Global| Jan 05 2011U.S. Vehicle Sales Improve Further
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Unit sales of light vehicles increased 2.3% last month versus November to 12.55M units (SAAR). Sales were slightly stronger than expectations for 12.3M. (Seasonal adjustment of these figures is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Economic [...]
Unit sales of light vehicles increased 2.3% last month versus November
to 12.55M units (SAAR). Sales were slightly stronger than expectations for 12.3M.
(Seasonal adjustment of these figures is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Economic
Analysis.) For the full year, 2010 sales rose 11.5% to 11.58M, a gain that made
up less than half of the decline during 2009.
Auto sales were firm last month posting a 3.8% m/m rise to 6.11M and a 5.9% yearly increase to 5.78M. A 7.6% monthly increase in domestics pulled them up 5.5% for the year. Imported auto sales, however, slipped for the third consecutive month. However, they increased 6.7% for the full year. Light truck sales rose 1.0% to 6.44M to pull them up 17.8% to 5.80M for the year. Sales of domestics rose 2.0% m/m and 22.3% for the full year while sales of imported light trucks declined 3.9% m/m and 0.9% for all of 2010.
For the month, import's share of the U.S. light vehicle market slipped m/m to 24.9% and to 25.7% for the year. (Imported vehicles are those produced outside the United States.) Imports' share of the U.S. car market fell to 34.4% for December but rose slightly to a record 35.0% for all of 2010. Imports' share of the light truck market fell m/m to16.0%. It remained below the 16.5% during all of last year and the record 19.7% in 2009.
The U.S. vehicle sales figures can be found in Haver's USECON database.
| Light Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Mil. Units) | Dec | Nov | Oct | Y/Y | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 12.55 | 12.26 | 12.26 | 12.6% | 11.58 | 10.38 | 13.22 |
| Autos | 6.11 | 5.89 | 5.85 | 2.8 | 5.78 | 5.45 | 6.76 |
| Domestic | 4.01 | 3.72 | 3.59 | -1.3 | 3.78 | 3.56 | 4.44 |
| Imported | 2.10 | 2.16 | 2.27 | 11.7 | 2.02 | 1.89 | 2.32 |
| Light Trucks | 6.44 | 6.37 | 6.41 | 23.8 | 5.80 | 4.93 | 6.46 |
| Domestic | 5.41 | 5.30 | 5.43 | 26.3 | 4.84 | 3.96 | 5.28 |
| Imported | 1.03 | 1.07 | 0.97 | 12.0 | 0.96 | 0.97 | 1.18 |
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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