US auto recovery seen after 21-year low in '82

US automakers said their sales last year continued a four-year decline, with a 7.2 percent drop to 5.76 million units, the lowest level in 21 years. Industry analysts, however, predicted that domestic markets will recover in 1983, after a year of business marked by sharp recession, high interest rates, and widespread consumer resistance to high prices. They note that automakers have recorded three consecutive monthly increases in sales, reporting a 25.3 percent gain last month to 448,048 units, compared with 35,7580 a year ago.