J.D. Power and Associates Reports: November New-Vehicle Retail Sales Decrease Slightly from November 2008, While Total Sales Show Improvement

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Nov. 19, 2009 -- While November new-vehicle retail sales are expected to decline slightly compared with one year ago, total vehicle sales are projected to increase marginally, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which gathers real-time transaction data from more than 8,900 franchisees across the United States.

November new-vehicle retail sales are expected to come in at 547,800 units, which represents a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 8.2 million units. Total sales for November are projected to come in at 687,800 units, up 0.4 percent from November 2008, with fleet volume expected to increase by 3.5 percent from one year ago.

"The expected November selling rate of 10.2 million units is higher compared with one year ago, driven by a stable retail environment and higher fleet volume," said Gary Dilts, senior vice president of global automotive operations at J.D. Power and Associates. "On a selling day-adjusted basis, total sales are forecasted to be up slightly compared with last year -- further signaling an industry on the mend."

  J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Sales and SAAR Comparisons - November 2009

                         November 2009(1)   October 2009     November 2008

  New-vehicle             547,800 units     667,877 units    597,695 units
   retail sales         (0.4% lower than
                        November 2008)(2)

  Total vehicle sales    687,800 units      836,115 units    744,776 units
                       (0.4% higher than
                         November 2008)

  Retail SAAR             8.2 million        8.5 million      8.3 million
                             units              units            units

  Total SAAR             10.2 million       10.5 million     10.1 million
                             units              units            units

  (1) Figures cited for November 2009 are forecasted numbers based on the
      first 11 selling days of the month.
  (2) The percentage change is adjusted based on the number of selling days
      (23 days vs. 25 days one year ago).

In November, vehicles in the crossover utility vehicle (CUV) segment are expected to account for one-fourth of all retail sales -- the highest level since the segment emerged in 1995. The share of trucks within the retail segment mix has increased to 51 percent in November, up from an 18-month low of 43 percent in August, despite the recent attention surrounding small cars.

"As expected, the recovery has been slow, but is progressing," said Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. "The industry is exhibiting a higher level of discipline, as there is a favorable sales ratio of 2010 models to 2009 models and a diminished risk of excess inventory. As a result, transaction prices are at their highest levels in years, indicating a healthier close for the fourth quarter."

J.D. Power and Associates is adjusting its forecast for 2009 slightly, maintaining total sales at 10.3 million units but decreasing retail sales to 8.5 million units from 8.6 million units. The 2010 forecast remains at 11.5 million units for total sales and 9.5 million units for retail sales.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, Capital IQ, J.D. Power and Associates, McGraw-Hill Construction and Aviation Week. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were $6.4 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.