Another shortage threatens to threaten Americans' sense of wellbeing and security.
This time it's a shortage of SUVs.
The reason? When gas prices rose, Ford closed a truck plant and began assembling smaller cars. Now there are plenty of small Fords available, but Navigators, Expeditions and premium F-series trucks are scarce on the ground.
"It's one of those things that kept Ford out of the situation where they have to get government bailout money,” says Ford dealer Bob Utter.
"(But) all of a sudden we were right in the middle of the summer selling season, and we couldn't sell trucks in Sherman, Texas and this is a big truck market."
Under the terms of recently passed federal legislation, owners of sport-utility vehicles, pickups or minivans getting 18 mpg or less could receive a voucher for $3,500 if their new truck or SUV gets at least 2 mpg more than their old vehicle, provided they have owned the newer vehicle for at least a year.
The voucher could be up to $4,500 if the mileage of the new truck or SUV is at least 5 mpg higher than the old vehicle, The Wichita Eagle reports.
Although the regulations are still being written, the government is expected to implement the program — which calls for $1 billion in funding through November of this year — by early August.
Government officials estimate about 1 million new vehicles could be purchased.