Bargains Won't Go Away

Just last month the talk was of interest rates gently rising, heralding a stronger, more resilient economy.

So you'd think those new-car dealer gimmicks - the $4,000 rebates and zero-financing deals - would go the way of multiple mortgage refinancings.

Well, think again. After several years of hype and hoopla that reached its peak a year ago, auto incentives hit a low point last month, down 7.6 % from June of 2003 - according to Power Information Network (PIN), LLC, an affiliate of market researcher J.D. Power and Associates. ...