New car sales closing on six-year high

New car sales are on the rise with the highest figures recorded since the start of the recession.

According to Motorcheck.ie, nearly 66,000 new cars were sold between January and June of this year - a 24% increase on the same period last year.

It is predicted that sales could top 90,000 by the end of 2014 - close to the 100,000 units that sold in 2008.

Motorcheck.ie said: "The industry is still a long way off those heady heights, but 2014 has most definitely been the "bounce back" year for the trade.

"The business community has also rebounded in spades with the sales of commercials up 43% against the same period last year."