historical high.
Consumer confidence made things worse. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment index hit 53.3 in March 2026, the sixth-lowest reading in more than 70 years. The report cites rising gas prices tied to the conflict in Iran and inflation fears as the key issues affecting the score.
