December Capper to Dismal 2008

For those watching the U.S. auto industry, 2008 was akin to a limbo contest, with everyone asking the same question – how low can it go?

December sales stemmed a 5-month dive in seasonally adjusted annual rates, but just barely – with the month’s SAAR of 10.3 million only narrowly besting November’s 26-year low of 10.1 million.

November and December marked the lowest and second-lowest SAARs since October 1982.

Light-vehicle sales totaled 891,072 in December, ...