P.M. BRIEFING : Big 3 Car, Truck Sales Off 4.8%

The early October sales rate for cars and trucks made by the Big Three auto makers in North America dropped 4.8% from the same period last year, when sales began a three-month slump, the auto makers said today.

Year-to-year comparisons were clouded by wild swings in the September and October sales rates last year, prompted mainly by incentives and announcements of price increases.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler said their domestically made cars and light trucks sold at an average daily rate of 27,620 from Oct. 1 to 10 this year, compared to a daily rate of 29,016 during the same time last year.

Car and truck sales fell 1.5% and 10.7% respectively.