WARREN — Automobile dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties eight months into the year continued to stay ahead of the sales pace set in 2018.

Dealerships in the region through August sold 74,425 vehicles to buyers across Ohio, up 7.4 percent from 69,277 for the same period last year, according to a report form the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association.

The margin got larger for the month with dealers selling 10,343 new and used vehicles, up 8.8 percent from 9,508 in August 2018.

Separate reports from the association for sales to only residents in the three-county region show a similar upward trend — 5 percent in overall and used vehicle sales and 5.2 percent in new vehicle sales.

There were 40,340 vehicles sold through August, up from 38,447 for the same period in 2018. New vehicles sold were 22,618, up from 21,496 and used vehicles, 17,003, up from 16,185, according to a comparison of year-to-date numbers.

A monthly comparison shows a 2.1 percent increase for August, from 5,395 in August 2018 to 5,510 last month.

Dealerships in Mahoning County with the most sales across Ohio in August were Greenwood Chevrolet, 296; Sweeney Chevrolet, 276; Boardman Subaru, 241; Toyota of Boardman, 232; and Fred Martin Ford, 228.

Dealerships in the county with the most sales in the three counties were Greenwood Chevrolet, 286; Sweeney Chevrolet, 261; Boardman Subaru, 224; Toyota of Boardman, 213; and Fred Martin Ford, 211.

The top new vehicle sellers in Mahoning County were Sweeney Chevrolet, 184; Greenwood Chevrolet, 169; Boardman Subaru, 156; Toyota of Boardman, 138; and Sweeney Buick GMC, 130.

The top used vehicle sellers in the county last month were Greenwood Chevrolet, 117; Taylor Kia of Boardman, 92; Fred Martin Ford, 86; Sweeney Buick GMC, 78; and Sweeney Chevrolet, 77.

New vehicle sales across northern Ohio continued their upward track in August, driven by sales of trucks, SUVs and crossovers. The dealers’ association reports a 1 percent increase in sales, from 23,458 in August 2018 to 23,694 last month.

Dealers sold 11,054 trucks, SUVs and crossovers last month, up from 10,799, or 2.4 percent from August 2018. Sales of cars, sedans and coupes were basically flat with dealers selling 12,640, 19 less than last year in August.

It’s the second month in a row new vehicle sales rose.