The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Nov. 2, edition that major automakers posted mixed U.S. new-vehicle sales in October on Wednesday. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that General Motors posted a sales drop of 2.2 per cent for the month, with consumer sales down 6.6 per cent. Sales of high-margin pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers all rose. GM also cut its inventory of unsold vehicles -- a source of concern for the market -- slightly. The automaker has worked to reduce its volume of excess inventory, including through significant production shutdowns in the third quarter. GM had said its inventory would rise in October. GM slightly reduced consumer discounts as a percentage of average transaction prices to 13.5 per cent, from 13.7 per cent in the third quarter. Industry experts believe consumer discounts above 10 per cent of the average transaction price are unhealthy as they erode resale values and are unsustainable in the long term. Consultants J.D. Power and LMC said last week that based on preliminary October sales numbers, discounts have exceeded 10 per cent in 15 of the past 16 months. Ford Motor vehicle sales rose 6.2 per cent in October.