US light vehicle sales rose in September: BEA

Sales of US light trucks and automobiles increased in September, marking the third month-over-month increase in the last four months, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Seasonally adjusted sales of light trucks and automobiles increased to an annualized unit rate of 13.5mn units, up from a 13.1mn unit rate in August, the BEA said. September 2021 sales reached a 12.3mn unit rate.

Sales of light trucks rose to a 10.59mn unit rate, up from a 10.34mn unit pace of sales in August. Sales of light trucks during the same month of the previous year reached a 9.5mn unit rate.

Auto sales in September increased to a 2.9mn unit rate, the highest since January. September auto sales were up from a 2.78mn unit rate the previous month, and above a 2.81mn unit pace the previous September.

US auto production reached 164,700 units in August, the largest output since January of 2021 and up from 150,100 vehicles made in July. A total of 84,100 units were produced during the previous September. Auto production is reported with a one-month lag to sales.

By Jason Metko