INDUSTRY-BY-INDUSTRY OUTLOOK : The Year in Preview

California came several years late to the nation’s economic recovery party, but the state should be celebrating all through 1997.

Here is what key industries will be up to:

AUTOS: It should be another good year for the auto industry, with sales again in the 15-million-vehicle range. Look for sales of light trucks--minivans, sport-utility vehicles and pickups--to continue growing at the expense of passenger cars. The Japanese, especially Toyota and Honda, are likely to gain market share against the Big Three on the strength of favorable currency trends, lower prices and strong product offerings.