OTTAWA - The number of new vehicles sold in October increased 3.3 per cent to 139,549, driven by higher sales of both passenger cars and trucks.

Statistics Canada reports preliminary industry data indicate the number of new vehicles sold in November decreased one per cent.

Passenger-car sales in October were up 3.4 per cent to 57,491.

StatsCan says sales of North-American built passenger cars accounted for most of the gain, rising 5.1 per cent while overseas-built sales increased 0.6.

Sales of trucks (including minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) grew 3.2 per cent to 82,058 in October.

The number of new motor vehicles sold was up in all provinces, led by Alberta, where sales advanced 6.6 per cent.

The lowest growth rates were in Quebec (up 1.9 per cent) and Ontario (1.2).