U.S. vehicle sales up 30.2% in May

DETROIT -- Sales of domestically produced vehicles rose 30.2 percent in early May, the nation's automakers said yesterday, extending the strengthening automotive market into a fourth straight month.

Demand for light trucks, which include mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, showed particular strength, with a 44.4 percent sales gain in the period of May 1-10, to 126,324, compared with 87,497 in the period last year.

Sales of domestically produced cars were at 157,496, up 20.8 percent from last year's 130,408. Vehicle sales overall totaled 283,820, compared with 217,905 last year.