Ford US Sales Slid 28% In June; SUV Sales Plunge 55%

The U.S. auto industry’s slide grew worse in June as it reached the midpoint of a dismal year, with collapsing demand for trucks and SUVs leading Ford Motor Co. (F) to post a 28% sales drop.

The declines were exacerbated by three fewer selling days in June, compared with a year ago. But $4-a-gallon gasoline also had buyers favoring more fuel- efficient cars and shunning the trucks and SUVs which have traditionally driven Detroit’s profits.