Motor trade sales are up by 7.3%

These figures are broadly in line with the positive start to the year for new car sales as reported by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa).

Indeed‚ the greatest contributor to the motor trade's growth was new vehicles‚ sales of which grew 10.7%. This was followed by fuel sales (9.6% up) and workshop income (up 6.4%).

Income from convenience stores was measured as flat at 0.0% and sales of accessories notched a small gain of 0.5%.

Stats SA also said motor trade sales were also up 9.3% in the three months ended February compared with the three months ended February lst year. This was mainly attributable to new vehicles sales (up 12.2%)‚ fuel sales (up 10.9%) and used car sales (up 9%).

Stats SA's motor trade survey "collects information from a sample of enterprises in South Africa that are predominantly involved in motor trade"‚ it said.