Economist: Auto sales will rise again next year A stronger economy, low inflation, higher employment and low gas prices will sell more cars Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/1uFoLlo LOS ANGELES -- The good times will keeping rolling for the auto industry next year, with higher sales and continued low gasoline prices, the National Automobile Dealers Association's chief economist predicts. Sales of new vehicles, already on pace to top 16 million for the first time since the mid-2000s, will increase to 16.94 million in 2015.