Inventory Floor Planning Solutions

SANTA MONICA, California — Edmunds.com is predicting that March car sales will continue to slide, while consumers turn to the used-vehicle market in response.

Edmunds.com says March new-vehicle sales are expected to be 774,000 units, a 42.7 percent decline from March 2008 and a 12.7 percent increase from February 2009.

“This dire report clouds the more encouraging news that underlying demand for new cars continues to climb from October lows,” said Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. “The conundrum for automakers is that currently almost a quarter of the demand is being met with the sale of a used vehicle.”

Edmunds.com says that more than 20 percent of car shoppers who researched new vehicles actually bought a used vehicle. That trend was expected to accelerate in March.

Inside Line says: The auto industry has yet to come out of its swoon, but used-car salespeople are smiling. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent