Unit sales of domestically produced cars and light duty trucks (including sport utility vehicles and mini-vans). Individual manufacturers report usually report sales on the first business day of the month. Motor vehicle sales are good indicators of trends in consumer spending. Why Investors Care
| Released on 6/1/07 For May 2007 | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Highlights
High gas prices may not be hurting consumer confidence much but they definitely affected vehicle sales in May. U.S.-made vehicles sold at a 12.2 million annual rate, down from 12.4 million in April and compared against expectations for 12.5 million. More dramatic than the total is the change in composition, as buyers moved to cars, at 5.5 vs. 5.0 million, from trucks, at 6.7 from 7.4 million. The relationship is unusual as car sales relative to truck sales have been on a long decline. Today's results are likely to lower expectations for May retail sales to be released next Friday. They may also cut into expectations for chain-store sales on Thursday.
Motor vehicle sales of manufacturers in the U.S. rose in April to a 12.4 million annual rate from 12.2 million units in March. April's sales were split between a 5.0 million rate for cars and 7.4 million for light trucks.
Motor vehicle sales Consensus Forecast for May 07: 12.5 million-unit rate
Range: 12.4 to 12.6 million-unit rate
U.S.-made vehicle sales rose in April to a 12.4 million annual rate from 12.2 million units in March. April's sales were split between a 5.0 million rate for cars and 7.4 million for light trucks.
![[Chart]](chart.gif)
|
Motor vehicles sales slowed notably in 2006 as a result of higher interest rates and a jump in gasoline prices but remained at reasonable levels due to strong income growth. Late in 2006 and in early 2007, gasoline prices were down from 2006 highs but moderating economic growth kept sales from rebounding. Truck shares hit their peak in 2005 when gasoline was cheap and remain sharply lower since gasoline prices spiked in 2006. |
| 2007 Release Schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
powered by
![[Econoday]](../../../../../../../../../images/logo.gif){kind=logo}