GM sales up 26 percent fueled by economy cars

General Motors Co.'s U.S. sales climbed again in April, with the Detroit automaker selling 232,538 vehicles, up 26.4 percent over the same month last year, the company reported this morning.

Rising gas prices and consumers looking to buy more fuel-efficient cars helped give GM a sales boost, even as economic jitters and parts shortages in earthquake-ravished Japan slowed showroom traffic elsewhere in the industry.

Retail sales for GM's four brands – cars and trucks sold by dealers – were up 25 percent in April over the same month last year, and up 4 percent compared to March, despite GM pulling back heavily on incentives. Fleet sales were up 31 percent in April over the same month last year and accounted for about one-third of sales during the month

GM reduced discount spending by $400 per vehicle from March to April, said Don Johnson, GM's vice president of U.S. sales.