evidence: By applying statistical analysis to its database of more than 5 million used vehicle transactions annually, Manheim has developed a measurement of used vehicle prices that is independent of underlying shifts in the characteristics of vehicles being sold. View the index methodology. [...] Measures of consumer sentiment showing improvement in September. The initial September reading on Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan increased 1.6% to 69.0, which was better than expected and the highest level since May. With the gain in September, the index is now up 1.6% year over year. The underlying views of both current conditions and future expectations improved. Expectations for inflation in one year declined to 2.7%, the lowest level since December 2020. Still, expectations for inflation in five years increased to 3.1%, the highest level since last November. Consumers’ views of buying conditions for vehicles improved to the best level since June 2021 as views of vehicle prices improved. The daily index of consumer sentiment from Morning Consult is also up midway through September. The index increased 0.6% in June, 1.9% in July, and 0.3% in August and is up 0.8% through Sept. 15, with the index up 8.6% year over year. The average unleaded gas price, according to AAA, has declined 3.8% month to date to $3.21 per gallon as of Sept. 15. Gas prices are down 17% year over year but up 3.2% year to date.