SANTA MONICA, Calif. –

In what's likely good news for future used supply, shoppers are turning to leasing now more than ever. And interestingly, car buyers on average spent more than ever on new-car purchases last year. These are just a few high points from Edmunds.com's 2013 Car Shopping Trends Report.

Specifically, new-car buyers spent an average of $30,803 — an all-time high, according to the site.

And it seems shoppers are budgeting specifically for this expectation, as well.

In 2011, Edmunds.com explained that shoppers said they planned to spend an average of $30,500 for their next vehicle.

This closely mirrors the $30,803 they actually spent, on average, in 2012, the site pointed out.

And it seems buyers are also putting more emphasis on technology, as well, since on average, Edmunds.com found that new-car buyers are spending $2,200 on optional equipment for these vehicles.

This trend could be good news for dealers looking to up sell new rides with technology or extra features.

"The trends we found offer direct clues to ways that the automotive industry can move toward a more engaging car-shopping experience," says Edmunds.com president Seth Berkowitz. "In evaluating our wealth of data, we uncovered a story about car shoppers that is often surprising and counterintuitive, and at other times, reinforces critical theories held throughout the industry."

And with leasing penetration increasing at a rapid pace, results from the report show that "shoppers are turning to leases now more than ever."

"The difference between the average monthly lease payment ($433) and the average monthly finance payment ($468) is greater than at any time since Edmunds.com started keeping records," the site explained, perhaps making leasing more attractive to potential buyers.

And consumers are more loyal than ever, as well, sticking to the same brand for their next new-vehicle purchase.

The report found that about 44 percent of all trade-in vehicles last year went towards the purchase of a new car in the same brand.

"This is consistent with our 2011 survey that found that 49 percent of shoppers say they 'plan to stick with a brand that has worked in the past,'" officials said.

 

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