“January lived up to its reputation as a typically slow sales month resulting in a 1 percent industry-wide decline. The 35-day government shut down, demand for higher fleet shipments and severe weather that hit the Midwest and Northeast were no benefit to the automakers. Following the fourth-biggest year for the automotive industry and many record highs, January seems to be setting the tone for a forecasted slow 2019.”
“The expected 2019 slow down continued in February with manufacturers reporting combined U.S. sales well off last year’s pace. Overall, the industry has reported its biggest decline in the first two months of the year since 2009. Frigid weather through much of the country negatively impacted what is already a typically slow sales month.”
“The first quarter has come to an end and the decline in automotive sales continued through March. U.S. sales fell 3.1 percent last month, a third consecutive drop. The industry has seen annual sales at or above 17 million since 2014, but automakers are struggling to maintain that solid pace and it is widely predicted the industry will fall short of that mark by the end of the year.”
“Despite analysts’ optimism, industry-wide sales numbers for April were down 2.3 percent. After a slow first quarter, dealerships saw high inventory levels that pushed them to ratchet up promotions in an attempt to boost spring sales. In many cases this did not work.”
“May typically sets the tone for the rest of the year as the industry generally heats up with the summer weather. 2019 continues to be unpredictable and there is no consensus on whether the slight sales decline of 0.3 percent is actually an indicator of what is to come. Despite the modest drop, there is optimism throughout the industry due to May’s result being the smallest loss of the year.”
“The industry closed out 2018 with the second-best selling month of the year. Volume increased 2.2 percent as several automakers posted record highs in various categories. 2018, despite all the news of economic uncertainty and predicted slumping sales, ended up being the fourth-biggest year on record with 17.33 million cars and light trucks sold.”
