US Auto Sales Extend Gains Despite Government Shutdown

Photo Credit: AFP/Justin Sullivan The US auto industry extended its steady gains in October despite economic uncertainty caused by a government shutdown.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler posted double digit rises from October 2012 sales while Japanese rival Toyota’s sales grew more modestly.

Automotive website Edmunds.com forecasts that total monthly industry sales will rise 12.7 percent over a year ago and reach an adjusted, annualized pace of 15.5 million vehicles once all automakers have reported.

Weekly data suggested that consumers “started to get jittery” towards the end of the 16-day political showdown, which saw hundreds of thousands of federal employees laid off with no certainty of being paid, said Edmunds analyst Jessica Caldwell.

But sales soon recovered when the government got back to work on October 17 and back pay was assured.

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