by Calculated Risk on 1/05/2016 03:33:00 PM

Based on an estimate from WardsAuto, light vehicle sales were at a 17.2 million SAAR in December.

That is up about 2% from December 2014, and down about 5% from the 18.06 million annual sales rate last month.

This is probably a record year for light vehicle sales (more on that when the official data is released).

It looks like the best years were:
1) 2015 with 17.39 million sold
2) 2000 with 17.35 million
3) 2001 with 17.12 million
4) 2005 with 16.95 million
5) 1999 with 16.89 million


Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the historical light vehicle sales from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for December (red, light vehicle sales of 17.2 million SAAR from WardsAuto).

This was below the consensus forecast of 18.1 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 a below expectations, however 2015 was the best year ever for light vehicle sales.