Quote from Ricter:
But I'd have to use google...
So use Google. Assuming you're referring to the direct reports coming from the AN site (since you either know what you'll find or are too lazy), I did a quick data analysis on the releases that they provide, and the archived releases. Some interesting points:
1. Auto Nation's increase over prior year claims are different than the data states. Not by much, but it's odd.
Auto nation claims: Domestic increase over Apr 2011 is 9%. Their raw data shows it at 8%. They claim imports went up 16%, but their raw data shows 12%. They understated Luxury by 3.5 points, so I thought this could simply be a reclassification, except that total increase (they claim) was 12% vs. the data saying it was only 11%. Not a huge difference, but you have to wonder about a company that cannot even reconcile it's own sales numbers.
2.
A much bigger issue is that, with all the trumpeting about the sales increase and your post on how US Retail Car Sales Continuing to Climb, it's really just an exercise in statistics. Here is a graph of the sales month by month for the last year that I just threw together using Auto Nation's raw data:
As you can see, the data doesn't really show an increase (especially in the last few months where it has been up, down, up, down. After 12 months, there was a slight increase over the prior April timeframe (already established) but it's staying right around the baseline of approx 20,000 units. If that's your "whoopdeedoo" then I guess you get excited easily.
The source of my data is the AN website investor releases:
http://investors.autonation.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=85803&p=quarterlyearnings
You know, in case you want to verify my data. No need to get "hung up" on things like facts, right?
So your first source you cannot provide, your second doesn't really show what you're claiming in your original post. Maybe the third time is a charm?