The Q1 2026 Haig Report® was recently referenced in an Auto Remarketing commentary piece by Brad Parker, co-founder and CEO of DealNow.com, examining how franchise dealers can scale direct vehicle acquisition from a handful of monthly deals to a hundred or more. To support the article's case that inventory tightness, not lead generation, is driving the shift toward private-party and direct buying, the piece cited Haig Report data showing franchise brands averaged just 53 days of supply in April, roughly 5.9% below the five-year average.

That figure helped anchor the article's broader point: with off-lease returns projected to climb to only about 3.2 million units in 2026 and wholesale prices staying elevated, dealers can no longer count on auctions and lease returns to keep lots stocked.

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