by Calculated Risk on 1/28/2018 11:06:00 AM

The automakers will report January vehicle sales on Thursday, Feb 1st.

Note: There are 25 selling days in January 2018, there were 24 selling days in January 2017.

From WardsAuto: U.S. Forecast: January Sets Stage for Anticipated Year-Over-Year Decline

The Wards Intelligence January forecast calls for 1.16 million LVs to be delivered over 25 selling days, resulting in a 46,430-unit daily sales rate compared with 47,442 in prior-year (24 days). The DSR is down 2.1% from like-2017.
...
The resulting seasonally adjusted annual rate is 17.24 million units, below the 17.75 million in the previous month and 17.34 million year-ago.
emphasis added

Sales had been below 17 million SAAR (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate) for six consecutive months last year, until September, when sales increased due to buying following Hurricane Harvey. If sales exceed 17 million SAAR in January, this will be the fifth consecutive month over 17 million SAAR. However, overall, it appears sales will be down again in 2018.

Here is a table of light vehicle sales since 2000. The record year for sales was 2016, followed by 2015, both breaking the previous record set in 2000. Last year, 2017, was the fourth best year ever, just ahead of 2001.

Light Vehicle Sales (000s)
Year	Sales	Change
2000	17,350
2001	17,122	-1.3%
2002	16,816	-1.8%
2003	16,639	-1.1%
2004	16,867	1.4%
2005	16,948	0.5%
2006	16,504	-2.6%
2007	16,089	-2.5%
2008	13,195	-18.0%
2009	10,402	-21.2%
2010	11,555	11.1%
2011	12,742	10.3%
2012	14,433	13.3%
2013	15,530	7.6%
2014	16,452	5.9%
2015	17,396	5.7%
2016	17,465	0.4%
2017	17,135	-1.9%