Analysts estimate that U.S. auto sales rose 6 percent to 8 percent in June compared with the same month last year. The auto pricing site TrueCar.com predicts that dealers sold cars and trucks at an annualized rate of 15.7 million last month, the best rate since December 2007.
Sales of pickups—which have been selling at a rate three times faster than the rest of the industry—continued at a strong pace in June. Ford sold just over 68,000 F-Series trucks, up 24 percent from last June and the best June for trucks since 2005.
Chrysler Group sold nearly 30,000 full-size Ram pickups, up 24 percent from last June. Small businesses have been replacing their aging trucks as home construction has picked up.
GM said sales of the Chevrolet Silverado jumped 29 percent to 43,259, while Chrysler Group sold nearly 30,000 full-size Ram pickups, up 24 percent from last June. Small businesses have been replacing their aging trucks as home construction has picked up.
Young graduates may have contributed to a rise in small-car sales, said Kelley Blue Book analyst Alec Gutierrez. Gas prices, which averaged $3.60 a gallon nationwide in June and were higher than a year ago, also may have caused some buyers to look for more fuel-efficient models, he said.
Sales of Ford's recently updated Fiesta subcompact more than doubled to 9,363, while Chrysler sold nearly 6,500 Dodge Dart small cars.
Consumer confidence hit a six-year high in June. And the Standard & Poor's 500 index had its best first half since 1998, up 12.6 percent, although there was some volatility late last month.
At the same time, auto loan rates remained near historic lows in June. The rate on a four-year new-car loan is averaging 2.7 percent, according to Bankrate.com.
Ford said two of its best sellers, the Fusion sedan and Escape SUV, were flat compared with last year, when Ford was discounting older models to make way for the updated ones that are now on sale.
Ford's Lincoln luxury brand was down 1 percent.
Chrysler, majority-owned by Fiat SpA of Italy, also had some weak spots. Jeep sales were flat as the company halted production of the Liberty to get ready for the launch of the new Jeep Cherokee in August.
Jeep may also have been squeezed by Chrysler's public flap with the government last month over the safety of some older-model Jeeps. And sales for the Chrysler and Fiat brands both rose 1 percent.
—By AP