Commercial registrations and activity
Medium and very heavy sales see big December falls
14 Jan 2019
Our take on the latest Commercial registrations and activity (Mon 14 Jan 2019)
New light commercial vehicle sales up 4.7%pa in the December year
New medium commercial vehicle sales down -9.6%pa in the December year
New very heavy commercial vehicle sales up 9.8%pa in the December year
The key numbers...
- December saw little change in the overall downward trend of commercial vehicle sales.
- Year-to-year, the decline in medium commercial vehicle sales is showing signs of accelerating downwards. With softer economic conditions expected in 2019, things could get worse before they get better.
- Growth in very heavy sales continued to soften. Every year, sales usually drop between November and December, but this year the drop was particularly steep. Growth in light commercial vehicle sales remained firm on the back of a strong final quarter of 2018.
Commercial vehicle sales
12-month APC
...and our reaction
- New medium commercial vehicle sales fell 41%pa in December compared with a year earlier. As a result, the 12-month annual rate of decline slipped further to -9.6%pa.
- New very heavy commercial vehicle sales fell 19%pa in December compared with a year earlier – one of only three falls in 2018. At 9.8%pa, the 12-month annual growth rate is still relatively strong but slowing.
- New light commercial vehicle sales grew 5.9%pa in December compared with a year earlier. This rise follows strong growth in the two previous months. The 12-month annual growth rate held steady at 4.7%pa as a result.
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