P.M. BRIEFING : Big Three’s Mid-March Sales of Cars, Light Trucks Down 12.2%

Car and light-truck sales by the nation’s Big Three auto makers fell 12.2% in mid-March compared to the same time last year as the 1990 spring buying season got off to a less-than-dazzling start, the companies said today.

The auto makers used incentives and temporary plant closings earlier this year to balance production and sales levels, but consumer demand appeared to be flagging as the March and April buying season got under way.

Chrysler Corp. led the slide, with its combined car and truck sales down 26.6% during the period.

General Motors Corp. said sales of its cars and trucks were down 9.5% during the period, and Ford Motor Co.’s sales dropped 8.2%

The Big Three sold an average of 31,918 cars and trucks during March 11-20 this year, compared to a daily rate of 36,321 during the same period last year.

Car sales this year were 13.2% lower than last year and truck sales were down 10.5%. It was the third consecutive 10-day period that sales dropped compared to last year.