Car Sales Stall in U.K.

New-car registrations in the U.K. totaled 83,100 units last month, down 280 units from February 2016, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports. It was the month’s first year-on-year decline in six years.

Deliveries to fleets rose 3% to 45,700 units in February. But sales to private owners and businesses dropped 4% to 36,000 units and 5% to 1,400 units, respectively.

Registrations through the first two months of 2017 totaled 257,700 units, up 2% over the same period last year. SMMT predicts demand will rebound in March, the British market’s highest-volume month, and finish the year ahead of last year's record 2.69 million units.