One of the semi-funny jokes we tell here at Peak Prosperity is that if you want to know how well SUV and truck sales are doing, you only need check the price of gas over the previous three weeks. (If it's been falling, sales are up!)
Sadly, that joke comes true with startling regularity. Just as it did last month (Dec 2014).
Despite repeated statements from various government and energy industry 'think tanks' that the fuel efficiency of the American vehicle fleet is improving steadily, explaining the lowered demand for oil products (as well as raising hope for reduced carbon dioxide emissions), we can't find any facts to back up that assertion.
In fact, the most recent vehicle sales reports reveal that the biggest sellers in December were SUVs, trucks and luxury cars; not your highest-mileage sorts of vehicles:
Low Gas Prices Give SUV Sales A Boost
Jan 5, 2015
Sales of cars surged in December, and analysts believe that the year's total will exceed 17 million, making it the fifth straight year of growth for the industry.
Cheap gas prices helped make that happen, as sales of trucks, SUVs and luxury vehicles rose rapidly.
Jeep's sales, for instance, were up 40 percent on increased consumer demand for crossover SUVs. Meanwhile, demand for hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles shrank.
by dennisc 
