June Car Sales Fell 5% in U.K.

Registrations of new cars in the U.K. dropped to 243,500 units in June compared with 255,800 in the same month of 2016, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports. It was the third consecutive month of year-on-year shrinkage.

SMMT says sales last month to private owners fell 8% to 95,300 vehicles. Deliveries to fleets dipped 2% to 138,900 units, and business-car volume declined 8% to 9,200.

Sales in the first half of 2017 totaled 1.40 million units, down 1% from the record high set in the same period last year. The SMMT notes that a first-quarter boom was followed by a slump when the vehicle excise tax rose. The association predicts stability in the second half of the year and full-year sales of 2.62 million units, down 3% from the total in 2016.