MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Car sales in Spain fell by 49 percent in February compared with a year earlier, manufacturers said Monday, amid the country's continuing economic downturn.
Automobile trade association ANFAC said 62,107 vehicles were sold last month compared to 121,415 in February 2008. Sales for the year dropped by 28 percent in 2008, the worst slump on record.
New car sales have plummeted across Europe in recent months with Spain registering some of the highest reductions.
One of Europe's best-performing economies over the last decade, Spain is in a sharp downturn because of the international financial crisis and a collapse in its key construction industry.
Automakers such as Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen have all announced job and production cuts in Spain in recent months.