I work in the auto parts business and travel all over the country visiting repair shops and talking to owners. Last summer and fall things were really slow, hardly anybody is bringing their cars in to get fixed because people claim that they just don't have the money. It's estimated that Cash for Clunkers sucked $10 Billion out of this market even though the Gov spent $2 Billion to implement it.
Plus one thing you don't hear a lot about is the decline in miles driven/fuel tax. Since the price of fuel shot up in 2008 the government has lost billions in fuel taxes because people aren't driving as much as they used to.
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