U.K. Car Sales Jump 12%

Registrations of new passenger vehicles in the U.K. rose to 151,300 units last month from 134,900 units in October 2011, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

October marked the eight straight month of year-on-year increases in car volume. Commercial vehicle sales dropped 8% to 21,700 units last month.

Car sales from January through October advanced 5% from a year earlier to 1.77 million vehicles. The SMMT raised its full-year outlook to more than 2 million passenger vehicles from its previous forecast of 1.97 million units. U.K. sales totaled 1.94 million in 2011.