Are Auto Sales Predicting a Recession? A 50-Year Regression and the 2026 Signal

Vehicle sales normally weaken before recession becomes obvious elsewhere. Pattern Nexus reconstructs every U.S. recession since 1976, builds auto-only and cross-channel recession models, audits prices, financing, delinquency and buyer concentration, and explains why strong mid-2026 sales reject an immediate recession call without proving broad household strength.