by Calculated Risk on 10/01/2015 03:15:00 PM

Based on a WardsAuto estimate, light vehicle sales were at a 18.03 million SAAR in September. That is up almost 10% from September 2014, and up 1.7% from the 17.7 million annual sales rate last month.

Labor day was included in September this year, and that probably pushed sales over 18 million.


Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the historical light vehicle sales from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for September (red, light vehicle sales of 18.03 million SAAR from WardsAuto).

This was above to the consensus forecast of 17.5 million SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate).

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

Note: dashed line is current estimated sales rate.

This was another very strong month for auto sales and it appears 2015 will be the best year for light vehicle sales since 2001.