FX.co ★ US Light Vehicle Sales Tumble on Tariff Fears

The sales of light vehicles in the United States experienced a downturn in May 2025, with the seasonally adjusted annual rate slipping to 15.65 million units. This figure fell below market expectations, which had anticipated 16.3 million units, and marked the most significant monthly decline witnessed in nearly five years. This drop represents a sharp decrease from the revised figure of 17.25 million in April, which was the largest monthly fall in sales pace since the COVID-19-related downturn in April 2020. The decline occurred after a surge in March, when sales reached their highest point since March 2021, as buyers hurried to purchase vehicles in anticipation of potential price increases due to proposed tariffs on imported vehicles, introduced by President Trump.