WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Consumer demand for sport utility vehicles is weakening, according to transaction data from the Power Information Network (PIN). The data show that the number of days SUVs sit on dealer lots before selling has increased substantially compared to 2003.

SUV prices have also declined while average new-vehicle prices have increased and incentives increased more on SUVs from June to July than on any other type of new vehicle.

The number of days SUVs are on dealer lots increased from an average of 60 days in July 2003 to 73 days in July 2004 — a 22 percent increase. Luxury SUVs sat on lots 47 percent longer in July 2004 than in the previous year with an increase from 34 days in July 2003 to 50 days in July 2004.

The average SUV transaction price dropped 2 percent or $620 in July versus a year ago. Luxury SUVs exhibited the greatest decline, as the average price fell almost 5 percent.

To spur consume demand, new-vehicle manufacturers increased SUV incentives in July. The average total incentive expenditure per SUV was $3,440 — up nearly 12 percent from June. This increase was almost twice the overall industry average increase.