US auto sales seen falling as car market awaits war impact

NEW YORK: Carmakers are expected to report lower first-quarter US sales as the Middle East war clouds the industry’s outlook compared with unusually favorable dynamics a year ago. The US-Zionist entity offensive on Iran, launched on February 28, has boosted oil prices by more than 50 percent, sending gasoline prices to more than $4 a gallon.

While that adds to the affordability challenges facing the industry, experts and automakers say it is too soon to determine the war’s overall impact on sales.

“We’re certainly keeping an eye on…