{"id":36177,"date":"2017-03-25T01:25:51","date_gmt":"2017-03-25T08:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=36177"},"modified":"2017-03-25T01:25:51","modified_gmt":"2017-03-25T08:25:51","slug":"march-new-car-sales-to-rise-3-percent-year-over-year-closing-second-highest-first-quarter-on-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=36177","title":{"rendered":"March New-Car Sales To Rise 3 Percent Year-Over-Year, Closing Second Highest First Quarter On Record"},"content":{"rendered":"

Irvine, CA…\u00a0New-vehicle sales<\/a> are expected to increase 3 percent year-over-year to a total of 1.63 million units in March 2017<\/span>, resulting in an estimated 17.4 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com<\/a>, the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry.\u00a0 At 1.63 million units this month, the first quarter total comes in at 4.1 million units, up 0.3 percent year-over-year.\u00a0 This would be the second highest first quarter on record, surpassed only by Q1 of 2000.\u00a0 This also would be the highest March sales total since 2000, when sales hit 1.66 million total units.<\/p>\n

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“Kelley Blue Book expects manufacturers to report mostly positive sales numbers this month, capping a steady first quarter with an average SAAR of 17.4 million,” said Tim Fleming<\/span>, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.\u00a0 “Despite considerably higher discounts and incentives, first quarter sales totals will likely only finish flat versus last year, a signal of weakening consumer demand for new vehicles.\u00a0 As sales cool after years of robust growth, adjusting production accordingly and managing supply, especially in car segments, should be top priorities for automakers.”<\/p>\n

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After a record year of sales in 2016 and seven consecutive year-over-year sales increases, Kelley Blue Book’s forecast for 2017 calls for sales in the range of 16.8 million to 17.3 million units, this represents a 1 to 4 percent decrease from last year.<\/p>\n

Key Highlights for Estimated March 2017<\/span> Sales Forecast:<\/b><\/p>\n