THE surge in fleet sales as retail sales continue to drop has been further underlined with publication of last month's sales figures. Fleet sales rose - up 3.5% year-on-year to 89,997 units from 86,958 units - while total sales were down 0.87% at 180,275 from 181,849.

Meanwhile, for the first quarter of 1996 fleet sales were up 5.1% at 263,191 in a total market up just 1.08% at 531,049.

And last month the Vauxhall Vectra took the top position in the upper medium sector in the total market with sales of 8,354, ahead of the Ford Mondeo with total sales of 8,192. However, in the fleet market Mondeo sales were 51 units ahead of its chief rival at 6,799 to make it the best-selling fleet model.