On the first day of every month, automakers report how many cars and trucks they sold during the previous month. It's data that in timeliness and detail is unparalleled in any other industry. Want to know how many iPhones Apple sold in April? You will have to wait until the company's quarterly results appear in July. How many skinny Caramel Macchiatos did Starbucks move? You'll have to guess because Starbucks won't tell you.
While it's good to have the sales numbers, it is equally important to know how to interpret them. The raw data requires experienced eyes to identify trends and spot inflection points. To paraphrase the old saying, there are lies, damn lies, and monthly auto sales.
Read Article