U.K. Car Sales Surge 13% in June

Registrations of new passenger vehicles in the U.K. last month climbed 13% to a record 257,800 units, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports.

Sales through the first half of 2015 expanded 7% to a record 1.38 million vehicles. SMMT says it expects the pace to slow in the second half of the year as the market "finds its natural running rate." Sales grew 9% to 2.47 million units in 2014.

But the Financial Times says first-half results were bolstered by heavy discounting and carmaker pressure on dealers to register cars to themselves rather than customers. Dealers hold such cars for 90 days, then sell them as used vehicles. Retailers tell the newspaper actual new-car sales are probably flat or declining.