9314.0 - Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia, Feb 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/03/2003   
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This publication presents monthly information on sales of new motor vehicles in each state/territory in original, seasonally adjusted and trend estimated terms. The original data are sourced from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Sales data are available for passenger vehicles, other vehicles and total vehicles at the state/territory and national levels.


FEBRUARY 2003 KEY POINTS


Trend

The trend estimate for new motor vehicle sales increased by 0.8% in February 2003 compared with January 2003. This is the fourth consecutive month of trend increases. Passenger vehicle sales continued eight months of positive growth with an increase of 0.8% in February 2003 compared with January 2003.

All states and territories recorded increases in the trend series for sales of new motor vehicles in February 2003. South Australia had the highest growth with 2.8%.


Seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted estimates decreased by 8.0% in February 2003 compared with January 2003 following unusually high January 2003 sales. The seasonally adjusted sales of new motor vehicles have returned to September 2002 levels. Seasonally adjusted sales of passenger and other vehicles decreased 5.8% and 11.8% respectively between January 2003 and February 2003.

NOTES

DATA QUALITY

Due to a processing problem with the data supplier for heavy truck sales, other vehicles were understated by 367 units in July 2002. These missing units have been included in the August 2002 sales data for other vehicles. The impact on the original series is as follows: New South Wales (119 units), Victoria (63 units), Queensland (84 units), South Australia (18 units), Western Australia (65 units), Tasmania (14 units) and the Northern Territory (4 units).


TREND REVISIONS

The most recent trend estimates are likely to be revised when new seasonally adjusted estimates become available. For further information see Explanatory Notes 9 and 10.

The graph below presents the effect of two possible scenarios on the previous trend estimates.

1The March 2003 seasonally adjusted estimate of total vehicle sales is higher than the February 2003 seasonally adjusted estimate by 4.2%.
2The March 2003 seasonally adjusted estimate of total vehicle sales is lower than the February 2003 seasonally adjusted estimate by 4.2%.

The percentage change of 4.2% was chosen because the average absolute percentage change over the last 8 years has been 4.2%.

GRAPH - trend revisions


The next annual re-estimation of the seasonal factors will be undertaken after data for reference month October 2003 have been released.


SUMMARY - TREND AND SEASONAL ANALYSIS

Graph - new motor vehicle sales, total vehicles - long term


graph - new motor vehicle sales, total vehicles-short term


Table 1: New Motor Vehicle Sales

Passenger vehicles (No.)
Other vehicles (a) (No.)
Total vehicles (No.)
Change Passenger vehicles (%)
Change Other vehicles (%)
Change Total vehicles (%)

Original

2001December
48,193
20,838
69,031
1.4
-10.4
-2.4
2002January
39,779
18,778
58,557
-17.5
-9.9
-15.2
February
42,776
22,019
64,795
7.5
17.3
10.7
March
44,828
22,996
67,824
4.8
4.4
4.7
April
42,052
21,834
63,886
-6.2
-5.1
-5.8
May
46,448
26,675
73,123
10.5
22.2
14.5
June
49,101
29,680
78,781
5.7
11.3
7.7
July
45,923
23,859
69,782
-6.5
-19.6
-11.4
August
45,122
24,525
69,647
-1.7
2.8
-0.2
September
43,396
22,638
66,034
-3.8
-7.7
-5.2
October
48,269
24,063
72,332
11.2
6.3
9.5
November
47,229
24,346
71,575
-2.2
1.2
-1.0
December
45,317
22,656
67,973
-4.0
-6.9
-5.0
2003January
40,015
21,155
61,170
-11.7
-6.6
-10.0
February
43,677
23,058
66,735
9.2
9.0
9.1

Seasonally Adjusted

2001December
46,133
20,054
66,187
5.2
-8.5
0.6
2002January
49,079
24,810
73,889
6.4
23.7
11.6
February
45,699
23,668
69,367
-6.9
-4.6
-6.1
March
43,408
21,857
65,265
-5.0
-7.7
-5.9
April
45,648
23,651
69,299
5.2
8.2
6.2
May
45,401
24,316
69,717
-0.5
2.8
0.6
June
44,705
23,749
68,454
-1.5
-2.3
-1.8
July
44,390
24,048
68,438
-0.7
1.3
0.0
August
45,301
25,217
70,518
2.1
4.9
3.0
September
45,947
25,194
71,141
1.4
-0.1
0.9
October
45,791
24,955
70,746
-0.3
-0.9
-0.6
November
45,464
23,406
68,870
-0.7
-6.2
-2.7
December
41,865
20,783
62,648
-7.9
-11.2
-9.0
2003January
49,584
28,103
77,687
18.4
35.2
24.0
February
46,685
24,775
71,460
-5.8
-11.8
-8.0

Trend

2001December
45,425
22,214
67,639
1.1
1.5
1.3
2002January
45,785
22,601
68,386
0.8
1.7
1.1
February
45,873
22,979
68,852
0.2
1.7
0.7
March
45,672
23,291
68,963
-0.4
1.4
0.2
April
45,308
23,555
68,863
-0.8
1.1
-0.1
May
44,990
23,834
68,824
-0.7
1.2
-0.1
June
44,971
24,216
69,187
0.0
1.6
0.5
July
45,060
24,484
69,544
0.2
1.1
0.5
August
45,126
24,581
69,707
0.1
0.4
0.2
September
45,140
24,450
69,590
0.0
-0.5
-0.2
October
45,245
24,288
69,533
0.2
-0.7
-0.1
November
45,471
24,242
69,713
0.5
-0.2
0.3
December
45,781
24,323
70,104
0.7
0.3
0.6
2003January
46,174
24,524
70,698
0.9
0.8
0.8
February
46,546
24,750
71,296
0.8
0.9
0.8
(a) Other vehicle figures for July 2002 and August 2002 have been affected by reporting problems. See Notes.

Table 2: New Motor Vehicle Sales by State/Territory of Registration(a)

NSW (No.)
Vic. (No.)
Qld (No.)
SA (No.)
WA (No.)
Tas. (No.)
NT (No.)
ACT (No.)
Aust. (No.)

Original

2001December
22,979
19,502
12,045
4,379
6,649
1,873
571
1,033
69,031
2002January
20,414
15,658
10,737
3,727
5,481
989
525
1,026
58,557
February
22,108
17,336
12,252
4,168
6,159
1,090
553
1,129
64,795
March
23,923
18,330
12,694
4,224
5,880
1,093
658
1,022
67,824
April
22,428
17,250
11,671
3,985
5,642
1,103
624
1,183
63,886
May
25,763
19,540
13,507
4,648
6,344
1,343
763
1,215
73,123
June
27,496
20,296
15,035
5,143
7,348
1,294
813
1,356
78,781
July
24,643
18,721
13,462
4,457
5,562
1,174
579
1,184
69,782
August
23,456
18,942
13,516
4,537
6,102
1,311
597
1,186
69,647
September
22,236
18,765
12,497
4,187
5,493
1,239
507
1,110
66,034
October
24,618
20,185
13,456
4,499
6,627
1,203
580
1,164
72,332
November
24,349
19,829
13,224
4,641
6,320
1,398
628
1,186
71,575
December
21,741
19,706
12,672
4,531
5,989
1,584
585
1,165
67,973
2003January
20,648
16,490
11,632
3,988
5,762
1,025
534
1,091
61,170
February
21,965
18,152
12,956
4,754
6,164
1,069
582
1,093
66,735

Seasonally Adjusted

2001December
22,558
18,453
11,506
4,120
6,647
1,268
613
1,022
66,187
2002January
25,864
19,891
13,486
4,883
6,524
1,322
673
1,246
73,889
February
23,890
18,492
12,906
4,483
6,441
1,305
638
1,212
69,367
March
23,102
18,035
12,072
4,118
5,233
1,144
605
956
65,265
April
24,378
18,490
12,743
4,359
6,140
1,254
609
1,326
69,299
May
24,448
18,804
12,968
4,370
6,041
1,315
659
1,112
69,717
June
23,768
18,491
12,265
4,448
6,334
1,299
634
1,215
68,454
July
23,332
18,419
13,518
4,360
5,904
1,210
586
1,109
68,438
August
24,094
18,986
13,768
4,427
6,190
1,256
617
1,180
70,518
September
23,778
19,665
13,771
4,581
6,154
1,292
596
1,304
71,141
October
24,025
19,026
13,887
4,434
6,434
1,225
588
1,127
70,746
November
23,130
19,251
12,847
4,426
6,192
1,289
617
1,118
68,870
December
20,809
17,721
11,628
4,138
5,564
1,080
611
1,097
62,648
2003January
26,458
21,064
14,557
5,236
6,981
1,359
673
1,359
77,687
February
23,770
19,372
13,648
5,110
6,444
1,271
674
1,171
71,460

Trend

2001December
23,583
18,486
12,236
4,206
6,053
1,276
635
1,164
67,639
2002January
23,824
18,643
12,457
4,247
6,139
1,281
636
1,159
68,386
February
24,019
18,700
12,589
4,285
6,193
1,275
635
1,156
68,852
March
24,115
18,635
12,649
4,316
6,198
1,263
633
1,154
68,963
April
24,087
18,536
12,696
4,342
6,159
1,257
629
1,157
68,863
May
23,989
18,500
12,805
4,366
6,114
1,259
624
1,167
68,824
June
23,956
18,618
13,039
4,401
6,111
1,265
619
1,178
69,187
July
23,878
18,779
13,283
4,419
6,126
1,267
611
1,181
69,544
August
23,737
18,919
13,443
4,418
6,144
1,261
604
1,181
69,707
September
23,540
19,005
13,448
4,418
6,155
1,249
600
1,175
69,590
October
23,432
19,091
13,367
4,449
6,176
1,239
604
1,175
69,533
November
23,446
19,197
13,285
4,528
6,222
1,240
616
1,179
69,713
December
23,546
19,316
13,253
4,645
6,286
1,242
631
1,185
70,104
2003January
23,718
19,454
13,281
4,785
6,365
1,250
647
1,198
70,698
February
23,893
19,567
13,365
4,921
6,429
1,257
660
1,204
71,296
(a) Other vehicle figures for July 2002 and August 2002 have been affected by reporting problems. See Notes.