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New motor vehicle sales
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After three consecutive months of declines, new motor vehicle sales rose slightly in May.
Consumers purchased 145,224 new vehicles in May, an increase of 1.1% from April. Shifting consumer preferences away from trucks to passenger cars has been the main factor in determining the direction of new motor vehicle sales in Canada so far this year.
Preliminary industry data for June suggests that the number of new motor vehicles sold will remain relatively unchanged.
Passenger car sales rebound
Following three months of declines, sales of passenger cars rose 4.3% in May to 78,988 units. This growth was spread evenly between North American-built and overseas-built passenger cars. However, despite May's result, the trend for North American-built passenger cars remained flat while overseas-built cars continued to follow an upward trend.
Note to readersAll data in this release are seasonally adjusted. |
Sales of new trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) declined 2.3% to 66,236 units. The share of trucks sold was at its lowest point since October 2005.
Sales up in six provinces
Sales were up in six provinces in May. The largest increase occurred in Nova Scotia, where the gains almost offset the large decline in April. More modest increases were observed in Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba.
Lower sales were registered in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In Saskatchewan, sales have started to level off after two years of strong growth.
Available on CANSIM: table 079-0003.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2402.
The May 2008 issue of New Motor Vehicle Sales (63-007-XWE, free) will be available soon.
Data on new motor vehicle sales for June will be released on August 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 Mark Switzer (613-951-7137), Distributive Trades Division.
Table(s).
