The impact of the Federal Government's Car Allowance Rebate System, better known as the Cash for Clunkers Program, is evident in the monthly sales of light vehicles in 2009. August 2009 sales slightly surpassed those of August 2008, though most of 2009 was well below the 2008 sales levels. After the program ended, sales fell sharply in September, but rebounded in October to the same level as October 2008. November 2008 and November 2009 sales were also nearly identical. A light vehicle sales rebound in December raised total sales for the year just above 10 million.

Light Vehicle Sales by Month, 2008-2009
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Supporting Information

U.S. Light Vehicle Sales by Month, 2008-2009
Month20082009
January1,039,137655,226
February1,171,681687,356
March1,351,542855,358
April1,243,547817,287
May1,392,840923,346
June1,185,267857,627
July1,132,182995,402
August1,246,7051,258,944
September962,292744,566
October834,622835,925
November743,606744,669
December*891,0721,063,223
Total13,194,49310,438,929

* December data are projected.
Note: Light vehicles include cars and light trucks up to 14,000 lbs gross vehicle weight.
Source: Ward's Autodata.

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