What's the news?
New car sales in Ireland appear to be experiencing a slowdown as 2017 comes to an end, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
Data released by SIMI shows that 162 car sales figures for the month of October (2,243) were down 12 per cent, or 316 units, compared to October 2015 (2,559).
That's despite the fact that year-to-date (YTD) new car registrations in the country (145,433) are up 21,913 units, or 18 per cent, on the same period last year (123,520).
It's a similar story for Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations - up 4,373 units, or 19 per cent YTD, but with October registrations down 23 units, or 2 per cent, to 1,181 from 1,204 from the same month last year - and Heavy Goods Vehicles, which saw 128 vehicles registered this October (down 16 per cent, or 25 units, from 153 for October 2015) on a YTD figure of 2,774 registrations - up 711 units, or 34 per cent, compared to the same period last year (2,063).
Anything else?
Alan Nolan, the director general of SIMI, said: "In the final quarter of the year, we do expect to see a slowdown in new vehicle registrations, with much smaller numbers each month compared to the peak selling months; indeed, the industry is already moving its focus to the 2017 sales period, as can be seen and heard in current advertising campaigns.
"However, it is fairly apparent that the 162-period, at 7 per cent up on last year, has seen a slowing-down in registrations relative to the 161-period, which finished 23 per cent up on the first six months of 2015. Whether this has been influenced by the Brexit situation or just a slowing of retail activity in the Irish economy after a sustained period of growth, is not yet clear but this is something that the industry will be continuing to watch closely."