In many ways, on both the new- and used-vehicle side of the automotive market, 2019 is starting much like 2018 did. The economy, for the most part, is humming along, and sales of cars and trucks have been solid. But like last year, analysts warn that what has gone up since the Great Recession must surely come down — at least a little.
The tepid outlook reflects macroeconomic concerns, such as the government shutdown, rising interest rates and the threat of tariffs — in addition to record-high vehicle prices.
"This year is starting to be quite interesting because there's a cloud of uncertainty as we start out" 2019, said Anil Goyal, executive vice president of operations at Black Book.
Here are six trends analysts are seeing: