GOVERNMENT figures have confirmed that new car sales are on the up after years of decline.
According to the Department of Environment, there were 55,700 new cars registered in 2013/14 - up 16 per cent on the previous year.
The department said the increase "may, in part, be a sign of an improvement in economic conditions following a downturn in recent years".
The statistics tally with those of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Earlier this month,
they revealed 4,403 new vehicles were registered in the north in April - a 6.7 per cent rise on the same month last year.
That figure took the total for the year so far to 23,057 - a 14.7 per cent increase on the first four months of 2013.