Auto dealership sales are down.

No surprise there ...
According to CNW's Marketing Research, nearly 1,000 dealerships closed their doors in September. Art Spinella, CNW's Vice President, said September 2008 was the worst month for independent closures since CNW began keeping track of records in 1984.

California dealers had more than 250 independents say goodbye, followed by New York, Florida and Michigan. Each have had more than 75 dealers leave the business.

The beginning of October has already shown a near 14 percent slide in sales. Some franchise dealerships are better prepared to handle the slow down because they have financial institutions willing to carry used-auto paper, something independents have been struggling with most of 2008.

Spinella said as long as buy here pay here dealers have funding to be able to put money on the street their should be plenty of customers. Tom Kantos, chief economist with ADESA Corp., said that the rapid decline fuel prices, well under $2 dollars a gallon in a number of states, has improved the value of SUV's. SUV values are still down year over year but continue to be selling more quickly and commanding better prices.

Howard Polirer, director of industry relations for AutoTrader.com, said dealers need to accept the reality that business has changed dramatically and when sales come back it may be an entirely new business model.