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Economy in Brief
U.S. Housing Affordability Declines Further in June
The NAR Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index fell 3.6% in June...
EMU Output Makes Solid Gain in June
The European Monetary Union posted a 0.7% increase for industrial output in June...
U.S. Producer Prices Fall During July; Core Increase Weakens
The Producer Price Index for Final Demand fell 0.5% during July...
U.S. Unemployment Claims Continue on an Uptrend
Initial claims for unemployment insurance filed in the week ended August 6 rose 14,000 to 262,000...
RICS Survey Points to More U.K. Housing Sector Weakness
The survey of housing market conditions in the U.K. continues to show strength in prices versus weakness...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller January 4, 2007
In December, U.S. sales of light vehicles rose 4.4% from the prior month to 16.75M units, according to the Autodata Corporation. The rise was to the highest level since July.
For the full year of 2006, however, vehicle sales fell 2.4% to 16.55M, the lowest level since 1998.
Improved domestic car sales lifted December vehicle sales with an 11.4% (3.8% y/y) gain but for the year domestic auto sales fell 1.4% versus 2005. Sales of imported autos also were strong last month and posted a 6.1% (8.5% y/y) gain and for the year rose 8.7%.
Imported light truck sales also rose 1.9% (19.0% y/y) last month to 1.51M units and for 2006 rose 14.4%.
Domestic light truck sales slipped for the third consecutive month. The 0.5% decline to 7.14M units (-12.4% y/y) still, however, garnered 84% of the U.S. market for light trucks during 2006.
Light Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Mil. Units) | December | November | Y/Y | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 16.75 | 16.04 | -2.1% | 16.55 | 16.96 | 16.87 |
Autos | 8.09 | 7.38 | 5.3% | 7.77 | 7.65 | 7.49 |
Trucks | 8.65 | 8.66 | -8.2% | 8.78 | 9.32 | 9.37 |