OVERALL year-to-date (YTD) vehicle sales figures are up 2.9 per cent, or 22,490 units from 761,440 to 784,380 as at the end of August, however this growth is not evenly reflected across the country.

Two states, New South Wales and Victoria, have recorded a significant surge in sales so far with YTD figures climbing 5.6 percent from 249,763 to 264,702, and 3.6 percent from 206,005 to 213,901 respectively. South Australia also recorded a useful improvement, up 4.2 per cent from 45,209 to 47,014.

Increases were also recorded in the ACT, up 4.5 per cent from 11,296 to 12,471 and the Northern Territory, up 1.5 per cent from 7487 to 7601.

QLD is effectively static with year-on-year sales up just 0.2 per cent from 158,081 to 158,469.

The bad news came in Western Australia, down 3.7 percent from 70,952 to 68,303 and Tasmania down 2.8 per cent from 12,197 to 11,919.

These figures indicate that Australia has a two speed economy, however, unlike the heady days of the mining boom, WA has shifted down a gear while former rustbelt states NSW and Victoria are on the up.

By Daniel Cotterill