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Fact #605: January 11, 2010
Light Vehicle Sales by Month, 2008-2009

The impact of the Federal Government's Car Allowance Rebate System, better known as the Cash for Clunkers Program, is evident in the monthly sales of light vehicles in 2009. August 2009 sales slightly surpassed those of August 2008, though most of 2009 was well below the 2008 sales levels. After the program ended, sales fell sharply in September, but rebounded in October to the same level as October 2008. November 2008 and November 2009 sales were also nearly identical. A light vehicle sales rebound in December raised total sales for the year just above 10 million.

Light Vehicle Sales by Month, 2008-2009
Graph showing the monthly number of light vehicles sold (cars and light trucks) for the years 2008 and 2009. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

U.S. Light Vehicle Sales by Month, 2008-2009
Month 2008 2009
January 1,039,137 655,226
February 1,171,681 687,356
March 1,351,542 855,358
April 1,243,547 817,287
May 1,392,840 923,346
June 1,185,267 857,627
July 1,132,182 995,402
August 1,246,705 1,258,944
September 962,292 744,566
October 834,622 835,925
November 743,606 744,669
December* 891,072 1,063,223
Total 13,194,493 10,438,929

* December data are projected.
Note: Light vehicles include cars and light trucks up to 14,000 lbs gross vehicle weight.
Source: Ward's Autodata.

 

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Content Last Updated: 01/06/2010