The number of new cars and trucks sold in Alberta fell by 7.6 per cent in November 2020 (-1,174) compared to the same month in 2019 while the value of the vehicles sold fell by 6.5 per cent (-$49.9 million).

The reduced activity in November compared to 12 months earlier likely reflects reduced confidence in the economy as the second wave of the virus pushed up the number of new cases in the province.

Overall, 2020 will be remembered as a tough year for new car and truck dealers in Alberta. Heading into December, year-to-date sales were down by 20.0 per cent in terms of units sold (-41,648) and 16.6 per cent in dollar value (-$1.6 billion).

It was a similar picture nationally with the number of new units sold down by 9.9 per cent (-14,514) on a year-over-year basis in November and the dollar value off by 6.7 per cent (-$434.1 million).

Over the first 11 months of the year, national sales were down by 403,718 units (-21.9 per cent) and by $15.2 billion (-19.1 per cent).

Answer to the previous trivia question: The CMA that posted the strongest annual population growth between 2019 and 2020 is Oshawa, home of the Oshawa Generals junior hockey team.

Today’s trivia question: What portion of the new vehicles purchased in Alberta in November 2020 were manufactured* in North America? 

*New motor vehicles fall into two categories: those manufactured in North America and those manufactured overseas. The latter are imported in a fully assembled state from countries other than the United States or Mexico.