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Houston-area dealers sold 372,898 new cars, trucks, and SUVs in the 12 months ending May ‘26, according to TexAuto Facts published by InfoNation Inc. Sales fell 2.3 percent from the same period last year, with an 11.5 percent decline in cars counteracting the very slight 0.1 percent increase in truck and SUV sales.

Year-to-date sales through May ‘26 are down 7.9 percent compared with the same period last year. Early ’25 was unusually strong, as consumers pulled purchases forward ahead of anticipated tariff-related price increases. March ’25 stands out as the strongest month on record for local vehicle sales, lifting the prior-year comparison even as sales moderated in April ‘25. Trucks and SUVs continued to dominate the market, accounting for 80.9 percent of total sales in the first five months of the year.

Overall vehicle prices increased year-over-year in May, with truck and SUV prices increasing while car prices fell:

• The average retail price for all new vehicles was $52,020, up from $51,910 in May ’25.
• The average retail price for a new truck/SUV was $54,890, up from $54,539 in May ’25.
• The average retail price for a new car was $40,878, down from $41,073 in May ’25.

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research

Clara Richardson
Research Analyst
[email protected]