Don't walk into a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealership expecting the dealer to help you lease a new vehicle any time soon.  The AP reports, "Chrysler LLC said Friday its financial arm will get out of the auto leasing business by the end of the month because economic conditions have made leasing more expensive than buying, for both consumers and the company."

The Wall Street Journal explains, "A critical deadline is approaching for Chrysler LLC, which must refinance $30 billion of its lending arm's working capital by Friday."  As the company looks to approach banks about refinancing, it has decided to stop offering leases, which banks view as risky investments.  At the end of a lease, the lender is left holding onto the leased vehicle, responsible for its depreciation. This year, automakers have taken heavy losses on SUVs returned at the end of their leases, as the vehicles' resale values have plummeted.

The AP notes, "Dealers will still be able to offer leases through independent sources, but not Chrysler Financial."  So, in the future, buyers beware -- lease deals offered through Chrysler dealers aren't backed by the automaker and may vary from dealership to dealership. 

The AP reports that Chrysler will attempt to "sweeten incentives on the retail side to make up for any lost lease business. The company on Friday announced that it will expand zero percent financing for 72 months on vehicles from Ram pickup trucks to the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander and other SUVs. The offers will run through the end of the month."