Statistics Canada says new motor vehicle sales increased in every province in Canada this past March, a trend the national statistics agency attributed to a rise in truck sales.
Sales jumped up 6.3 per cent in March to 122,194 units, compared to 114,995 units the previous month.
It was the largest monthly growth since January 2008, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.
March sales of new trucks, minivans, SUVs, buses and the like, were up 11 per cent to 60,577 units.
Passenger car sales rose two per cent to 61,617.
Statistics Canada said a 10.4 per cent jump in Quebec new vehicle sales accounted for 45 per cent of the national increase.
The sales increases in the province over February and March "more than offset the 14 per cent decline in sales between October 2008 and January 2009."
Alberta posted the lowest sales growth of 1.8 per cent, while Prince Edward Island saw the highest with a 19.4 per cent increase over the previous month.
Ontario's sales figures rose 5.8 per cent.
The agency said the number of new vehicles sold in March 2009 will likely be matched in April 2009, based on the preliminary data that is available.
Overall, all of the provinces saw fewer new car purchases in March 2009 than they did in March 2008.
