Samantha Fields

Now, Garrett Nelson at CFRA Research says it's hit $50,000.

New cars have long been something that higher-income households are more likely to buy, but that has become increasingly true in the last few years.

It's not just the price of cars.

The cost of insurance and car loans have risen, too.

Stephanie Brindley at S&P Global Mobility says interest rates on car loans could come down a bit this year since the Fed has been cutting rates.

But she says this is also likely to be the year that car makers do raise prices because of tariffs.

So that relief might not go far.

I'm Samantha Fields for Marketplace.

And that rollercoaster shows no signs of stopping.

Trump had campaigned on lowering prices and consumers were optimistic that he would address the cost of living crisis.

Then Mahoney says coming into summer... Trump backed down, consumers started to feel better.

But heading into the fall and winter, consumers have become more dour again.