JAPAN

Imported Vehicle Sales Jump: The Japan Automobile Importers’ Assn. said the 40.7% increase was fueled by the yen’s strength and low-interest loans. A record 32,440 imported cars, trucks and buses were sold in March, compared with 23,051 sold in the same month of last year, the association said. The March figure surpassed the previous record of 25,943 vehicles imported in March, 1990, said Yasuhiko Yokota, association spokesman. The yen has climbed about 11% against the dollar over the last year, but Yokota said the association did not monitor how much of that was passed on to consumers in lower retail prices. German autos remained the most popular, with 13,103 sold, up 26.3% from a year earlier. Imports of U.S.-made vehicles climbed 48.3% to 12,116.