U.S. Auto Sales May Pick Up By Summer

Washington DC January 6, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that some auto executives say that U.S. auto sales will slide for a fourth straight year in 2009 in the wake of 2008 year-end sales reports.

Any signs of recovery aren't expected to appear until midyear. Automotive News reports that a 35.6 percent drop in December sales brought the 2008 U.S. sales total to 13.2 million units. That was an 18.5 percent decline from 2007's mark of 16.2 million, ending nine straight years above 16 million.

Over the past two months, sales have dipped as low as they've been for a quarter of a century. Demand may stay there for a few more months at least. Even if 2009 is dismal, the market will begin looking up, said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis at the auto information site Edmunds.com. Toprak projects auto sales of 12.4 million in 2009, increasing to 13.5 million 2010 and 14.5 million to 15 million 2011.

"It's going to be another challenging year next year," Toprak said. "But it seems like if we haven't hit the bottom, it's coming up soon."