Global| Jun 01 2017U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Ease
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Light vehicle sales continue to soften. Total sales of light vehicles fell 1.3% during May to 16.66 million units (SAAR) from 16.88 million in April, according to the Autodata Corporation. Sales fell 3.0% y/y. During the first five [...]
Light vehicle sales continue to soften. Total sales of light vehicles fell 1.3% during May to 16.66 million units (SAAR) from 16.88 million in April, according to the Autodata Corporation. Sales fell 3.0% y/y. During the first five months of 2017, sales declined 1.7% y/y versus the first five months of 2016.
Light truck sales remained unchanged (2.9% y/y) versus April at 10.46 million. Imported light truck sales increased 2.4% (7.6% y/y) to a record 1.93 million units. Sales of domestically-made light trucks eased 0.6% (+1.8% y/y) to 8.53 million units. Trucks' share of the U.S. vehicle market equaled the record 62.8%, up from 59.2% twelve months earlier.
Passenger car sales declined 3.4% (-11.4% y/y) to 6.20 million units. Domestically-made passenger car sales fell 3.7% (-11.3% y/y) to 4.52 million units, the lowest level since December 2011. Sales of imported passenger cars declined 2.7% (-11.7% y/y) to 1.68 million units.
Imports share of the U.S. vehicle market improved m/m to 21.7%. Imports share of the passenger car market rose slightly to 27.1%. Imports share of the light truck market inched higher to 18.4%, up from 12.7% during all of 2014.
U.S. vehicle sales figures are published by the Autodata Corporation and can be found in Haver's USECON database.
| Light Weight Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Million Units) | May | Apr | Mar | May Y/Y % | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16.66 | 16.88 | 16.62 | -3.0 | 17.55 | 17.42 | 16.52 |
| Autos | 6.20 | 6.42 | 6.32 | -11.4 | 7.11 | 7.72 | 7.92 |
| Domestic | 4.52 | 4.70 | 4.60 | -11.3 | 5.20 | 5.63 | 5.68 |
| Imported | 1.68 | 1.73 | 1.73 | -11.7 | 1.91 | 2.09 | 2.24 |
| Light Trucks | 10.46 | 10.46 | 10.30 | 2.9 | 10.44 | 9.70 | 8.60 |
| Domestic | 8.53 | 8.58 | 8.65 | 1.8 | 8.75 | 8.34 | 7.51 |
| Imported | 1.93 | 1.88 | 1.65 | 7.6 | 1.68 | 1.36 | 1.09 |
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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