VAN sales continued their steady recovery this year with further rises in both the under 1.8 tonnes and 1.8-3.5 tonne sectors last month. Sales of under 1.8 tonne vans totalled 7,082 last month (May 1996: 6,638) to take total sales in the sector for the first five months of 1997 to 34,550 (1996: 31,442).

In the 1.8-3.5 tonnes category sales last month were 11,586 (May 1996: 9,481) to take total sales in the sector this year to 53,100 (1996: 51,018).