Auto Sales Up in Late July: A...

Auto Sales Up in Late July: A strong increase in sales of General Motors Corp.’s cars and trucks pushed domestic vehicle sales up 9.5% in late July compared to the same period last year, auto makers reported. The 10 major car and truck makers in the United States reported they sold vehicles at an average daily rate of 43,978 units during the July 21-31 period this year, compared to a rate of 40,147 during the same time last year. Car sales rose 8.4% and truck sales were up 11.4%. Big Three sales of cars alone rose a slim 0.6%, while sales of Japanese-nameplate cars built in the United States rose 59.1%. For the entire month of July, with imported cars and trucks figured in, sales were 6.2% below last year’s rate, with car sales down 8.3% and trucks off 1.8%.

VEHICLE SALES

July 21-31 % change 1990 year to year GM* 175,835 +15.8 Ford* 112,270 -4.1 Chrysler* 53,125 -7.4 Honda U.S. 23,020 +64.8 Mitsubishi U.S. 1,638 +39.4 NissanU.S.* 4,829 +7.9 Toyota U.S. 13,732 +57.0 Mazda U.S. 4,057 +100.4 Subaru U.S. 1,073 * TOTAL 593,999 -1.6

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

* No sales during period last year, so no comparison is possible.