Auto Sales to Rise in 2010

PROJECTED 15% INCREASE MARKS FIRST YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH SINCE 2005

DETROIT, Oct 21 (Reuters) - U.S. auto sales are projected to rise nearly one-fifth to 11.8 million units in 2010, influential industry tracking firm CSM Worldwide said on Wednesday, citing signs that the worst of the economic downturn had passed.

CSM, raising its forecast by 600,000 units, said consumer confidence will improve enough to drive the industry's recovery by the first quarter of next year, when employment and other economic indicators are expected to bottom out.

Sales of 11.8 million units would represent the first year-on-year increase in U.S. light vehicle sales since 2005.

Terry Lancaster is the co-founder and a managing partner of instant-events.com: Automotive Advertising which provides car dealers with Radio, TV and Print Advertising plus pre-packaged sales events with no long-term contracts and no media or sales commissions.