SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell has been named the most reliable U.S. auto analyst in 2012, according to auto industry blog The Truth About Cars (TTAC). This is the second consecutive year that Caldwell has earned the top honor, which is awarded to the analyst who makes the most consistent U.S. sales forecasts each month throughout the year. According to TTAC, Caldwell beat out 18 other analysts from the top financial institutions and consulting firms across the world.

“Forecasting is, of course, a team effort, and our team includes several PhDs, statisticians and dozens of other colleagues who are working to translate the data and deliver key insights to help both shoppers and dealers improve the car buying experience,” said Caldwell. “You won’t find a harder working group of data experts anywhere else in the industry.”

In issuing its top prize, TTAC called Caldwell “a great forecaster” whose estimates were only off by an average of 12 percent throughout the year. By comparison, her next-closest competition was off by an average of almost 16 percent.

“If your life, career, wealth, or all of the above depend on forecasting the auto market with precision and reliability,” wrote TTAC Editor-in-Chief Bertel Schmitt, “then you can do no better than… Edmunds’ chief analyst Jessica Caldwell.”

Every month, Edmunds.com forecasts U.S. sales across the entire new car industry, as well as U.S. sales by the top U.S. and Japanese automakers. Edmunds.com also offers yearly forecasts, and early last year, Edmunds.com projected 14.4 million sales in 2012, which was almost dead on with the year’s final tally of nearly 14.5 million new cars. For 2013, Edmunds.com is projecting 15 million new car sales.

Exclusive data and insights from Edmunds.com’s full roster of industry experts are updated regularly in the Industry Center at http://www.edmunds.com/industry-center/.

About Edmunds.com, Inc. 
At Edmunds.com, we’re committed to helping people find the car that meets their every need. Almost 18 million visitors use our research, shopping and buying tools every month to make an easy and informed decision on their next new or used car. Whether you’re at the dealership or on the go, we’re always by your side with our five-star Edmunds.com  iPhone and iPad apps and our Edmunds.com Android App. Our comprehensive car reviews, shopping tips, photos, videos and feature stories offer a friendly and authentic approach to the automotive world. We’re based in Santa Monica, Calif., but you can connect with us from anywhere by following @Edmunds on Twitter or by becoming a fan ofEdmunds.com on Facebook.