ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601110110
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Journal of Commerce
Heavy truck makers ended 1995 with a blizzard of December sales as the industry plowed through an avalanche of orders to its biggest year in history.
Annual U.S. retail sales broke 200,000 for the first time - at 201,705 - and topped last year's recovery-driven record by 8.6 percent, according to preliminary figures.
Estimated December sales of 17,171 trucks rose 1.8 percent over record levels a year before, the American Automobile Manufacturers Association said. The year-end surge surprised analysts who have predicted a soft landing from the peak of the unprecedented bull market of the past three years.
Final figures due later this week are expected to show intense competition for 1995 sales rankings in the heavy category, defined by gross weight ratings over 33,000 pounds.
Harry Allen, director of truck and trailer analysis at Economic Planning Associates Inc. of Smithtown, N.Y., said he is sticking with his forecast of a 25 percent decline to around 150,000 units this year despite some predictions of a milder slide to 175,000 vehicles. ``I just don't think the economy has enough pep to do that,'' Allen said.
A cooling economy is expected to cut into the equipment needs of smaller fleets, which have provided much of the market's push. Also, thousands of late-model used trucks and trade-ins also are sitting on lots to compete with new sales.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB