Segment experiences arguably its most drastic sales decline yet

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Sales in the US Compact segment fell by 12.3% to 1,548,650 in 2018, the second sharpest sales decline in the past three decades, less bad only than the 17% sales decline the segment experienced in 2009. The difference is that overall market sales fell by 17.2% in 2009, whereas overall car sales rose in 2018. These two statistics emphasize just how quickly Compacts are being replaced by Compact SUVs as the go-to family cars. Time will tell whether new metal in 2019 will change this trend, but right now the indication is that, much like for the rest of the market, the movement from regular cars to crossovers is set to march on in the foreseeable future.

Note: “AP” designates models that are classified in the Alternative Power segment, presented here for comparison; clicking on the model name opens the sales data page for that model; clicking year in the legend turns the display for that year on/off

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