Car registrations slump again

• Second consecutive drop in sales
• Down 17.5% compared with 2009
• 2010 will end slightly up, however

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New car registrations fell for the second month in a row in August and the downward trend is expected to continue for the rest of the year.

Sales fell by 17.5% compared with August 2009, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 55,305 cars were registered last month.

Although the SMMT predicts registrations will continue to be down on monthly 2009 figures for the remainder of the year, it is also forecasting year-end figures to be 1.2% up thanks to a strong start to 2010. In all, the SMMT reckons two million new cars will be registered by the end of the 2010.

Diesel-powered cars accounted for more than half of the market for the second month in a row, with 52.6% of all registrations, while superminis still dominate the top 10 best sellers.