Car sales in EU countries increased 5.2 percent in June

Employees at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.(AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File).

Sales of new cars, seen as an indicator of economic growth, increased by 5.2 percent in the EU in June and by 2.9 percent so far this year, according to recent industrial figures.

 

About 1.5 million cars were sold in June and around 8.4 million so far in 2018, shows the figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), which was presented Tuesday.

The car markets in France, Spain and Germany did particularly well in June, with sales growth of 9.2, 8 and 4.2 percent, respectively. Spain, however, is the big winner so far in 2018, with growth of over 10 percent, followed by France at 4.7 percent and Germany by 2.9 percent.

In the UK and Italy, it is not as happy days in the car market, and in June sales fell by 3.5 and 7.3 percent, respectively. Overall, British sales have dropped 6.3 percent so far this year, while the decline in Italy so far this year is 1.4 percent.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today