Auto dealers and prospective car buyers have been wailing about tight credit. Now, new numbers explain their pain.

Californians receiving approval for new-vehicle loans in three credit categories – prime, near-prime and subprime – dropped sharply in the Jan. 1 to Sept. 20 period compared with last year, according to Bandon, Ore.-based CNW Research, one of the nation's top auto industry tracking firms.

"Even a prime customer is having a significantly harder time getting a loan approval," said Art Spinella, president of CNW.

CNW said 76.3 percent of prime auto loan applications in California were approved in the January-September stretch, down from 89.4 percent in the same time period in 2007. Borrowers in the prime category have the highest credit ratings.

Read the full story at sacbee.com.