Auto Sales: 90 Nicer Days

And it's back to the job for thousands of assembly-line workers

The giant U.S. auto industry, whose sales are critical to any sustained economic recovery, is showing unmistakable signs of renewed vigor. Prodded by sharply lower financing rates, sales of new cars have been on a quiet but steady rise since October. By last week Detroit's harried automakers could look back on sales increases for nine consecutive ten-day selling periods, the first time that has happened since 1976.

Furthermore, General Motors planners said last week that 21,400 laid-off auto workers will be recalled during the next three months at seven U.S. assembly and...