P. M. BRIEFING : Big Three Car Sales Off 15.8%

Sales of cars and light trucks assembled in North America by the nation’s Big Three auto makers dropped 15.8% in mid-February from last year, the companies reported today.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler each had incentive packages in effect during the Feb. 11-20 period this year, but the rebates on Chrysler’s popular minivans that lifted January sales were missing this month.

The Big Three said they sold vehicles at an average daily rate of 29,116 during the period this year, compared with a daily average of 34,579 during the same time last year.

Car sales fell 17.1% and truck sales, which include minivans, dropped 13.6%.