Economics
U.S. Auto Sales' Record April Doesn't Do Much to Contain Unease
- Fiat Chrysler, Toyota beat estimates as GM, Ford come up short
- Industry seen reporting record pace for month's deliveries
The Jeep Renegade Trail Hawk edition is unveiled during the 2014 New York auto show.
Photographer: Jin Lee/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. may be the lone bright spot in an otherwise sluggish global economy as American consumers continue to buy expensive new vehicles at record levels.
The U.S. industry sold 1.51 million cars and light trucks in April, according to researcher Autodata Corp. That broke an 11-year-old record, according to Edmunds.com. Sales skewed toward more expensive sport utility vehicles and pickups, a sign that consumers are confident enough to make big purchases.