Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), motor trade sales increased by 3,9% year-on-year in April 2024. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

• used vehicle sales (19,5% and contributing 3,7 percentage points); and
• sales of accessories (4,0% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contributor was fuel sales (-2,8% and contributing -0,8 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales increased by 7,2% in April 2024 compared with March 2024. This followed month-on-month changes of -7,2% in March 2024 and -0,6% in February 2024.

Motor trade sales decreased by 1,9% in the three months ended April 2024 compared with the three months ended April 2023. The main negative contributor to this decrease was new vehicle sales (-9,6% and contributing -2,4 percentage points) and the main positive contributor was used vehicles (4,4% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales decreased by 2,2% in the three months ended April 2024 compared with the previous three months. The main negative contributors to this decrease were:

• new vehicle sales (-5,2% and contributing -1,3 percentage points); and
• fuel sales (-2,7% and contributing -0,8 of a percentage point).