Article: DETROIT FEARS IMPACT OF CREDIT CRUNCH U.S. SALES FLAT FROM YEAR AGO.(Business)

Byline: Sholnn Freeman, Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- Car companies are bracing for one of the slowest sales years of the decade as weakness in the housing market ripples through the auto industry.

U.S. sales of new cars and trucks in August were flat compared with a year ago, and analysts say they expect them to be weak the remainder of the year. Company officials are blaming soft economic growth, high gas prices and tight lending standards -- problems they say are forcing consumers to stretch paychecks, shore up savings and postpone car purchases.

Jim Lentz, Toyota's top U.S. sales executive, said consumer credit problems tied to the ...

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