CINCINNATI — With unemployment rates high, the job market remains unstable, and it
seems to be affecting the auto industry, as well. Although consumers
are not so much concerned with increased car payments, their worry lies
in the length of the loans, according to Swapalease.com.

According to a recent study from the site, 43 percent of drivers say
they can "increase their monthly car payment as much as $150 because of
their job status. However, only 30 percent of those polled are
comfortable with a car payment commitment beyond two years because of
long-term employment confidence."

In other words, it appears consumers are worried they might not have steady jobs in a few years time.

And the latest U.S. Jobs data also showed "mixed signals," the company
reported — 114,000 jobs added on the positive yet continued shrinking of
the overall labor force.

"In terms of the jobs picture, a
glimpse into the average driver offers as many mixed signals as the
employment data itself," said Scot Hall, executive vice president of
Swapalease.com.

"On one hand we're finding people are more
willing to increase their spending on a car payment, but overall
confidence in jobs is still less than stellar for many," he added.

The company offered a few more U.S. job statistics snapshots:

Per survey results, 25 percent of drivers polled say they are extremely
confident in the current jobs picture, compared with 35 percent who say
they are concerned.

Moreover, "while a higher number of people
(22 percent versus 18 percent) say their credit score is better today
because of their employment situation, 55 percent believe their credit
is stuck at similar levels compared with the same time last year," the
company continued.

But a recent analysis released by Comerica
Bank explained that although credit is improving, "fundamental
improvement to household quality of life is driven by real disposable
income growth, which comes largely through job and wage gains."

"As of August, real disposable income for the U.S. was 1.8 percent above its year ago level," the most recent issue of Comerica Economic Weekly shared. "Three things potentally threaten that gain: accelerating inflation, large tax increases and weak labor markets."

Comerica also touched on the expectations for job growth the rest of the fall.

"Expectations for job growth in October should remain modest. The
unemployment rate dipped to 7.8 percent in September, down from 8.1
percent. This was driven by a huge 873,000 job gain in the household
survey for September, following declines of 119,000 jobs in August and
195,000 jobs in July,"  Comerica explained, noting the fall season
brought about a bit of a bright spot in the job market.