U.S. Car Sales Fall: Sales of U.S....

U.S. Car Sales Fall: Sales of U.S. built cars fell 2.5% in late October, reflecting continued weakness from the effects of large summer incentive programs, 1990 model price hikes and a slowing economy, analysts said. Combined sales of domestically built cars and light trucks by the nation’s Big Three auto makers fell 5.9% in late October compared to last year, a fall not nearly as steep as earlier in the month, the companies said. Sales at Ford Motor Co. showed the biggest drop for the Oct. 21-31 period, declining 11.9%. Overall car sales for the month of October were 524,166, off 11.1% from 589,815 in the same period in 1988.

AUTO SALES

Oct. 21-31 % GM 91,869 - 3.1 Ford 54,510 -11.9 Chrysler 28,550 - 6.5 Honda U.S. 15,605 + 8.7 Mitsubishi U.S. 1,548 * Nissan U.S. 3,773 +46.6 Toyota U.S. 7,809 +98.3 Mazda U.S. 1,129 -39.1 TOTAL 204,793 -2.5

There were 9 selling days in the selling period this year and last year.

*No comparison possible.