by Calculated Risk on 7/02/2020 11:59:00 AM

The BEA released their estimate of May vehicle sales this morning. The BEA estimated light vehicle sales of 13.05 million SAAR in June 2020 (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate), up 5.7% from the revised May sales rate, and down 24.1% from June 2019.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows light vehicle sales since 2006 from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for June 2020 (red).

The impact of COVID-19 is significant, and it appears April was the worst month.

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

Note: dashed line is current estimated sales rate of 13.05 million SAAR.

Sales collapsed in the second half of March, and really declined in April.

However sales rebounded in May, and increased further in June.