Key findings: P6343.2 - Motor trade sales, January 2009

Motor trade sales decrease

Motor trade sales motor trade sales for the three months ended January 2009 decreased by 7,0% compared with the three months ended January 2008, while the corresponding growth for the same period in 2008 compared with the three months ended January 2007 was 5,8%.

New vehicle sales for the three months ended January 2009 decreased by 28,7% compared with the three months ended January 2008, and this was the main contributor to the decrease of 7,0% in motor trade sales.

Motor trade sales for January 2009 decreased by 14,2% compared with January 2008, while sales for the corresponding period in 2008 increased by 5,2%. Fuel sales decreased by 12,5% year-on-year, largely reflecting falling petrol prices.

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales for the three months ended January 2009 decreased by 6,5% compared with the three months ended October 2008.