Same-store sales drop in January

We publish these same-store sales reports to show both a snapshot and a trendline of retail sales activity at OPE dealerships in North America. For January 2025, the U.S. as a whole saw a 12% decrease compared to the same month last year, coming off a flat month in December. Dealers in Canada experienced a 4% decline overall 

Dealers in the Southern U.S. experienced the best month, with overall conditions flat compared to Jan. 2024, on the strength of their Parts department. Dealers in the Northeast were worst off, comparing by region, with a decline of 23% overall compared to Jan. 2024. 

The Parts department, cumulatively, was the strongest department, with just a 1% decline in the U.S. and a 1% gain in Canada. Service and wholegoods sales were off by double digits in most parts of North America, with the South hanging strong on wholegoods essentially flat.

Parts

Service

Wholegoods

Reasons for the nationwide decline? Economic uncertainty with the new presidential administration, or the hope for interest rate cuts, or inventory issues with some manufacturers being conservative with products? 

Source

Ideal Computer Systems companies have developed the largest database of dealership transactional sales, inventory position and task completion information. Drawing from more than 1,700 dealers on a nightly basis, this data warehouse is the largest, most accurate source for dealership and market year-over-year trending information in the industry.