Analysts predict a slowdown in auto sales for August

Industry analysts are not blaming the rapid increase in gas prices for possibly slowing August's automotive sales. The heavily promoted consumer incentives are cited for reducing inventory and satisfying customer demand, which would reduce sales volume. With the near record months of June and July behind us, we can see how volumes for August will be lower. However, many of those consumer incentives are still in place, and we may not know for sure what effect they had on the market until after they are ended. Of course, the employee discount promotion may become like the 0% APR of 2001, a promotion that becomes used more frequently to supercharge sales. Heavy promotion also managed to move less fuel efficient vehicles, like full size trucks which enjoyed a two months of record sales despite climbing gas prices.