Ford sales down 30
percent

New York (AP) -  Ford says its November U.S. light vehicle sales tumbled 31 percent amid a continued slump in consumer spending and tight credit markets. Toyota's sales fell 34 percent despite its extension of zero-percent financing on a dozen vehicles.

The two companies' reports are a strong indication that sales for the month will be poor industrywide and comes as U.S.-based companies prepare to state their second case for a federal bailout.

Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford and Toyota, Japan's No. 1 automaker, are the first of the major automakers to report U.S. sales Tuesday. Ford says Lincoln and Mercury light truck sales were off 29
percent compared with November of last year, while the three brands' car sales were down 32 percent.

Toyota's truck sales plummeted 36 percent, while demand for passenger cars fell 32 percent.