Here in Ohio, the latest unemployment figures were just released. Not since 1993 have so many people been unemployed. More than 7 percent of the workforce is not working. As you look around the country, especially in the Rust Belt states, you see that is the prevailing trend. And, if people are working, they're more worried now than any time in the recent past about joining those on the unemployment rolls. In light of this news,it's no surprise that the new car business is hurting.This year we may see new car sales under 14 million,down from a high of 16 million just a couple of years ago.The latest available figures from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) show that the number of dealerships shrank from 21,200 in 2006 to 20,770 in 2007,a 2 percent drop.You can expect that this year's drop will be even worse,because the weaker dealerships either will drive themselves out of business with desperate business practices or the OEMs will deem them underperformers and
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