Canadian new car sales inch up in May

OTTAWA, July 15 (UPI) -- Canadians purchased 1.1 percent more new vehicles in May compared with April for a total of 145,224 units, the Statistics Canada agency reported Tuesday.

The numbers reversed a three-month declining trend, which mirrors the sharp increase in fuel prices. It was clearly reflected in sales of gas-guzzling minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses. That sector saw a 2.3 fall to 66,236 units, StatsCan said.

However, passenger car sales rose 4.3 percent in May over April to 78,988 units, with the balance of North American versus overseas manufacturers about evenly split, the report said. Overall, the agency said demand for North American vehicles was flat, while "overseas-built cars continued to follow an upward trend."

StatsCan said preliminary industry data showed little change in the sales rate was expected for the June report.