U.S. Dealer Inventories Hit 7-Month High

Dealer supplies of unsold new cars in the U.S. in early December crept to a seven-month high of 4.06 million units, according to Automotive News.

Inventories were 84,500 units lower at the same time last year. The newspaper says stockpiles surged last month, beginning December at a 73-day supply. Sixty days is considered normal.

AN calculates that dealers have a 75-day stockpile of SUV/crossovers and pickup trucks (the highest in five years) and a 68-day supply of cars (the lowest in six years).

Inventories by brand range from a tight 28 days for Subaru to a hefty 149 days for Fiat, according to the newspaper.