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2005 U.S. Economic Events & Analysis
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Motor Vehicle Sales
Definition
Unit sales of domestically produced cars and light duty trucks (including sport utility vehicles and mini-vans). Individual manufacturers report usually report sales on the first business day of the month. Motor vehicle sales are good indicators of trends in consumer spending.  Why Investors Care

Released on 4/1/05 For Mar 2005
Domestic Vehicle Sales
 Actual 8.0M  
 Consensus 7.8M  
 Consensus Range 7.7M  to  8.0M  
    
  Actual 5.5  
 Consensus 5.3  
 Consensus Range 5.1  to  5.5  

Highlights
U.S. sales of North American-made vehicles proved a bit stronger than expected in March, rising to a 5.5-million-unit annual rate for cars, up 0.3 million in the month, and an 8.0-million-rate for light trucks, also up 0.3 million.

GM and Ford, both in a big profit squeeze, posted weaker sales compared with a year earlier, though GM's sales were much higher than in January. Most of the Japanese transplants did well.

The results, coming out at the very end of the week and buried under a heap of employment and other data, had no effect on the markets. But vehicle sales will prove a plus for retail sales data later in the month.

Market Consensus Before Announcement
Motor vehicle sales surged with good incentives in December, but fell back in January and February. Several automakers introduced more incentives in March, but will they be sufficient to induce customers back into showrooms?

Auto sales Consensus Forecast for March 05: 5.3 million-unit rate
Range: 5.1 to 5.5 million-unit rate

Light truck sales Consensus Forecast for Mar 05: 7.8 million-unit rate
Range: 7.7 to 8.0 million-unit rate
Trends
[Chart] Motor vehicle sales remained in the same range in 2004 as 2003. Consumers continue to buy more SUVs than cars: note the share of light trucks (as a percent of the total) increased in 2004 despite rapidly rising gasoline prices.
Data Source: Haver Analytics

2005 Release Schedule
Released On: 1/4 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/3 6/1 7/1 8/2 9/1 10/3 11/1 12/1
Released For: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov


 
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