The government issued on Friday its December jobs report, providing economists the first full picture of 2012. If you want a hint about economic trends in American Fork, however, look no further than a truck dealership.

Because pickups are often considered the workhorses of small businesses and contractors, they emerge as a rugged indicator of the local economy. When times are good, contractors buy more of them to carry tools around for landscaping and lumber to build homes. Weekend haulers also gravitate to them even though cars are cheaper and get better mileage. Sales of luxury trucks to “never-nevers” — industry parlance for consumers who never take their trucks off-road or use them for towing — are also an indication that times are good.

And while you may have no interest in buying a pickup, you should care that other people do: The market leaders, F-series pickups from Ford, are not just best-selling trucks; they have been America’s best-selling vehicles for the past 30 years. The largest Ford dealer in Utah County is also the largest Ford truck dealer in the entire state: Ken Garff Ford of American Fork.

And despite 16 days of precipitation in December in American Fork, Ken Garff sold a mind-boggling 110 trucks, the dealership’s best month ever.

“It means everybody is doing better,” said Bob Morgan, the dealership’s general manager of sales. “We have trucks that cost over $60,000, and those are the ones we sell the most of.”

Record sales at this location are not just chalked up to a heightened Christmas spirit. Ken Garff’s sales are up by a hefty 25 percent year over year. And the trend has been positive for the last three years, outpacing the economic climate nationally.

Low interest rates and improving consumer confidence have helped draw new buyers into the American Fork dealership. But Mr. Morgan credits great products, too, including the success of the new turbocharged, six-cylinder Ford engine that uses a fifth less fuel than older, larger V8 engines of similar power but has 25 percent more towing capacity.

For Ken Garff Ford, where eight out of 10 vehicles sold are trucks, an above-average compared to the rest of the country, 2012 was its best year ever, the latest indicator that the economy in Utah County has moved into full gear. 

Mr. Morgan’s optimism hasn’t relented. “As far as we are concerned, the recession is behind us,” he said.

Danny Crivello can be reached at crivello@citizen.af, via text at 801-477-6397 or on Twitter.

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