OTTAWA (CP) -- Increased truck sales led to a one percent rise in the number of new motor vehicles sold in May, to 121,348.
Statistics Canada notes new-vehicle sales have been on the rise after falling sharply in the latter part of 2008.
But the agency reports preliminary industry data indicate the number of new motor vehicles sold fell about one percent in June.
Sales of new trucks (minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) were up 2.2 percent to 61,392 in May.
Truck sales exceeded passenger car sales in May for only the fourth time in the last 10 years.
The number of new passenger cars sold in May was down 0.3 percent, totaling 59,956 vehicles.
Sales of North American-built passenger cars rose 1.4 percent from April, when sales were at their lowest level since October 1982.
Sales of overseas-built passenger cars fell 2.4 percent in May.
Higher sales were recorded in seven provinces in May. The main contributor to the increase in Canada was a two percent gain in Ontario. The largest percentage increase occurred in Nova Scotia (8.5), where sales rose for the fourth straight month.
Sales dropped 1.4 percent in Quebec.
