A report from J.D. Power indicates that American auto sales for the month of September will be at the same level as the worst of 2009, due to the end of the government-sponsored "cash for clunkers" program, and a subsequent end to the purchase of new cars.

Overall, U.S. auto sales are expected to tally at an annualized rate of 9.2 million vehicles, and retail sales for September are forecast to be the worst of the year, according to J.D. Power's analysis of the first two thirds of the month. This overall rate would equal the numbers from February, the month with the worst annualized sales rate of the year.

The cash for clunkers program, which provided incentives of up to $4,500 to consumers who exchanged their older gas-hogging cars and trucks for newer, more fuel efficient options, caused a significant increase in U.S. auto sales in July and August, but a drop in the sales rate upon the program's completion in late August was forecast.

The monthly auto sales rate for August, according to Autodata Corp., was roughly 14.1 million units. The final September annualized number is expected to be around 7.5 million, but it is also expected that sales will pick up again in the fourth quarter of the year, as credit conditions and consumer confidence both improve.

J. D. Power is maintaining its overall auto sales outlook for both 2009 and 2010. Their 2009 forecast is 10.3 million vehicles sold, which represents the fourth year in a row of declining sales, and a significant drop from last year's 13.2 million.

September retail sales are expected to come in at around 590,000 units, which represents a 24% decline from September, 2008.