Decreasing gas prices have not necessarily helped SUV sales at many local car dealerships.

“They really haven’t gone up,” said Dario Gutierrez, general manager at Brian Bemis Toyota and Scion, 1890 Sycamore Road. “Compared to seven months ago, no one was buying them but now some people are.”

Ed Storm, used car sales manager at Brad Manning Ford, 402 Manning Drive, said lower gas prices are just a contributor to their SUV sales.

“It’s a combination of the weather and gas prices,” he said. “Pricing is also very good on them.”

With people steering away from purchasing SUVs the past few months, Storm said the availability and selection of used SUVs is stronger than ever.

“We’ve probably got 15 SUVs here in stock so it gives people a good selection,” he said.

For some dealerships, like Tom Sparks Buick Chevrolet, 216 S. First St., car sales have not been affected by the economy and, more specifically, the gas prices.

“We really have not noticed any change over the last several years,” said internet sales manager Tim Jennings. “For example, last November when the economy was supposedly at its worst, we sold one more car than we did the previous year in November.”

One trend that is relatively common among the different car dealerships are Hybrid vehicle sales.

“It’s not as strong as it was a year ago,” Storm said. “It was so hot a year ago, it almost had to come down.”

Gutierrez said Toyota recently announced a rebate for the Hybrid Prius, Toyota’s top selling hybrid.

“They went from being red-hot to just another car,” he said.Regardless, hybrid sales still remain high.

“It’s still probably about two to three weeks after we get them that they’re gone,” Storm said. “We sell out every time we have them.”