Sales of light vehicles in April managed to rise 3.7% versus March despite a meager 1.6% gain in sales of light trucks. According to Autodata Corporation total light vehicle sales rose to 17.46M.

Gasoline prices averaged a record $2.24 per gallon last month, up 25% versus a year earlier. In May, gasoline have backed off somewhat from last month's weekly high of $2.28 but the gain versus last year still is 21%.

The rise in sales of light trucks to 9.32M left the average of sales so far this year down 3.5% versus 9.06M during all of 2004. Sales of domestically made trucks rose 1.0% m/m (0.4% y/y) but sales of imported trucks jumped 5.6% (8.4% y/y).

Total auto sales rose 6.1% last month and the gain pulled the average level this year up 2.1% versus last.

Imports' share of the US market for new vehicles rose to 20.6% in April and has averaged 20.2% this year versus 19.9% in 2004.