The impact of the Federal Government's Car Allowance Rebate System, better known as the Cash for Clunkers Program, is evident in the monthly sales of light vehicles in 2009. August 2009 sales slightly surpassed those of August 2008, though most of 2009 was well below the 2008 sales levels. After the program ended, sales fell sharply in September, but rebounded in October to the same level as October 2008. November 2008 and November 2009 sales were also nearly identical. A light vehicle sales rebound in December raised total sales for the year just above 10 million.
Light Vehicle Sales by Month, 2008-2009
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Supporting Information
| Month | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,039,137 | 655,226 |
| February | 1,171,681 | 687,356 |
| March | 1,351,542 | 855,358 |
| April | 1,243,547 | 817,287 |
| May | 1,392,840 | 923,346 |
| June | 1,185,267 | 857,627 |
| July | 1,132,182 | 995,402 |
| August | 1,246,705 | 1,258,944 |
| September | 962,292 | 744,566 |
| October | 834,622 | 835,925 |
| November | 743,606 | 744,669 |
| December* | 891,072 | 1,063,223 |
| Total | 13,194,493 | 10,438,929 |
* December data are projected. | ||