1422 ET - Buying a car is far more expensive than it was just a few years ago, which boosts sales for auto part retailers including O'Reilly, AutoZone, Genuine Parts and Advance Auto, say Truist analysts. Used vehicle prices are about 35% higher than 2019 levels, which, when combined with high interest rates, means that the monthly payment burden for buying a used car is up about 45% from just a few years ago. "There is still a strong incentive for consumers to repair/maintain their existing vehicle as opposed to purchasing a replacement, which continues to benefit the auto part retailers," the analysts say. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 08, 2025 14:22 ET (18:22 GMT)
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