Japan's domestic sales of new cars, trucks and buses declined 5.6% from a year earlier in May, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday, falling for the second straight month.

The result showed that consumers have continued to stay away from luxury spending since the April 1 consumption tax increase.

Sales totaled 206,906 vehicles in May, the association said.

By brand, Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.TO) sold 83,086 Toyota brand vehicles in May, down 8.9% from a year earlier, with sales of its Lexus upscale vehicles totaling 2,450, down 27.8%.

Nissan Motor Co.'s (7201.TO) sales fell 25.5% to 21,243 vehicles, while Honda Motor Co. (7267.TO) registered a 64.3% rise in sales to 30,089 units.

Auto sales, as measured by registrations of vehicles with the government, are monitored by economists since they are the first consumer spending numbers released each month.

The figures don't include sales of mini cars and trucks.

Source:MarketWatch