New Vehicle Sales Charge Ahead In Alberta

[Markham]

Thought this might be of interest:

http://www.calgarybeacon.com/2010/11/new-vehicle-sales-charge-ahead-in-alberta/

Markham

[captain134]

As a barometer of consumer confidence, the number of new vehicle sales is an excellent gauge because it shows whether people have been speaking with their wallets.
Recent vehicle sales numbers in Alberta have been strong, and are a sign that consumers in this province are feeling better and better in 2010. A total of 18,501 (seasonally-adjusted) new vehicles were sold in September 2010, by far the strongest month since the recession hit in late 2008. Sales in September were up 2.4 per cent from an upwardly revised 18,076 units in August and 15.2 per cent from a year ago. Nationally, new vehicle sales also surged in September, up 4.2 per cent on the month. The number of new vehicles sold is up 4.6 per cent, compared to a year ago. The fact that Alberta has seen a 15 per cent year-over-year rise in vehicle sales compared to a five per cent recovery nationally, shows how hard things like new vehicle sales were hit by the recession in this province. The impressive rise in new vehicle sales is probably partly a result of some pent-up demand that built during the recession making its way out into the economy. Over time, although new vehicle sales should continue to rise as the economy gathers momentum, the pace of recovery has to slow down eventually. With Alberta new vehicle sales on such a strong upward trajectory, it will be interesting to see how long it takes before sales are able to regain pre-recession levels of above 20,000 units per month. Either way, it is clear that Albertans are feeling more confident with their economic situation, and that activity in the province is gradually recovering the losses experienced during 2009.