Canadian auto sales down

Canadian auto sales declined steeply in August among all major automotive manufacturers. Total sales for August were down 6.7% compared with the same month last year. DaimlerChrysler Canada reported a 3.2% decline in total sales; Ford Motor of Canada saw sales drop 11.9% and GM of Canada said monthly sales fell 11.4%. Toyota Canada reported a 5.2% drop in sales for the month. A combination of high oil prices and an over-reliance on consumer incentives to sell vehicle is being blamed for the sales decline.