The UK car market registered its strongest May performance since 2019 bolstered by wider choice and sustained competition, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, or SMMT, said Thursday.
Car sales grew 7.1 percent in May from the previous year to 160,662 units. Although the growth was the best recorded for the month since 2019, sales were still 12.6 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
Data showed that private buyer demand increased 17.2 percent driven by wider choice and competitive deals. Fleet demand grew moderately by 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, the business sector demand declined 18.8 percent.
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May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.