SA motor trade sales up 5.1%

The highest annual growth rates were recorded for workshops, which were 10.1% higher followed by fuel sales, up by 9.5% and new vehicle sales that grew by 6.6%.

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales decreased by 2.8% in March compared with February. This followed month-on-month changes of -4.3% in February and 11.7% in January.

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales increased by 1.4% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the previous quarter.

The major contributors to this increase were new vehicle sales (12.5% and contributing 3.6 percentage points); fuel sales (9.7% and contributing 2.7 percentage points); and used vehicle sales (8.4% and contributing 1.3 percentage points)‚ Stats SA noted.