In some ways, this year's car-buying season is expected to be a return to normalcy with improved inventory and stabilizing prices.
Even the Twin Cities Auto Show is back at the Minneapolis Convention Center starting Friday after two years at the State Fairgrounds because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But other aspects are far from usual. Like the average cost of a new car, now $47,680, the average monthly payment, $731, and the average annual percentage rate, 7%.
The latter is up from 4.4% a year ago in February, according to Joseph Yoon, a consumer insights analyst for Edmunds.
Still, car dealers are optimistic about this year's potential sales, especially with supply coming back.
"We think there's a lot of pent up demand out there," said Scott Lambert, president of the Greater Metropolitan Automobile Dealers Association of Minnesota, which puts on the annual auto show. "Interest rates are increasing, and that's harder on consumers. But people have been waiting to purchase a new car."
Many forecasts are predicting a single-digit percentage increase in auto sales this year after two years of depressed sales because of pandemic-related supply chain issues.
At the same time, economic uncertainty and higher interest rates will likely keep some would-be buyers on the sidelines.