Sales figures rebounded for several Dayton-area General Motors and Ford dealers last month, a sign the area economy is improving.

According to AutoView Online, which tracks sales through vehicle registrations, the Dayton-area dealer market saw an overall 5.8 percent improvement in new car and truck sales in March 2010 compared to March 2009. With a fierce recession at work, much of 2008 and 2009 were dismal years for auto sales.

Among the local winners, according to AutoView Online: Voss Chevrolet saw new vehicle sales rise 7.7 percent in March 2010 compared to March 2009. Beau Townsend Ford watched new vehicle sales rise 76.1 percent in the same period. Interstate Ford saw a 48 percent rise, and Frank Z Chevrolet recorded a 24.2 percent improvement in the same period.

Other dealers who saw new vehicle sales rise in March this year compared to last March:

• Voss Village Cadillac, 250 percent
• New Carlisle Ford, 90.9 percent.
• Dave Arbogast Buick Pontiac and GMC truck, 41.2 percent.
• Jake Sweeney Chevrolet, 70 percent.
• Lang Chevrolet, 7.7 percent.

Jamie Spencer, general manager at Beau Townsend Ford, sees more than one factor at work. He believes consumers are finally replacing older vehicles, the economy is improving and financial institutions seem to be lending somewhat more readily.

“The market is coming back,” Spencer said. “It sure appears to be. There’s a lot more consistency. Our showrooms have been sporadic at best over the last several years.”

Pete Zorniger, Frank Z chief executive, believes his dealership’s new vehicle sales were up 45 percent in March. But he also wanted to put the improvement in perspective, saying the market is still down compared to better times in recent memory.

“I think people are feeling a little bit better about their own finances,” Zorniger said. “The stock market is up. I mean, it was armageddon a year ago.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com