(December 21, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,361,899 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in December for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) this month of 15.4 million light vehicles. This would bring total 2012 sales to 14.5 million light vehicles, which would be a 13.5 percent increase over 2011, and the highest annual total since 2007.

"December will be the icing on the cake for 2012 — it's a strong close for a year that had significant auto sales growth throughout," says Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell.

"Along with the momentum of the improving economy, December car sales have been helped by compelling advertising, generous deals from most automakers, and the rush of demand unexpectedly and unfortunately caused by Hurricane Sandy."

*NOTE: December 2012 had 26 selling days, December 2011 had 27 and November 2012 had 25.

Edmunds.com estimates that December's projected sales will be a 19.1 percent increase from November 2012, and a 9.6 percent increase from December 2011. Retail SAAR will come in at 13.0 million vehicles in December, with fleet transactions accounting for 15.6 percent of total sales. An estimated 2.71 million used cars will be sold in December, for a SAAR of 39.6 million (compared to 2.77 million — or a SAAR of 38.7 million — used car sales in November).