indicatorThe Owl

Auto sales remain lacklustre

Except for April 2020, new vehicle sales haven’t been this low in April since 1999

By Cohen Perratt, ATB Economics 29 June 2022 1 min read

New vehicle sales in Alberta remained weak in April with the number of new vehicles sold down by 2,931 units (-15.2%) compared to a year earlier. Except for in 2020 when activity plummeted due to the pandemic, new vehicle sales haven’t been this low in April since 1999.

On a year-to-date basis, the number of units sold was down by 14.5% compared to the same four months in 2021. The average price of new vehicles, however, appreciated 6.6% during the same timeframe.

This trend was evident on a national basis as well. Canadian new motor vehicle sales fell by 10.4% while the average price grew by 5.1% through the first four months of 2022.

The ongoing global disruption of supply chains is causing shortages of essential car manufacturing components such as semiconductors, which is straining inventory levels and pushing prices up for new cars.

More trouble might be ahead for auto sales as rising borrowing rates and inflationary pressures weigh more heavily on consumers.

Answer to the previous trivia question: In 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador was the last province to join Canada.

Today’s trivia question: Which new country did Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada form?

Supply chain challenges continued to weigh on new vehicle sales in April 2022

Supply chain challenges continued to weigh on new vehicle sales in April


Economics News

Subscribe and get a quick daily snapshot of what’s happening in Alberta’s economy

Need help?

Our Client Care team will be happy to assist.

Chat now
ATB Virtual Assistant
The ATB Virtual Assistant doesn't support landscape mode. Please tilt your device vertically to portrait mode.