Lotlinx’s Len Short digs beneath the headlines to review a litany of first quarter auto retail and finance reports and distills them into four key points in his latest contribution to DealerELITE. +

U.S. and Chinese officials announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs imposed upon each other’s exports, including vehicles and parts, in a sudden de-escalation that could lead to a long-term agreement. +

The United States and the United Kingdom have agreed to a new trade deal that will lower U.S. import taxes on up to 100,000 U.K.-built vehicles per year from 25% to 10%. +

Chairman Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve will not reduce its target lending rate, holding at 4.25% to 4.5% as evolving economic and trade policies make future conditions difficult to predict. +

Citing import tariffs, Ford has informed its U.S. dealers that MSRPs will increase by up to $2,000 per vehicle, effective May 2. The first affected units are expected to be delivered in June. +

All seven manufacturers and 11 brands reporting new vehicle sales to Automotive News enjoyed year-over-year increases as Americans took advantage of incentives and rushed to beat expected price hikes. +

Protective Asset Protection’s Tim Blochowiak urges dealers to create a long-term earnings strategy that includes capital and investments, a diverse F&I portfolio, risk management and more. +

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order offering some tariff relief for automakers, preserving a 25% levy on imported vehicles but offering offsets for the cost of imported parts. +

Multiple dealers tell Automotive News that Porsche has halted U.S. shipments of new units rather than pay a 25% tariff on imported vehicles that went into effect April 3. +

DAS Technology’s Tariff Toolkit is a free marketing and communications guide for dealers seeking a competitive advantage as new tariffs on imported vehicles create a sense of confusion and urgency. +