Ford analyst calls June industry’s best month in ‘09; sales down less than 30 pct

Ford analyst says June best month for sales in ‘09

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co.’s top sales analyst says June was the industry’s best month of the year, with sales falling less than 30 percent.

George Pipas says the decline from a year earlier marks the smallest drop since September 2008.

He says sales for Ford were “good.” He says that the industry’s annualized light vehicle sales rate could hit 10 million as retail sales of vehicles improve.