Big Three Report Strong Truck Sales: Sales...

Big Three Report Strong Truck Sales: Sales of U.S.-built cars and trucks rose 10.1% in early September despite signs that the economy remained stagnant, according to figures released by the auto makers. The strength came again on the truck side, with General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. reporting double-digit percentage increases in sales of pickups, minivans and sport utility trucks. Chrysler Corp., which won’t report its results until the end of the month, was also believed to have strong truck sales. Japanese car makers Toyota, Mazda and Nissan reported large percentage gains in car sales because of new models reaching showrooms. Overall, Japanese car and truck sales rose 31.2%, compared to a 7.5% gain for the U.S. Big Three.