Group to hold meeting at Composite Center

— The Coalition for a Prosperous America is inviting business, labor and agricultural community reps to a conference June 13 at the National Composite Center in Kettering.

The free conference begins at 9 a.m. at the center at 2000 Composite Drive. The coalition, a member-driven organization advocating trade, taxation and other reforms to encourage domestic industry, held the Dayton Economic Summit last year. Lisa Novelli, president of the center, has arranged for a brief tour. For more info, contact Pete DaSilva (304) 919-7077 or pete@prosperousamerica.org. DETROIT —

American Honda’s sales jumped 47 percent in May to nearly 134,000 cars and trucks, with sales of the company’s Civic model rising 80 percent from a year ago, when an earthquake and tsumani in Japan affected production.

“With our best May sales performance since before the financial crisis, it’s obvious Honda’s return to strength is in full swing,” said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales. “

Honda has more than 13,000 employees in Ohio, including about 2,700 in the Dayton and Springfield-Urbana areas.

Chrysler’s U.S. sales jumped 30 percent last month. The company said it sold more than 150,000 cars and trucks in May, compared with 115,000 in the same month a year earlier.

The performance of two Miami Valley car dealerships mirrored their manufacturers.

“We’ve been on a roll for the last 15 to 18 months,” said Terry Tobey, owner of Key Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Xenia.

Tobey said his dealership’s May sales jumped 41.2 percent. He said demand from drivers who “have duct-taped their cars together,” and Chrysler’s improved product line, were factors.

Jerry Perron, general manager of Bill DeLord Cadillac Buick GMC in Lebanon, said his dealership’s May sales were on par with GM’s, which showed an 11 percent sales increase in May to reach the highest monthly total since August 2009.

“It’s been a pretty strong year so far,” Perron said. “The average car on the road is older, so I think the market is getting stronger.” Confidence in GM has surged, and the company is offering attractive leasing programs, Perron said.