Despite a shaky economy, United States automobile dealers sold a near-record 17.12 million new vehicles in 2001 worth a record $690

billion, according to data released May 8 by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Strong light-vehicle sales, combined with

robust housing sales, helped make the 2001 recession the least damaging of the last 40 years, according to NADA. The year's strong finish propelled sales to the second highest total in history and an unparalleled string of six straight years with annual sales of more than 15 million vehicles.

Last year's sales were only 1.4 percent below 2000's record 17.35 million units. NADA attributed the better-than-expected sales to

the introduction of major incentive programs after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States which paved the way for an unexpectedly strong fourth-quarter performance and a record level of October sales.

For the first time, light trucks outsold cars in 2001, rising to 50.8 percent (8.7 million units) of light vehicle sales, according to NADA data. The average retail selling price of a new vehicle increased 3.6 percent in 2001 to $25,800.

Franchised new-car dealers sold 13.3 million used vehicles at an average price of $13,900. Auctions were the source for a record 35 percent of used-vehicle inventory for dealers, as they matched used cars offered to customer needs, according to NADA.

"The momentum is carrying over to this year,

which will likely see sales topping 16 million," the trade group said.