Independent Automotive Repair Garage Survey: October 2015

According to the survey responses collected from almost 300 independent garage owners, demand trends in the DIFM channel increased in October relative to the prior year's period. We were encouraged that the sales gains were driven by stronger traffic and ticket trends, and by the fact that operators cited that car owners continued to be more proactive regarding the maintenance of their vehicles. These positives clearly contributed to the solid sales growth in the period, as evidenced by the fact that the Current Sales Index clocked in at 55.8 (vs. 63.4 in September).