Car prices driven up
Domestic retail car prices last month were 10 percent lower than the average for Western Europe and 9 percent lower than the average for the euro currency zone, according to research by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and eurocarprice.com.
The average yearly increase until October for Western Europe was 3 percent. Spain showed the strongest movement in retail car prices with vehicle costs rising by 4.3 percent during the 12 months to October. The weakest price movement was in Hungary where retail prices decreased by 3.9 percent.
Poland's price differential did not help sales last month, however. Data produced by the Samar car market analysts shows the domestic slump is continuing, with sales of new cars closing at 19,801 in October. This represents a decrease of 3.8 percent on September and a fall of 38 percent against October last year.
In January to October new sales totaled 275,426, which is 3.8 percent lower than in the same period of 2003. Samar's analysts attribute the decline to new tax regulations. Since May, the rules on the purchase of business cars are far less advantageous. Demand for new cars has also been stifled by huge, uncontrolled imports of used cars from EU countries. Since May, it is estimated that more than half a million second-hand cars have been imported into Poland.
The average yearly increase until October for Western Europe was 3 percent. Spain showed the strongest movement in retail car prices with vehicle costs rising by 4.3 percent during the 12 months to October. The weakest price movement was in Hungary where retail prices decreased by 3.9 percent.
Poland's price differential did not help sales last month, however. Data produced by the Samar car market analysts shows the domestic slump is continuing, with sales of new cars closing at 19,801 in October. This represents a decrease of 3.8 percent on September and a fall of 38 percent against October last year.
In January to October new sales totaled 275,426, which is 3.8 percent lower than in the same period of 2003. Samar's analysts attribute the decline to new tax regulations. Since May, the rules on the purchase of business cars are far less advantageous. Demand for new cars has also been stifled by huge, uncontrolled imports of used cars from EU countries. Since May, it is estimated that more than half a million second-hand cars have been imported into Poland.
