Global| Nov 01 2017U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Ease
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Total sales of light vehicles declined 2.6% during October (+1.2% y/y) to 18.09 million units (SAAR) from 18.57 million in September, according to the Autodata Corporation. Nevertheless, sales remained near the highest level since [...]
Total sales of light vehicles declined 2.6% during October (+1.2% y/y) to 18.09 million units (SAAR) from 18.57 million in September, according to the Autodata Corporation. Nevertheless, sales remained near the highest level since July 2005.
Light truck sales declined 2.0% (+6.3% y/y) to 11.52 million sales. Domestically-made light trucks eased 2.1% (+4.7% y/y) to 9.49 million units. Imported light truck sales declined 1.6% (+14.5% y/y) to 2.04 million units, but remained near the record high.
Trucks' share of the U.S. vehicle market improved m/m to 63.7%.
The passenger car market also weakened and posted a 3.6% sales decline (-6.7% y/y) to 6.56 million units. Domestically-produced passenger car sales fell 4.0% last month (-6.6% y/y) to 4.75 million units. Sales of imported passenger cars eased 2.4% (-6.8% y/y) to 1.81 million units.
Imports share of the U.S. vehicle market increased to 21.3%. Imports share of the passenger car market rose to 27.6%. Imports share of the light truck market was fairly steady at 17.7%.
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) | Oct | Sep | Aug | Oct Y/Y % | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 18.09 | 18.57 | 16.14 | 1.2 | 17.55 | 17.42 | 16.52 |
| Autos | 6.56 | 6.81 | 6.03 | -6.7 | 7.10 | 7.73 | 7.92 |
| Domestic | 4.75 | 4.95 | 4.36 | -6.6 | 5.20 | 5.63 | 5.68 |
| Imported | 1.81 | 1.85 | 1.67 | -6.8 | 1.90 | 2.10 | 2.24 |
| Light Trucks | 11.52 | 11.76 | 10.11 | 6.3 | 10.44 | 9.74 | 8.60 |
| Domestic | 9.49 | 9.69 | 8.32 | 4.7 | 8.75 | 8.37 | 7.51 |
| Imported | 2.04 | 2.07 | 1.79 | 14.5 | 1.69 | 1.38 | 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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