By the Numbers: Driving up costs

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Sticker shock has Americans driving their cars longer—but mechanics can’t keep up

Illustration by Krieg Barrie

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18%

The approximate increase in auto repair prices from January 2022 through June 2023 according to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

12.5 years

The average age of a passenger car traveling America’s roadways according to S&P Global Mobility. The record high age is mixed news for car repair shops that are enjoying a boom in business but are struggling to find enough mechanics to turn a wrench.

4.8 days

The average wait time to get an appointment with a mechanic for mass market vehicles, up 1.3 days since 2021 according to a report issued this year by J.D. Power.

48,000

The number of graduates from auto technician programs each year, despite an annual U.S. industry demand for 258,000 according to the TechForce Foundation.

Business & Economy