The wheel business is? 1) rims 2) rims and tires 3) tires 4) something else Codell probably knows somebody.
It was posted. http://www.houston.org/blackfenders/10AW001.pdf I don't know about the validity of the stats, but definitely cool to know.
validity? http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/metro.pdf not sure how much more validity you need. it's not like they just pulled these numbers out of thin air. besides, this has been a trend for a few years now.
he's probably referring to the seasonal adjustments that are done later. However, recent trends generally increase them upward.
all the institutional investors who were hedging with commodities seem to be selling off their inventories to free up much needed capital. hence the drasctic flucuations we've been seeing. i have a few friends over at merrill trading commodities.... i bet his life is hell right now.
I don't have any contact information. He is a fairly regular poster in this Forum and his background is automotive and car insurance. Just watch for threads about insurance and car problems to find him. Perhaps somebody else on this BBS has contacts in that line of business and your interest might draw them out.