Automakers battered in February as US sales drop

Most automakers were battered in February as American consumers pulled back on new car purchases, a continued hangover from the brisk sales pace last year, according to data released Thursday.The three American auto giants reported sales declines: 6.9 percent year-over-year for GM and Ford, and one percent for Fiat Chrysler's US subsidiary.Most other major car makers in the US market saw sales drop last month, but Toyota bucked the trend with a 4.5 percent boost.