General Motors sales reports flat September sales, a sign of stagnant demand ahead

GM posts sluggish Sept. sales, sign of slow autumn

DETROIT — General Motors’ sales cars and trucks sputtered in September, a sign that Americans are skittish about taking on debt for big-ticket items.

Sales for the biggest U.S. automaker fell about 6 percent from August, which was one of the weakest on record. They rose 10.5 percent over September of last year. However, it was easy for GM’S sales to improve from last September, a month hurt by low demand following the government’s Cash for Clunkers rebates.

GM, the first automaker to report U.S. sales on Friday, said sales of its Buick brand rose, largely due to brisk demand for its redesigned LaCrosse luxury sedan. GM said its four remaining brands Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac saw sales jump 22 percent over September of last year. The company has sold or shed the Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Pontiac brands.

September is traditionally one of the year’s slower sales months, GM says.