Tax refunds help cushion the blow for car buyers

That fat tax refund consumers were hoping to put toward a new car purchase this spring might instead be gobbled up by higher prices for gas, insurance and other daily costs of living. Why it matters: Tax season has long been a tailwind for car sales, but this year’s heftier-than-average refunds are colliding with higher monthly costs that a one-time check can’t fix. It’s not just…