Rebounding from the declines seen over the past couple of weeks, auto loan interest rates inched up a smidge in this week's survey.

All terms for new car loans gained 2 basis points. The 60-month new-car loan is 7.11 percent, the 48-month new-car loan is 7.09 percent and the 36-month new-car loan is 7.03 percent.

The 36-month used-car loan rate rose 1 basis point to 7.79 percent and the 48-month used-car loan showed no movement, remaining at 7.84 percent. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.

Week four of the American automakers' saga in Washington finds the executives from GM, Chrysler and Ford scheduled to testify Thursday and Friday to House and Senate panels about their plans for reversing the avalanche of misfortune plaguing their companies.

An article in The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that a bill to speed the payment of $25 billion already pledged to the car companies may be their best option for salvation at the moment. However, the long-approved loan from the Energy Department originally intended to help them meet higher fuel standards won't be enough money to tide them over.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday the new amount that GM, Chrysler and Ford have requested to see them through this crisis is $34 billion. General Motors and Chrysler are the worst off. They need $11 billion just to make it through the month. Ford is requesting a $9 billion line of credit but says it may not have to tap into it.

-- Sheyna Steiner

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