WA car sales fall behind national growth

Vehicle sales in Western Australia have grown at a sluggish rate in the first two months of 2008, with growth in WA substantially below the national rate.

The latest figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show sales in WA rose 3.4 per cent in February to 9,952 vehicles.

Year to date sales were up 5.6 per cent to 19,602 vehicles.

By comparison, national car sales rose 7.4 per cent in February to 89,898 vehicles and by 7.2 per cent in the year to date.

The February data for other states was: Northern Territory 876 (up 13.6 per cent on February 2007) Victoria 23,803 (up 10.7 per cent), South Australia 5,607 (up 9.1 per cent), New South Wales 27,855 (up 8.7 per cent), Queensland 18,914 (up 3.8 per cent) and ACT 1,407 (up 2.3 per cent) and Tasmania 1,484 (up 1.4 per cent).