AUTOS
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Early May Auto Sales Fall Slightly: Early May sales of North American-made cars and trucks fell 0.1% compared to a recession-weakened period a year ago, figures indicated. Even light trucks, which have provided the only tangible good news so far this year, were down 2%. Car sales were off 2.6%. The trade journal Automotive News said dealers in Los Angeles, suffering from the recent riots, reported sales down by as much as 50%. U.S. Big Three sales were up 1.6%, while sales of transplants--autos built in North America by foreign auto companies--were off 14.5%.
