Auto sales in November are strong so far, suggesting that falloffs in September and October were temporary dips rather than harbingers of collapse, according to USA Today.

But if the last half of November matches the first, the month's annual selling rate should be 16 million to 16.5 million, the newspaper said. That would easily eclipse October's 15.5 million.

The apparent rebound could be because of old-fashioned salesmanship, according to Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). "After two down months, dealers find a way to move the cars out the door," Taylor said.

Good sales or bad, the month is considered a signpost. "November should tell us if the consumer is going to pack it in for a couple of months," says Ford Motor sales analyst George Pipas, who wouldn't predict November sales.

If sales collapse the last half of the month,

automakers would have to raise discounts to help dealers cut inventories, according to USA Today. Otherwise, dealers would order fewer vehicles and plants would have to be idled. Even if that dire scenario doesn't happen, NADA's Taylor predicts "sweeter deals in December to reach end-of-year targets."