SA's November motor trade sales up 0.7%

Higher fuel sales contributed to the growth in retail activity at fuel stations. Image: Beeboys Fotolia

Positive annual growth rates were recorded for fuel sales (5.4%) and new vehicle sales (0.2%).

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales decreased by 1.6% in November compared with October. This followed month-on-month changes of 1.1% in October and -1.1% in September.

Seasonally adjusted motor trade sales decreased by 0.6% in the three months ended November 2013 compared with the previous three months.

Stats SA added that motor trade sales increased by 3.8% in the three months ended November 2013 compared with the three months ended November 2012. The major contributors to this increase were fuel sales (8.4% and contributing 2.2 percentage points) and new vehicle sales (4.2% and contributing 1.2 percentage points).