Analysts believe the auto sales in America were likely 8% lower last month than in February of 2007.  It’s worse for General Motors where the expected drop is 12%.  It’s worse than that for Ford and Chrysler, with predictions for the two smaller American manufacturers to be -16%.
Last year, February sales topped an annual selling rate 16.5million automobiles and trucks. Â The best hypothesis for the same period of this year pegs the annual selling rate at 15.3million. Â
Meanwhile, gasoline prices averaged $3.16 in the States in February, the highest average cost per gallon since June. Â Median home sale prices dropped 4.6% from a year earlier in January. Â Mate this with Chrysler’s truck-heavy sales structure (75% of their total) to Honda’s 44% reliance on vans, SUVs and the Ridgeline. Â
This means that even with the overall decline, Honda; Toyota; and Nissan will all – likely – make small gains. Â
