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US auto sales sizzle in July, helped by discounts

By WTOP Staff

DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Big discounts helped U.S. auto sales sizzle in July.

Toyota, Ford, Nissan and Chrysler all saw double-digit sales gains. General Motors’ sales were up 9 percent compared with last July, while Hyundai’s rose 1.5 percent. Of major automakers, only Honda and Volkswagen saw declines.

It was the best July for the industry since 2006. New vehicle sales rose 9 percent to 1.4 million, according to Autodata Corp.

Automakers typically offer deals in the summer to clear out inventory before cars from the new model year arrive in the fall. But July’s discounts were unusually high.

Incentives rose 8 percent — or $216 per vehicle — over last July, according to Jesse Toprak, chief analyst for the car shopping site Cars.com. Incentives averaged $2,774 per vehicle, their highest level since August 2010. Toprak said Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai were the most generous; GM and Honda spent less.

Toyota was offering zero-percent financing on a five-year loan and $1,000 cash back on the Camry sedan. Ford offered $6,000 cash back on a new Expedition SUV. And Chrysler was peddling a $99 per month, two-year lease on a Dodge Dart.

Edmunds.com said 13.5 percent of new car loans in July had zero-percent financing, the highest level since December 2010.

John Felice, Ford’s U.S. sales chief, says a slowing rate of sales growth will force automakers to get even more aggressive to steal sales away from competitors. That’s already happening with small and midsize cars. For instance, buyers are paying an average of $1,000 less for a Ford Fusion sedan than they did a year ago, Felice said.

But demand for SUVs and trucks remains strong, and so does pricing. Overall, Felice said, buyers are still paying $800 more per vehicle than they did last year. That’s because even with discounting, more people are choosing pricier SUVs and loading them up with features.

Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst at AutoTrader.com, isn’t alarmed about growing incentives. Things have changed from a decade ago, when automakers were making too many vehicles and had to use across-the-board incentives to sell them. Companies have cut back on production, she said, and they use incentives in a much more strategic way. They’re also profitable, so they can afford to give a little on price.

Based on July’s sales, J.D. Power and Associates raised its forecast for full-year U.S. sales to 16.3 million vehicles. That’s approaching the peak of 17 million set in 2005. Auto sales have led the uneven U.S. economic recovery, with sales increases of 1 million or more vehicles in each of the last four years. But that pace is slowing. U.S. sales totaled 15.6 million in 2013.

Chrysler saw the biggest gain in July, with sales up 20 percent to 140,102, led by the Ram pickup and the new Jeep Cherokee small SUV. Chrysler sold nearly 15,000 Cherokees, almost matching sales of the larger Grand Cherokee. Jeep sales rose 41 percent overall.

Toyota said its U.S. sales gained 12 percent to 215,802 on double-digit gains for the Camry and Corolla sedans and a 37 percent increase in sales of the newly redesigned RAV4.

Toyota edged out Ford, whose sales increased 10 percent to 204,373. The country’s best-selling vehicle, the Ford F-Series pickup, was up 5 percent to 63,240, while Ford’s new Transit Connect van was up 41 percent.

GM’s sales rose 9 percent to 256,160 as strong demand for its new large SUVs outweighed lingering concerns about the automaker’s recent string of recalls. Chevrolet Tahoe sales were up 51.5 percent.

Other automakers said:

— Honda’s sales fell 4 percent to 135,908. Accord sedan sales rose 11 percent. Sales in the Acura luxury division fell 18 percent, however. Acura sold out of TL and TSX sedans as it launches their replacement, the new TLX. Honda also spent less on incentives than its rivals, according to Cars.com.

— Nissan sales rose 11 percent to 121,452. Sales of the electric Leaf increased 62 percent to 3,019, a record July for the car, which went on sale in 2010.

— Hyundai sales rose 1.5 percent to 67,011. Sonata sedan sales were up 19 percent, while the Santa Fe SUV jumped 26 percent.

— Kia sales rose 7 percent to 52,309. Sales of the Sorento SUV increased 75 percent.

— Subaru sales jumped 27 percent to 45,714 on the strength of the new Forester SUV.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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