Increase in Motor-car Sales There is at least one trade—the
motor industry— which cannot be said to be suffering gravely from the general depression. More private cars were registered in March than in any single month hitherto, the total being 1,722 above that for the previous record month, March, 1929. In the first three months of the year 46,105 new cars were registered, a figure which falls below that of the peak year by only 42. The result is not so surprising as it appears, and cannot safely be taken as a sign of returning general prosperity. For-in the years immediately preceding 1929 the motor habit was increasing rapidly and the registration figures going forward in a steep upward curve. The market was still very far below saturation point. In the ordinary course of events we should have expected a continuous expansion between 1929 and 1933. What actually happened was that there was_some falling off after 1929, and that this deficiency is now being made good. For the industries concerned it is an encouraging sign so far as it goes, showing that the natural growth of the motoring habit is sufficient to counteract the trade slump.
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