WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — J.D. Power and Associates
discovered the level of new-vehicle contracts lasting 72 months or longer
softened a bit last month, but the penetration still landed higher than May of
last year.

According to J.D. Power's May Industry Health Review, the
penetration of 72-month financing terms came in at 27.9 percent, which was 4.2 percent
lower than April's reading of 29.2 percent. However, the May reading ended up
6.9 percent higher than the year-ago mark of 26.1 percent.

Analysts found four vehicle segments made jumps of at least
15 percent year-over-year in connection with 72-month financing. That group
included large pickups (up 15 percent), midsize utilities (up 17 percent),
large conventional models (up 21 percent) and subcompacts (up 23 percent).

J.D. Power's report also included May leasing trends, which moved
higher both month-over-month and year-over-year.

The firm determined May's lease penetration settled at 20.9
percent, up 1.5 percent from the previous month and 9.4 percent from the same
month last year.

Analysts spotted five vehicle segments that made double-digit
leasing gains last month. Included in that bunch were compact conventional
models (up 15 percent), large pickups (up 14 percent), compact crossovers (up
28 percent), midsize crossovers (up 12 percent) and subcompacts (up 16
percent).