Acceleration: US auto sales pick up in April

WASHINGTON: US car and truck sales picked up strength in April in a sign that the auto market remains firm after the winter economic downturn, automakers reported. Pickup truck and SUV and crossover sales remained strong, but overall sales were a bit below analyst expectations, amid signs that US consumers remain cautious and business investment is slow. Total light vehicle sales rose 4.6% from April 2014 to 1.45 million units, according to data compiled by Autodata. Light truck and sport utility vehicles gained 10.5%, but passenger cars fell 1.5% from a year ago. Autodata said sales were running at a pace for 16.45 million total sales this year, compared with 16.05 million at the same time a year ago. General Motors, the largest US automaker, reported sales rose 5.9% from a year ago to 269,056 vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2015.

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