WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — The new-vehicle retail selling rate in January is expected to decline compared with both December 2009 and one year ago, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which gathers real-time transaction data from more than 8,900 franchisees across the United States. January new-vehicle retail sales are expected to come in at 500,900 units, which represents a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 7.9 million units, compared with 8.8 million units in January 2009. This month's selling rate is down from 8.9 million units in December 2009 — one of the stronger sales months in 2009, in part due to robust marketing and incentive programs. "January is typically a weak selling month, but this month is particularly impacted by December's strong close and extra selling weekend," said Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. "However, the sales pace has been improving as January continues, which is an encouraging sign for the recovering industry." Fleet sales are expected to increase substantially from January 2009, which marked the lowest fleet level last year. As a result, total sales for January 2010 are projected to come in at 659,000 units, up 9 percent from January 2009. The January SAAR for total light-vehicle sales is expected to increase to 10.1 million units, compared with 9.6 million units one year ago.
J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Sales and SAAR Comparisons - January 2010
January 20101 | December 2009 | January 2009 | |
New-vehicle retail sales | 500,900 units (4% lower than Jan. 2009)2 | 817,426 units | 562,619 units |
Total vehicle sales | 659,000 units (9% higher than January 2009) | 1,027,837 units | 655,302 units |
Retail SAAR | 7.9 million units | 8.9 million units | 8.8 million units |
Total SAAR | 10.1 million units | 11.2 million units | 9.6 million units |
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