New car sales ended 2021 weaker amid chip shortages

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Australian new car sales dived 18.0% year-on-year in December on the back of the supply disruptions, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

Only 78,402 new cars were sold in December compared with 95,652 in December 2020 and 84,239 in December 2019.

The next chart plots new car sales in rolling annual terms and shows the COVID rebound has well and truly ended:

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.