Global| Jun 01 2016U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Are Little Changed; Imports Share Jumps
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Total sales of light vehicles during May edged 0.2% higher versus April (-1.4% y/y) to 17.45 million units (SAAR). Auto sales improved 0.8% to 7.12 million units (-11.3% y/y). The increase was led by a 1.1% rise (-11.7% y/y) in [...]
Total sales of light vehicles during May edged 0.2% higher versus April (-1.4% y/y) to 17.45 million units (SAAR).
Auto sales improved 0.8% to 7.12 million units (-11.3% y/y). The increase was led by a 1.1% rise (-11.7% y/y) in domestic car sales to 5.16 million. Imported car sales were unchanged at 1.95 million (-10.4% y/y). Auto sales were 14.0% below the recent peak level in August 2014.
Sales of light trucks eased 0.3% (+6.8% y/y) to 10.33 million units. Sales of imported light trucks increased 9.4% (35.2% y/y) to a record 1.78 million units. Domestic light truck sales declined 2.1% (+2.3% y/y) to 8.55 million units. Truck sales eased to 59.2% of the light vehicle market.
Imports share of the light vehicle market rose to 21.4%, the highest level since December 2013. Imports share of the passenger car market of 27.4% compared to 27.1% during all of last year. Imports share of the light truck market jumped to 17.2%, the highest level since March 2010.
U.S. vehicle sales figures are published by Autodata and can be found in Haver's USECON database.
| Light Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Mil. Units) | May | Apr | Mar | May Y/Y % | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17.45 | 17.42 | 16.57 | -1.4 | 17.42 | 16.52 | 15.59 |
| Autos | 7.12 | 7.06 | 6.91 | -11.3 | 7.72 | 7.92 | 7.77 |
| Domestic | 5.16 | 5.11 | 5.12 | -11.7 | 5.63 | 5.68 | 5.48 |
| Imported | 1.95 | 1.95 | 1.79 | -10.4 | 2.09 | 2.24 | 2.30 |
| Light Trucks | 10.33 | 10.36 | 9.66 | 6.8 | 9.69 | 8.60 | 7.82 |
| Domestic | 8.55 | 8.73 | 8.21 | 2.3 | 8.33 | 7.51 | 6.74 |
| Imported | 1.78 | 1.63 | 1.45 | 35.2 | 1.37 | 1.09 | 1.08 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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