Number of cars sold in the United States each year: 58 million

Number of cars sold in Mexico each year: 1 million

Number of new cars sold in 2003 in the United States: 16 million

Number of used cars sold in 2003 in the United States: 42.5 million

Number of used cars sold by non-franchised dealers: 15.5 million

Number of used cars sold by franchised dealers: 14 million

Number of used cars sold in casual or personal sales: 12.5 million

Rank of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Taurus in sales for Sarasota and Manatee counties as of May 2004: 1, 2 and 3

Rank of the Ford F Series pick-up, the Dodge Ram pick-up and the Chevy C pick-up in sales for Sarasota/Manatee counties: 1, 2 and 3

Percentage of car sales made to buyers with less than perfect credit: 52 percent

Amount of money that changed hands in 2003 through dealers selling to clients with less than perfect credit: $120 billion.

Number of years the average consumer holds on to a car before trading it in: 2.8

Percentage of car buyers who research online before car shopping: 32

Percentage of car buyers who buy a service contract when they purchase their car: 53

Average amount a consumer spends on a vehicle: $18,000

Amount auto sales contribute to the national economy: $1 trillion.

Source: Chris Leedom of Leedom & Associates