Financial analysts are reporting that this quarter is likely to be a slow quarter for retailers and tyre manufacturers. According to the Deutsche Bank analysts, tyre shipments were weak in September declining 6 per cent year over year. This is said to have follow a 7 per cent decline in July and a further 1.5 per cent slip in August. As a result, the consultants are predicting that US tyre makers will experience, on average, a 5 per cent drop during the quarter. Industry players are attributing the weakness to weather in Southeastern US and the ever-increasing fuel prices, impacting on car maintenance spending. This analysis means that the bank is lowering is third quarter estimates for both Goodyear and Cooper.