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New motor vehicle sales
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New motor vehicle sales edged up in March after two consecutive monthly declines. Consumers purchased 137,050 new vehicles, edging up 110 vehicles or 0.1% from the previous month.
Over the past several months, sales of new motor vehicles have been volatile with periods of offsetting declines and gains. Sales declined a combined 7.2% in January and February, almost offsetting the gains made in November and December of 2006. This decline, combined with flat sales in March, resulted in a 1.8% decline in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the fourth quarter of 2006.
Note to readersSeasonally adjusted estimates of new motor vehicle sales have been revised for 2003 to 2006 to reflect an update in seasonal adjustment factors. Because of the constant evolution of seasonal factors, revisions can be more significant for some months of the year. However, the annual sum of seasonally adjusted figures corresponds to the annual sum of adjusted estimates. All data in this release are seasonally adjusted. Passenger cars include those used for personal and commercial purposes, such as taxis or rental cars. Trucks include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses. North American built new motor vehicles include vehicles manufactured or assembled in Canada, the United States or Mexico. All other new motor vehicles are considered to have been manufactured overseas. For reasons of confidentiality, data for Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included with those for British Columbia. The New Motor Vehicle Sales Survey is compiled on the basis of figures obtained from motor vehicle manufacturers and importers. These results may vary from those obtained directly from auto dealers, due to possible differences in record keeping. |
Notwithstanding declines in the first quarter of 2007, new motor vehicle sales were roughly on par with 2006 first quarter sales, edging up 0.1%. Sales in the early months of 2006 were relatively stable before surging in July and August due to "employee pricing" and other incentive programs. Sales of new motor vehicles remained strong in the second half of 2006, up 2.6% from the first half.
Preliminary sales figures from the automotive industry indicate that sales of new motor vehicles climbed 7% in April.
Overseas-built cars make gains
Overseas-built passenger car sales rose 2.9% in March after declining 1.8% in February. Consumers purchased 25,992 overseas-built cars, the highest monthly sales level since June 1990. Sales of North American-built passenger cars declined 1.5% to 43,793 units, a third consecutive monthly decrease. Overall, total passenger car sales edged up 0.1% in March after two consecutive monthly declines.
Passenger car sales declined 2.5% in the first quarter of 2007 after falling 0.4% in the previous quarter. Sales for the first quarter were down 3.4% compared with the same period a year earlier.
After declining sales in January and February, dealers sold 67,265 new trucks in March (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses), practically unchanged from the February sales level of 67,234 units.
Flat and declining truck sales in the first three months of 2007 led to a 1.0% decline in the first quarter, partially offsetting the 2.0% gain in the fourth quarter of 2006. Despite the decline, sales in the first quarter of 2007 were 4.0% higher than in the same quarter in 2006.
Sales increase in six provinces
New motor vehicle sales by province were generally positive in March, with six provinces posting gains. The strongest sales growth was seen in Newfoundland and Labrador (+9.1%), Prince Edward Island (+8.8%), and Alberta (+6.2%).
Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta both saw increases in new motor vehicle sales after two consecutive monthly declines. In both provinces, the rise in sales in March, more than offset declines of the previous two months.
Nova Scotia (-2.2%), Quebec (-1.9%) and Ontario (-1.8%) experienced the largest declines in March. This was the third consecutive monthly decline for Quebec and Ontario, and the fourth consecutive monthly decline for Nova Scotia.
Available on CANSIM: tables 079-0001 and 079-0002.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2402.
The March 2007 issue of New Motor Vehicle Sales (63-007-XWE, free) will be available soon.
Data on new motor vehicle sales for April will be released on June 15.
For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Ashley Ker (613) 951-2252 Distributive Trades Division.
Table(s).
