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U.S. auto sales plunged in January, with all of the Big Three automakers’ sales down at least 40%, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Ford Motor Co.’s sales fell 40% from a year ago, General Motors Corp.’s fell 49% and Chrysler LLC’s plunged 55%, the Journal said in a front-page story.

The declines were greater than economists had forecast and automakers said fleet purchasers such as car rental companies were buying fewer vehicles, the paper said.