by Calculated Risk on 8/03/2009 04:00:00 PM

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

This graph shows the historical light vehicle sales (seasonally adjusted annual rate) from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for July (red, light vehicle sales of 11.24 million SAAR from AutoData Corp).

This is the highest vehicle sales since September 2008 (12.5 million SAAR).

The second graph shows light vehicle sales since the BEA started keeping data in 1967.

Although sales were boosted by the "Cash-for-clunkers" program, I think sales would have rebounded some anyway. If "Cash-for-clunkers" is extended, then August will probably be over 11 million SAAR too, but I'd expect sales to falter a little later in the year.