Reading Between The Lines - Are Automaker Sales Figures Really Just A Pack Of Lies?

On the first day of every month, automakers report how many cars and trucks they sold during the previous month. It's data that in timeliness and detail is unparalleled in any other industry. Want to know how many iPhones Apple sold in April? You will have to wait until the company's quarterly results appear in July. How many skinny Caramel Macchiatos did Starbucks move? You'll have to guess because Starbucks won't tell you.

While it's good to have the sales numbers, it is equally important to know how to interpret them. The raw data requires experienced eyes to identify trends and spot inflection points. To paraphrase the old saying, there are lies, damn lies, and monthly auto sales.

 

GermanNut - 4/30/2014 1:21:26 PM

0 Boost

Well BMW has been caught artificially inflating its sales numbers.

skinny - 4/30/2014 1:49:50 PM

+1 Boost

Well, you can only inflate sales numbers for soo long. If a manufacturer inflates numbers one month, typically a month or so down the line it's going to get adjusted down. Eventually, sales have to equal quantity produced.

cidflekken - 5/1/2014 1:45:06 AM

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Whether BMW "inflated" sales numbers or not, you cannot deny the fact that seeing a 3 or 5 Series is almost no different than seeing a Civic or Corolla. They are truly everywhere, in every neighborhood. Similar with C and E Classes.

DTMFan - 5/1/2014 11:46:38 AM

+1 Boost

They're somewhat irrelevant anyway, they don't really matter unless you are an investor, and even then, they only paint a small part of the picture.