Auto dealers suffering in down market

SPRINGFIELD -- Officials of the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association say the past year has been particulary rough for the state's approximately 1,000 dealerships.

Association president Peter Sander said Tuesday between 30 and 40 Illinois auto dealers have gone out of business in the past year.

Sander said business was hurt further by the credit crunch.

Decatur auto dealer Larry Grischow says not only is it hard for most people to buy a car without a loan, but the recession has some wondering if they want the financial burden of a loan.

U.S. auto sales plunged 37 percent in November to their worst level in more than 26 years. Sander said vehicle sales could make up as much as 20 percent of Illinois' sales tax revenue.