U.S. auto sales expected to remain at decade high in October

Motor vehicle purchases in United States probably began the final quarter of 2015 on a high note. Despite limited 2015 model-year product and reduced sales incentives, passenger car and light truck purchases likely remained at the decade-high seasonally adjusted annual rate of 18.1 million posted in September. 

"Our forecast would place October's tally 9.9% above the 16.5 million vehicles sold last year and mark the strongest result for that calendar month since the whopping 21.7 million purchased in 2001, argues Societe Generale. 

Turning to the implications for the Census Bureau's Advance Report on Retail and Food Services Sales, the above projection would be consistent with auto-dealership revenues climbing by 0.4%, or by $405 million, to $95.1.