Car sales in Valley rose in January

New vehicle sales jumped 15 percent in the Valley last month.

Dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties sold 2,697 cars and trucks in January, compared with 2,344 in the same month last year.

The Chevrolet Impala barely edged out the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer as the top-selling vehicle last month, according to a report released Tuesday by the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.

The top five models by sales were the Impala, 182; Blazer, 180, Chevrolet Trailblazer, 158; Pontiac G6, 136; and Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cobalt, 110.

Sweeney Chevrolet in Boardman was the leading dealer with 225 sales.

Leases made up 51 percent of the new vehicle transactions. About 35 percent of the transactions were financed and the rest were cash deals.

While new cars were selling well, used-car sales slipped. Dealers in the three counties sold 3,346 used cars last month, which was a 6 percent decline from the 3,571 that were sold in January 2007.

The top used-car dealer last month was Greenwood Chevrolet Hummer in Austintown with 89.

The top used cars by sales were Chevrolet Cavalier, 103; Pontiac Grand Prix, 94; Blazer, 86; Pontiac Grand Am, 78; and Chevrolet Impala, 74.