Sales of new cars up by 30%

Sales of new cars jumped by almost one third in the first three months of the year as the strong recovery in the motor trade continues.

Figures from the CSO show that new car sales rose by 30.1% in the first three months of the year.

The CSO said 68,375 new private cars were licensed in the first three months of 2016 compared to a figure of 52,543 for the corresponding period last year. The number of used or imported cars also increased in the first quarter, rising by 8.2%.