The comment came from the DG of the organisation, Alan Nolan, on the results of April sales showing a 9 percent decline on the same month last year. Some 6,121 new cars were sold in April, and so far this year, 45,581 new cars have been sold. The cumulative drop for 2013 is 13 percent.
"Given that 130,000 new cars are sold in a 'normal' year, the market is operating at about half of normal level," Nolan said. "With consumer confidence and spending still showing no real signs of recovering anytime soon and with much uncertainty among the public sector around Croke Park 2, this has impacted on the new car market."
Sales of vans and light trucks were up 10 percent in April, compared to April last year but they are down 9 percent for the year. Truck sales were down 22 percent compared to April last year and up 2 percent for the year.
There's a silver lining for those who can buy — the average new car now costs €24,483, €2,621 less than 2007.
