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Economy in Brief
U.S. Housing Affordability Fell Back in February, but Still in Recent Range
The NAR U.S. Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index decreased 7.6% (-1.4% y/y) in February to 173.1...
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Car registrations are not going to be the only statistic that bears these dual and seemingly dueling characteristics...
U.S. Retail Sales Soar in March
Total retail sales including food service and drinking establishments increased 9.8% (27.7% y/y) during March...
U.S. Industrial Production Rebounded in March
Industrial production rebounded in March, rising 1.4% m/m (+1.0% y/y)...
U.S. Home Builder Index Edges Higher in April
The NAHB-Wells Fargo Composite Housing Market Index rose 1.2% to 83 during April...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller February 1, 2019
Sales of light vehicles fell 4.8% (-2.8% y/y) during January to 16.70 million units (SAAR), the lowest level since August 2017.
A 7.9% decline (-1.9% y/y) in light truck sales to 11.24 million units led the decline after a 0.7% gain in the prior month. Sales of domestically-produced light trucks fell 8.2% (-3.4% y/y) to 8.96 million units following a 0.5% rise in December. Sales of imported light trucks declined 6.6% (+4.7% y/y) to 2.28 million units after a 1.2% rise.
Trucks’ share of the U.S. vehicle market declined to 67.3%, the lowest level since February of last year.
Passenger car sales improved 2.1% (-4.8% y/y) last month to 5.46 million units following declines during the prior two months. Sales of domestically-made cars improved 0.5% (-2.6% y/y) to 4.01 million units. Meanwhile, sales of imported passenger cars jumped 6.6% (-10.4% y/y) to 1.45 million units after three months of sharp decline.
Imports’ share of the U.S. vehicle market rose last month to 22.3%, the highest level in four months. Imports share of the passenger car market increased to 26.6%, but remained below the 28.6% high last April. Imports share of the light truck market improved to 20.3%.
U.S. vehicle sales figures can be found in Haver's USECON database. Additional detail by manufacturer is in the INDUSTRY database.
U.S. Light Weight Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Million Units) |
Jan | Dec | Nov | Jan Y/Y % | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 16.70 | 17.55 | 17.49 | -2.8 | 17.21 | 17.23 | 17.55 |
Autos | 5.46 | 5.35 | 5.37 | -4.8 | 5.48 | 6.33 | 7.10 |
Domestic | 4.01 | 3.99 | 3.95 | -2.6 | 3.99 | 4.58 | 5.20 |
Imported | 1.45 | 1.36 | 1.43 | -10.4 | 1.49 | 1.75 | 1.90 |
Light Trucks | 11.24 | 12.21 | 12.12 | -1.9 | 11.74 | 10.90 | 10.44 |
Domestic | 8.96 | 9.76 | 9.71 | -3.4 | 9.42 | 9.00 | 8.75 |
Imported | 2.28 | 2.44 | 2.41 | 4.7 | 2.32 | 1.90 | 1.69 |