<dt><b>March 2011 Auto Sales</b><br /><img src="http://image.automobilemag.com/f/features/news/1104_march_2011_auto_sales/31610842+ppromo_large/2011-ford-explorer-front-three-quarter-static.jpg" onerror="javascript:this.src='http://static.automobilemag.com/_SiteConfigs/_global/images/no_photo_100px.gif'" alt="March 2011 Auto Sales Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine" /><br /><a href="http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1104_march_2011_auto_sales/index.html">Backing off just a bit.</a><p>After February's surprisingly strong sales results, showroom traffic eased up slightly in March. The annualized sales pace slowed a bit from February, but still hovered around 13 million units. That means the first quarter of 2011 was much better than we have been doing the past couple years, although it's far off the pace of five or so years ago. Compared to this time last year, March was better by 17%. High gasoline prices have cooled truck sales a little -- at least relative to cars. Notice that the Honda Accord knocked the Chevy Silverado out of second place this month, and the Nissan Altima very nearly passed it as well. Predictably, small cars have gotten a boost and, according to Ford sales analyst George Pipas, now account for 1 in 4 new vehicle sales, up from less than 1 in 5 as recently as December. Should the demand for small cars continue, most manufacturers are better positioned today than they were three years ago, when the last bout of $4-a-gallon gasoline hit. With better small cars as well as more fuel-efficient offerings among their mid-size and larger vehicles, carmakers should be in better shape even if high gas prices stick around into the spring selling season.</p><br /> Photo Gallery: <a href="http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1104_march_2011_auto_sales/index.html">March 2011 Auto Sales Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine</a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1104_march_2011_auto_sales/index.html">March 2011 Auto Sales</a> |
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