UK new car registrations decreased for the second straight month in August, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders showed on Thursday.
Car sales dropped 2.0 percent annually to 82,908 units in August, which is normally the quietest month of the year, as the sales are generally less than 5 percent of annual deliveries ahead of September's number plate change.
Fleet uptake dominated the month, accounting for 59.1 percent of all new vehicles, though there was a 4.6 percent reduction in volumes. Sales to private buyers rose only 0.7 percent, while the business sector grew by 41.6 percent.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.