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The Toronto Star is reporting that car sale price increases have been below inflation ... but that's about to change.

One industry watcher said yesterday the trend in average price increases below inflation for cars likely will change this year as some major North American manufacturers close plants, cut output and reduce incentives.

"Consumers have had their way for the last four or five years," said analyst Dennis DesRosiers. "Manufacturers are restructuring so they won't be producing so many cars. They won't need the same incentives to unload them. It means higher prices at some point this year."