Car sales hit record in Iowa

Iowans bought more new cars and trucks last month than ever before. The Iowa Auto Dealers Association reports a record October, with sales that were 70-percent higher than October of 2000. Association vice president Jim Rohden says 20,833 new vehicles were sold last month.Only 10-thousand-219 vehicles were sold statewide in September, the month of the terrorist attacks. He says that week of the 11th, activity was very low. October of 2000 saw 12-thousand-700 new vehicles sold. Rohden attributes last month’s brisk sales primarily to the zero-percent financing.Rohden says he’s hopeful the strong new car and truck sales will carry on. He says two of the big automakers have already decided to continue the zero-percent financing offer through the end of the year.He says fears the September 11th attacks would severely damage the economy were clearly unfounded. Retail sales nationwide rose seven-point-one percent in October, overcoming a two-point-two percent drop in September.