Overall car sales in Greece dropped by 23.5 percent in the 7-month period of January-July 2009 over the corresponding period in 2008, according to figures released on last week by the national statistics bureau ESYE.

The figure includes both new and used cars.

ESYE said that a total of 185,043 cars entered into circulation for the first time in Greece in the 7-month period, against 241,853 in the same period last year.

In July, car sales rose by 9.5 percent to 40,869 against 37,322 in July 2008, which ESYE attributed to the reduction in the classification duties.