U.S. Auto Sales Probably Rose, Completed 2010 Rebound

U.S. automobile sales may have continued at the fastest pace since 2009 in December, carrying the industry to its first annual increase since 2005.

Total sales, to be released tomorrow, probably ran at an annual rate of 12.3 million vehicles last month, the average of eight analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. November and October sales hit the same pace, the fastest since the U.S. government’s “cash for clunkers” program in August 2009.