Ford sales down 28%

Ford Motor Co. says its U.S. sales tumbled 27.9 percent in June as high gas prices and a weak economy deepened the trouble facing the company.

The company blames the decline on high gas prices and low consumer confidence that are sending buyers to the sidelines. Ford reports steep drops in sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.

For the first half of the year, Ford's sales were down 14 percent compared with the year-ago period.

Ford is the first automaker to report sales data Tuesday. Industry analysts expect June to be a dismal month for the industry with sales down double digits from last June.

They also say Toyota Motor Corp. may take the U.S. sales lead from General Motors Corp.