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Economy in Brief
NABE Projects Firm Growth in 2022, as in 2021
The NABE expects 4.0% real GDP growth in 2022 following a 4.8% rise during 2021...
U.S. Construction Spending Strengthens Again in January
Building activity continues to strengthen...
Manufacturing PMIs Are Strengthening More in the Developed World
PMIs largely are improving in February...
U.S. Personal Income & Spending Surge With Stimulus Payments in January
Personal income jumped 10.0% (13.1% y/y) last month...
Chicago Business Barometer Declines Sharply in February
The ISM-Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer fell 4.3 points in February to 59.5...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller May 4, 2005
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.
Light Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Mil. Units) | April | March | Y/Y | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 17.46 | 16.85 | 5.0% | 16.88 | 16.63 | 16.81 |
Autos | 8.14 | 7.68 | 9.6% | 7.49 | 7.62 | 8.07 |
Trucks | 9.32 | 9.17 | 1.4% | 9.39 | 9.01 | 8.74 |