Strong year-end sales seen nationally J.D. Power
Nationally, December sales remain robust, with auto shoppers apparently unfazed by the economic uncertainty generated by the fiscal cliff negotiations, according to a monthly sales forecast by J.D. Power and Associates and LMC Automotive.
December new-vehicle retail sales a reliable measure of consumer demand, as dealers know are expected to come in at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 12.2 million. Luxury sales are forecast at 16 percent of all retail vehicles sold this month, up from 14.8 percent a year ago.
Luxury sales always do well this time of the year, but December is turning out to be a great month, said John Humphrey, senior vice president of global automotive operations.at J.D. Power. New vehicle introductions and redesigns plus incentives have driven the recovery in the luxury market.
On the basis of strong sales in November and December, LMC Automotive is upping its 2012 sales forecast to 14.5 million from 14.4 million, a full 11.7 million of which would be retail.
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