Global| Mar 01 2017U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Stabilize in February
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Total sales of light vehicles were little changed m/m during February (-0.7% y/y) at 17.58 million units (SAAR), according to the Autodata Corporation. Passenger car sales eased 0.8% (-11.5% y/y) to 6.53 million units. Domestically- [...]
Total sales of light vehicles were little changed m/m during February (-0.7% y/y) at 17.58 million units (SAAR), according to the Autodata Corporation.
Passenger car sales eased 0.8% (-11.5% y/y) to 6.53 million units. Domestically-made passenger car sales held steady at 4.67 million units (-14.9% y/y) and matched the lowest level since December 2011. Sales of imported passenger cars fell 2.8% (-1.4% y/y) to 1.86 million units.
Light truck sales improved 0.2% (7.1% y/y) to 11.05 million. Domestically-made light truck sales increased 0.6% (6.1% y/y) to 9.28 million units. Imported light truck sales declined 2.1% (+12.7% y/y) to 1.77 million units. Trucks' share of the U.S. vehicle market edged higher to another record of 62.8%, up from 58.3% in February 2016.
Imports share of the U.S. vehicle market declined m/m to 20.6%. Imports share of the passenger car market eased to 28.4% following its January increase to a nearly three-year high. Imports share of the light truck market declined to 16.0%, 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.
The Fed's latest Beige Book covering regional economic conditions is available here.
| Light Weight Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Million Units) | Feb | Jan | Dec | Feb Y/Y % | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17.58 | 17.61 | 18.43 | -0.7 | 17.55 | 17.42 | 16.52 |
| Autos | 6.53 | 6.58 | 7.26 | -11.5 | 7.11 | 7.72 | 7.92 |
| Domestic | 4.67 | 4.67 | 5.30 | -14.9 | 5.20 | 5.63 | 5.68 |
| Imported | 1.86 | 1.91 | 1.96 | -1.4 | 1.91 | 2.09 | 2.24 |
| Light Trucks | 11.05 | 11.03 | 11.17 | 7.1 | 10.44 | 9.70 | 8.60 |
| Domestic | 9.28 | 9.22 | 9.25 | 6.1 | 8.75 | 8.34 | 7.51 |
| Imported | 1.77 | 1.80 | 1.92 | 12.7 | 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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