The decline in employment improved compared to the third quarter and wages improved substantially. An analysis of U.S. auto body repair facilities, employment and wages by state shows that collision repair employment continued to improve in the fourth quarter but remains below 2019 levels. Data from the Bureau of Labor statistics illustrates the dramatic impact […]
Gas Consumption Exceeds 2019 Levels for First Time Since Start of Pandemic
Demand for gasoline on weekly basis was at its highest level for the week ending May 21 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Interstate travel still down overall. The recovery in gasoline consumption and traffic volume continued in May as more states eliminate pandemic travel and business restrictions and vaccination rates increase. […]
Traffic Volume in March Up 19% Compared to Last Year
March levels at best since start of pandemic compared to 2019. The improvement in traffic volume compared to last year was dramatic compared to the first month impacted by the pandemic. Travel volume in March increased substantially on a year-over-year basis and the decrease compared to 2019 levels was the smallest since the start of […]
Collision Claims Down Over 20% in 2020 Compared to Previous Year
While improving versus the over 35% decline in second quarter, the fourth quarter was still down substantially. Earned car years grew at highest rate since 2017. The latest available Fast Track Monitoring system data from the Independent Statistical Service Inc. (ISS) showed that the historic impact of coronavirus lockdowns on private passenger collision claims continued […]
Improvements in Gasoline Consumption Slowed in Late April
Demand for gasoline on weekly basis in top 10 since start of pandemic for most of April. Interstate travel was down in mid-April after exceeding pre-pandemic levels for one week. 13 of top 15 metro areas have above average percentage of people working from home. The recovery in traffic volume remains near the best levels […]
U.S. Collision Repair Length of Rental Stable in First Quarter
Latest data from Enterprise-Rent-A-Car shows slight uptick in rental times in the first quarter compared to last year. Overall U.S. LOR for Q1 2021 remained stable compared to Q1 2020, with an increase of only 0.1 days, according to the latest report from Enterprise-Rent-A-Car. Since COVID’s impact on 2020 LOR was most evident in April’s […]
Collision Repair Facilities Reporting Improved Sales in March as Pandemic Impact Eases
Unfortunately, nearly half of collision repair shops continue reporting lower sales compared to last year. The shop size weighted sales declined at lowest level since start of pandemic. The largest percentage of collision repair facility operators reported higher sales compared to last year in March since the start of the pandemic. It is important to […]
U.S. Auto Body Repair Prices Up 4.5% in March Compared to 2020
For the 32nd straight month, the increase in body repair prices was above the rate of inflation. Auto insurance prices continue down in wake of pandemic refunds and discounts. The most recent government figures on inflation through March 2021 show the rate of growth of auto body repair prices continues above the rate of general […]
Gasoline Consumption Improves as Travel Gathers Steam Across the U.S.
Demand for gasoline at second highest level since start of the pandemic. Interstate travel at best level since start of pandemic. The recovery in traffic volume has continued in April as pandemic restrictions ease and vaccination rates increase. The four-week moving average of gas consumption has increased for seven weeks in a row starting in […]
NAIC Reports Lower Auto Insurance Premiums Earned Down Less than Half a Percent in 2020
Pandemic rebates and discounts impacted total spending on auto insurance. Top 10 Auto insurers continued to grow market share during 2020 in the U.S. Total direct premiums earned on private passenger auto insurance were $250 billion in the U.S. in 2020, down about $1 billion, or 0.39% from $251 billion in 2019. As a result […]