Big month for auto sales

Here's another indication of an economy that's considerably stronger than the one being advertised. November car sales grew at an annual pace of 13.6 million, which remains well below the 16-17 million pre-recession range, but is a big improvement from the 2008-2009 period. This should help boost the fourth-quarter GDP numbers. One striking development in November: Many more trucks and SUVs being sold, despite stubbornly high gas prices. From the WSJ:

Today, buyers are snapping up small SUVs and pickups in reversal of the earlier move to gas-sipping passenger cars. Results at GM, the largest U.S. auto maker, illustrate the strong lift from sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Its SUV and truck sales climbed 10% while passenger cars rose 1%, both from a year ago. While end-of-year tradesmen purchases tend to favor bigger vehicles, consumers are also embracing pickups and small SUVs such as Chevrolet's Equinox that can get up to 32 highway miles a gallon, one less than a Malibu sedan.