Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. auto sales plummeted 32 percent in October to the lowest monthly total since January 1991, led by General Motors Corp.'s 45 percent slide, as reduced access to loans and a weaker economy kept consumers off dealer lots.

Ford Motor Co. reported a 30 percent drop in car and light- truck sales from a year earlier and Toyota Motor Corp.'s declined 23 percent. Honda Motor Co.'s slid 25 percent, Nissan Motor Co.'s were down 33 percent and Chrysler LLC's fell 35 percent.

``If you adjust for population growth, it's the worst sales month in the post-World War II era'' for the industry, said Mike DiGiovanni, GM's chief sales analyst, on a conference call. ``Clearly we're in a dire situation.''

Industrywide U.S. auto sales fell for the 12th straight month, extending the longest slide in 17 years. Tight credit, falling consumer confidence and the weakening economy, the same forces that suppressed buying in September, hurt automakers again last month.

October total sales dropped to 838,156 from 1.23 million, according to Autodata Corp. The last time light-vehicle sales were lower was 822,200 in January 1991, according to Autodata.

The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate for the month was 10.6 million, the lowest since February 1983, the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based provider of industry statistics said in a statement. The October 2007 rate was 16 million, Autodata said.

``People are feeling a hell of a lot less flush than they've felt in the better part of a generation,'' said Joe Phillippi, an analyst at AutoTrends Consulting in Short Hills, New Jersey. ``Everybody is taking it on the chin right now.''

The financial crisis has dented stock markets worldwide, and a $700 billion U.S. financial aid package hasn't yet spurred renewed lending.

`Carnage'

``The carnage was completely widespread'' in the industry, GM North American sales chief Mark LaNeve said on the conference call. ``In my 27 years, I never saw a month like this.''

Industry sales in 2009's first half will be ``sobering,'' Jim Farley, Ford worldwide marketing chief, said on a conference call. Sales this year may fall to fewer than 14 million vehicles, from 16.1 million in 2007, Ford sales analyst George Pipas said on the call.

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, reported sales of 168,719 cars and light trucks, compared with 307,408 a year earlier. The Detroit-based company sold 53 percent fewer pickup trucks, sport- utility vehicles and vans, including a 35 percent drop for the Chevrolet Silverado, GM's best-selling U.S. vehicle. None of the company's eight divisions posted a sales gain.

GM offered employee prices to all customers in August and September. The incentive caused ``sales to be pulled ahead into September,'' said Tom Libby, a Troy, Michigan-based analyst at market-research firm J.D. Power & Associates.

Ford

Sales at Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, dropped to 132,248 cars and light trucks, from 189,360, Autodata said. The slide was its 23rd in the past 24 months. For the Dearborn, Michigan-based company's Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands, sales dropped 30 percent for trucks and 27 percent for cars.

Ford's sales included declines of 58 percent for the Edge wagon and 18 percent for the Focus small car. Focus sales had risen most of the year after U.S. gasoline prices peaked at more that $4 a gallon in July and averaged 26 percent higher than a year earlier through October. They fell 41 percent from the July 15 peak through yesterday, according to motorist group AAA.

Sales of Ford's F-Series pickups slid 16 percent in October. That decline was the narrowest for the large trucks since a 4.9 percent drop in February.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan

Toyota, the largest Asian automaker, reported sales of 152,101 vehicles, down from 197,592 a year earlier. The Toyota City, Japan-based company last month offered no-interest financing on 11 car and light-truck models. That promotion will continue at least through November, the automaker said today.

Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, sold 85,864 cars and light trucks, dropping from 114,799 a year earlier, spokesman Kurt Antonius said in an interview. Reduced demand for the Tokyo- based company's light trucks was partly offset by higher sales of Fit subcompact cars, he said.

Nissan's sales fell to 56,945 vehicles, Al Castignetti, U.S. vice president of Nissan-brand sales, said in an interview. The Tokyo-based company's pickups and sport-utility vehicles dropped while models including the Versa subcompact car, Maxima sport sedan and Rogue small crossover SUV rose, he said.

Chrysler

Chrysler sold 94,530 vehicles, a drop from 145,316 a year earlier, the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based company said in a statement. Its Ram large pickup fell 29 percent.

GM declined 14 cents to $5.65 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading, while Ford fell 6 cents to $2.13. Toyota's American depositary receipts rose 57 cents to $76.66, Honda's slid 3 cents to $24.74 and Nissan's dropped 3 cents to $9.58.

Some automakers said they may see sales improvements in November and December because of the U.S. presidential election tomorrow and end-of-the-year promotions.

``We're going to have a better month'' in November, Nissan's Castignetti said in the interview. ``Beginning tomorrow, one way or another, this seemingly endless campaign finally gets closed. Whether you like it or not, you'll know what's going on.''

`True Test'

Ford's Farley said that ``most manufacturers will start year-end promotions in early November. The true test will come in the first quarter of next year, the first half of next year.''

The 12-month streak of declines in vehicle sales is the longest such stretch since the 14 months that ran through December 1991, according to Autodata.

U.S. consumer confidence fell to the lowest level on record in October as stocks plunged and banks shut off credit. The Conference Board's confidence index tumbled to 38, less than forecast and the lowest reading since monthly records began in 1967, the New York-based research group said Oct. 28.

Gross domestic product contracted at a 0.3 percent pace from July to September, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Oct. 30. The decline, the biggest since 2001, was smaller than forecast. Unemployment is at a five-year high of 6.1 percent and may rise to 8 percent by the end of 2009, according to Jan Hatzius, chief U.S. economist at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in New York.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Koenig in Southfield, Michigan, at wkoenig@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 3, 2008 17:50 EST