DETROIT, MI (AP)-- General Motors says its U.S. sales fell 1.7 percent last month as all brands but Buick reported declines.
The Detroit automaker says it sold nearly 259,000 cars and trucks in October and increased retail sales to individual buyers by 3 percent.
GM has been shunning low-profit sales to rental car companies in favor of more lucrative retail sales.
But the overall monthly decline is a sign that U.S. auto sales have peaked and may be falling slightly after last year's record of 17.5 million.
GM reported that it's getting strong prices for its vehicles. Its average sales price of $43,988 was a record for October.
Sales of GM's top-selling Chevrolet Silverado pickup fell nearly 4 percent, but Chevy Tahoe SUV sales rose 81 percent.
