DC Area Vehicle Sales at Mid-Year: With Cars Up, Trucks Down, 06 Mirrors 05

DC Area Vehicle Sales at Mid-Year:

Higher gas prices have definitely taken the bloom off the rose for truck sales so far this year (down 8.9% for the first half of 2006) compared to last year. But this unit sales loss was made up by a healthy increase in car sales (up 7.7% for the first half of 2006.)

The composite shows 2006 mid-year sales to be an –instant replay” of 2005, coming within less than _ % of total sales, according to Washington Area market figures compiled by R. L. Polk.

Domestic trucks showed the biggest hit at mid-year, down 12.4% on sales of 33,833, while import trucks declined 4.8% on sales of 32,393. For the first half of 2006, total truck sales were off 8.9% on 66,226 sales a disappointing figure for these higher profit units.

But what the market taketh away it also giveth, and the bright spot at mid-year was a 9.9% increase in domestic cars sales of 23,026, and a 6.9% increase in import car sales of 59,095. For the first half of 2006, total car sales were up 7.7% on sales of 82,121.

Import cars as a percentage of total car sales in the DC metro area remained at 72%, two years running, at mid-year.

Total unit sales for April, May and June, 2006 were 24,520, 29,968 and 25,277 respectively.

The complete WANADA Area Report, June, YTD is enclosed.