Car sales climb 5.4% and offer fresh proof of strong economy

The numbers: Sales of new cars and trucks in the U.S. rose 5.4% in February, rebounding from a slow start at the start of the year and offering fresh evidence of the strength of the economy.

Automobile sales increased at an annual rate of 15.8 million last month from 15 million in January, according to Ward’s Intelligence. Economists had forecast a 15.4 million annual rate.