So Did General Motors Do Good Or Not Today [2010-07-01]?

[Duckster]

Today’s headlines on one story:

GM June Sales up Nearly 11 Percent

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co reported a 10.7 percent rise in June U.S. sales, helped by strong demand for newly launched vehicles such as the Chevrolet Equinox crossover and a recovery in truck sales.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11063788 (Reuters)

GM U.S. Sales Surge 36% in May (F, TM)

General Motors says its June U.S. Sales for core brands in June were up 36 percent.

http://www.benzinga.com/markets/company-news/10/07/358798/gm-u-s-sales-surge-36-in-may-f-tm (Reuters)

General Motors June sales drop 13 percent from May

DETROIT — Sales of General Motors Co. cars and trucks fell nearly 13 percent from May to June, a sign that this year’s slow recovery in auto sales may be stalling.
Consumers are delaying big-ticket purchases because they’re worried about their jobs in an environment of high unemployment. Analysts predict overall sales for the industry will drop 10 percent or more from May.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j2HyJn2K3iZu_uusL4yqhoIbaCWwD9GMBS400 (Associated Press)

G.M. Posts a Decline in Monthly Sales
DETROIT — New-vehicle sales in the United States slowed in June, automakers and analysts said, raising concerns that the market’s recovery could be stalling after months of slow but encouraging gains.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/business/02autos.html?src=busln
The above stories are the actual headlines and opening paragraphs of each of these news stories. Anyone glancing at the headlines as they walk past the newsstands, grab a quick view off of a computer screen, or hear a news snippet on the radio of TV, will read/see/hear the story based upon which news subscription service wrote the original story.

Yeah, I know the discerning reader will take the time and determine the actual news behind the sensational headline and leadin. But at the same time, how much will the misleading “grab and go” view impact the movers and shakers in deciding whether to invest, pull back, etc.? It seems to me the differing emphasis’ each writer places on selected parts of the original story/PR release isn’t one of reporting the news as it is in manipulating the news.

[smiling_bandit]

Now, understand that all I’m going by is this very post. I would say this is not good.

Note the weasel-wording on the first two. "10.7% rise in June sales. Sales of what? What rose by the suspiciously precise 10.7%? New cars, used? Parts? Total sales dollars? Likewise, “core brands in June were up 36 percent” What are the core brands? Whatever they say?

By contrast, the last twio headlines have more specific information on what happened, if not quite how much. But that’s usually a good sign: very “precise” numbers are usually less accurate - but more convincing, which is they get used in press releases.

[Voyager]

First, since GM killed off a lot of brands, just doing a year to year comparison is unfair. I think the rise is from last year, which is a bit misleading, since last year was so miserable. The most crucial number is the change from last month - especially because there weren’t any special incentives last month. And that was bad.

Press releases about bad results are about as believable as a creationist textbook. I used to work for a company which always emphasized increase in sales each quarter. I think some of them were increase in sales in the company cafeteria. I went and read the analysts reports to find out how badly the quarter really sucked.

For Immediate Release
The White House
April 1865

President Lincoln enjoys the first act of Our American Cousin

[Magiver]

GM just announced they are now among the top 3 American car manufacturers.