The economics of buying a car
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Over the past few years, the car market has gone through some changes.
It’s getting more expensive to buy a vehicle. Prices for new cars are high and so are interest rates, leaving many buyers stretching payments over six or even seven years to keep monthly costs manageable.
Used cars aren’t as affordable as they used to be and insurance and repair costs are rising too.
At the same time, the types of vehicles on the market are shifting. Electric vehicles are more common. So are SUVs.
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So, what does this all mean if you’re thinking about buying a car?
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about the economics of buying a car in 2026 — what's driving prices, how financing is changing and what buyers should know before heading to the dealership.
Guests:
Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.
Joseph Yoon is the consumer insights analyst for Edmunds, an online resource for researching and buying both used and new vehicles.
Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
