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June 21, 2005 8:00 AM, EDT

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.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks climbed 29.7% to 20,953 units in May, as replacement demand re-mained strong against a backdrop of rising prices for diesel fuel and trucks themselves.

Each of the eight domestic truck brands registered gains in May, compared with May 2004.

Through May 2005, Class 8 sales now total 97,302 units, 33.9% higher than the same period in 2004, Ward’s Communications reported.

“We are concerned with inflation-type pressures, if you will, but it doesn’t seem like it is out of control yet. There is some [fleet] growth, but a majority of the new trucks out there are replacement sales,” said Eric Ballantine, a credit analyst with Standard & Poor’s.

For the full story, see the June 20 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.