by Calculated Risk on 1/12/2015 01:52:00 PM

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows heavy truck sales since 1967 using data from the BEA. The dashed line is the December seasonally adjusted annual sales rate (SAAR).

Heavy truck sales really collapsed during the recession, falling to a low of 181 thousand in April 2009 on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis (SAAR). Since then sales have more than doubled and hit 446 thousand SAAR in August 2014.   Sales have declined a little since August, and were at 411 thousand SAAR in December.

The level in August was the highest level since February 2007 (over 7 years ago).  Sales are now above the average (and median) of the last 20 years.