U.S. Drivers Snapped Up Trucks in April as Gas Worries Fade

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
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Americans went big in April, snapping up jumbo SUVs and pickups.

With U.S. gasoline prices down by about a third from a year ago, sales of large and luxury sport utility vehicles soared 31 percent in the first quarter, while family sedan sales fell 3 percent, according to researcher Autodata Corp. That trend continued this month, analysts said. It’s getting so hard to sell a small car, Ford Motor Co. is laying off 700 workers at a Michigan factory that makes compacts and hybrids.