2009 was rather dismal year for the automotive world, but the industry will likely end on a high note. The latest sales forecast predicts December will tally the year’s highest year-over-year sales increase, with new car sales up 15 percent.
According to J.D. Power and Associates latest sales forecast, new car sales will see a 15 percent improvement during the month of December, marking the year’s best improvement. December is shaping up to be just the third month of 2009 to show any positive movement.
“The market is continuing to improve, with the relative strength of December sales supporting a year-end rally,†Gary Dilts, senior vice president of global automotive operations at J.D. Power, said in a statement.
The month of December is expected to finish with 1.03 millions sold, up from 895,000 a year earlier. Retail sales will actually climb 20 percent to 839,600 units, but a 2.5 percent reduction in fleet sales will keep the overall sales increase a 15 percent. December’s annualized sales rate is expected to top 11 million vehicles.
