Truck and van sales still in doldrums

While car registrations have risen because of the government's scrappage scheme, the van and truck markets are still at rock bottom, with August sales a shadow of last year's. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show truck sales in August were 45% lower than last year, while van registrations were off by 36%.

The biggest fallers were two and three-axle tractive units with sales less than half those of a year earlier, closely followed by vans under 2t. Sales of 4x4 utility vehicles were only 26.5% below last year's level.

However, as the big decline in sales started over a year ago, the rolling year figure for vans has improved slightly from -44.4% in July to -43.9% in August, while for trucks the decline is still increasing - up from -40.8% to -41.2%.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt expects sales to stabilise at around 45% below last year.