U.K. Car Sales Rise for 12th Straight Month

Registrations of new passenger cars in the U.K. last month climbed 8% from a year earlier to 66,700 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

February marked the country's 12th consecutive month of year-on-year sales gains. SMMT says the growth in volume last month came from consumers. Fleet volume shrank.

U.K. demand for mini and supermini cars was especially strong in February, with surges in registrations of 136% and 36%, respectively.

The country's commercial vehicle volume grew 5% to 11,300 units last month, SMMT reports. A 12% gain to 9,100 units for vans more than offset a 16% drop to 2,200 units for trucks.