According to industry reports, U.S. automobile sales in January reached the second-fastest pace in 17months. The boost in sales was aided by rising business spending and consumer confidence. January vehicle deliveries ran at a 12.4 million annual rate, the second fastest pace since the “Cash for Clunkers” Program and just shy of the December 2010 seasonally adjusted rate of 12.6 million. The great sales figure for January 2011 is a 15% increase from January 2010, a healthy sign that the industry in the midst of a welcomed recovery. The bright spot was higher “retail” sales of cars and trucks to individual customers at dealerships, as opposed to sales to corporate and car-rental fleets. A consumer-driven recovery is much more sustainable.