Sales Fell

DETROIT -- U.S. auto sales fell in June, hurt by Ford Motor Co.'s 11 percent decline, but General Motors Corp.'s sales rose 4.3 percent as discounts and newer truck models helped the largest automaker gain market share from its closest rival. GM and Ford said they revived no-interest loans to clear out 2002 models before their replacements arrive, the companies said. Sales fell 3.6 percent at DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit and 0.6 percent at Toyota Motor Corp. Ford, trying to recover from losses last year and the first quarter of this year, was hurt in June as it declined to match discounts offered by GM and Chrysler.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. said yesterday that total sales in December dropped 5 percent from December 2000, but the company still expects record earnings for the year. Sales at the Hampstead-based retailer were $32.2 million for December 2001, compared with $33.9 million in December 2000. The numbers include sales at the men's clothing chain's 21 new stores. Same-store sales, which are sales at stores open at least a year and are considered a key indicator of a retailer's health, were down 6.7 percent in December 2001 compared with December 2000.

The nation's biggest retailers reported the weakest November sales growth in a decade yesterday, further dimming an already bleak outlook for the holiday season. Sales fell below expectations for many chain stores, many of which had offered deep discounts to lure shoppers. But a recessionary economy, rising unemployment and fear of layoffs kept consumer spending in check. Springlike weather hurt sales even more, as shoppers bypassed snow tires, heaters and heavily promoted coats and sweaters.

Retail sales grew at an expected slow pace in February, as U.S. consumers continued tightening spending amid a weakening economy. Sales at the nation's biggest chain stores rose, on average, 2.8 percent for the month, when retailers typically clear out winter merchandise, a Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi index showed. The gain fell short of a much healthier increase of 6 percent in February 1999, before consumer confidence began to ebb because of higher fuel costs and a plunging stock market.

Sales of new cars and light trucks in Maryland dropped slightly last month, an indication that the economic slowdown in much of the nation has come to the state. According to figures released yesterday by the state Motor Vehicle Administration, sales in November were 1.3 percent lower when compared with November 1999. Consumers bought 28,680 new cars and light trucks last month, the MVA said. That compares with sales of 29,050 in the corresponding period of last year. Dealers had one more selling day last month than in November 1999.

Maryland cigarette sales have dropped by 16 percent since last year, the sharpest drop in at least two decades and evidence that last year's tax increase is prompting some smokers to quit. Health advocates and Gov. Parris N. Glendening, who combined forces to push the 30-cents-a-pack increase through the General Assembly last year, said the sales figures vindicate their claim that higher cigarette taxes are good for public health. "It looks like we're clearly headed in the right direction," said Glendening, who initially sought a $1-a-pack increase.

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp.'s car and light truck sales were unchanged last month, missing forecasts on disappointing car sales. DaimlerChrysler AG's U.S. sales fell 2.7 percent as its aging minivan and pickup lines fell prey to rivals' redesigned models.GM, the world's biggest automaker, sold 347,855 cars and light trucks, unchanged based on the daily sales rate.Analysts had forecast a 4.4 percent gain. DaimlerChrysler, the No. 3 maker in the United States, said its Chrysler arm's car sales rose 3.3 percent while light truck sales fell 4.7 percent.

Although new-home sales in the Baltimore metropolitan region rose over December totals, the number of units sold in January fell by 23.7 percent when compared with January 1998, according to statistics released by Meyers Housing Data Reports.The Washington firm that tracks new-home construction reported that the hardest-hit counties were Anne Arundel and Howard, which dropped 29.5 percent and 26.3 percent from the same period last year. Baltimore County was off by 24.6 percent when compared with January 1998.

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. car and truck sales fell 4.3 percent in July as lower car sales and a cutback in price discounts offset a modest increase in truck demand.The second-largest automaker said yesterday that truck sales were 5.2 percent higher than in the same period a year ago, at 214,235 vehicles, while car sales fell 17 percent to 128,948. Analysts had expected Ford's sales to be little changed.The results come in what is expected to be one of the year's slowest sales months, a result of the strikes at General Motors Corp.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler Corp.'s U.S. sales of cars and trucks rose 3.2 percent in July, less than expected, as lower demand for cars offset improved sales of trucks and minivans.Truck sales rose 8.6 percent to 146,503 vehicles, while car sales fell 8.2 percent to 59,915, the third-largest U.S. automaker reported yesterday.Analysts had expected a 5 percent overall increase.Chrysler's sales have benefited from an updated lineup of key truck models, such as the Durango sport-utility vehicle and Ram four-door pickup.