Some of the US automotive industry’s major producers saw their sales fall faster than expected in April; they include General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda and Nissan.

Only Toyota reported monthly sales that were better than predicted, but they too were down.

Analysts say that US car sales are expected to drop this year after reaching a record of 17.55 million in 2016, up from 17.5 million in 2015.

The average new-car price in the USA has increased by around 2% over the past year, according to data from TrueCar Inc.

The group said: “That’s an increase more consumers may have been able to handle when borrowing costs were low, and when loose credit made pricier trucks and sport-utility vehicles more attainable.”

However, GM’s chief economist Mustafa Mohatarem says he is confident that sales will remain “historically high”.

He said: “When you look at the broader economy — including a strong job market, rising wages, low inflation and low interest rates — and couple that to low fuel prices and strong consumer confidence, you have everything you need for automotive sales to weather headwinds.”

On the other hand, Jessica Caldwell, executive director of American on-line automotive information firm Edmunds, said: “The industry has been holding its breath to see if the days of peak sales are over. While first-quarter sales managed to remain stable, we’re starting to see the slowdown that we’ve been anticipating.

“Should the slump continue, it would reinforce estimates for the US auto market’s first annual contraction since 2009 — the year GM and Chrysler both reorganised in the bankruptcy court.”