FLEETS and retail buyers are benefiting from the 'feel good factor' with new car sales up nearly 8% last month and fleet sales almost hitting the 100,000 mark for the first time in January.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reveal that last month a total of 206,784 vehicles were sold - up 7.8% on January 1996's total of 191,761. Fleet registrations - sales to companies operating more than 25 vehicles - rose 5.2%, while business registrations increased 27.2% and private registrations were up 7.6%.

Fleet sales totalled 98,235 (January 1996: 93,382) to take a 47.51% share on the total January market but Ford, Rover and Fiat of the major fleet manufacturers lost out in the flying start to the year as all three marques saw fleet sales drop year-on-year.