Sales of new cars are a good bellwether for how the economy is affecting the average consumer — and the indication is that a significant number of people are too concerned about their financial situation to buy a new vehicle this year.
In addition, sales of collector and exotic cars may be an equally good sign of how the well-heeled among us are doing.
Last month’s sixth annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in West Palm Beach, Fla., showed there’s still plenty of money being tossed about by people who want to buy cars they coveted as kids.