VAN sales received a healthy boost in November with sub-1.8 tonne sector registrations up 0.6% on November 1998 at 7,116 units from 7,076. Registrations in the 1.8-3.5-tonne sector wereup 20.8% from 10,659 in November 1998 to 12,871 units last month.

However, despite the rise in light van business year-on-year last month sector sales are down 3.2% this year at 75,057 (1998: 77,561), while sales in the larger category are virtually static year-on-year at 133,298 (1998: 133,380).