An increase in car sales could be a sign of consumer confidence returning

More than 14-thousand new vehicles were registered last month - up 13.5 percent on October last year.

It was the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

Motor Industry Association Chief Executive Aimee Wiley says the last few months have brought some encouraging signs.

She says there's been a rise in private and business buyers, and a particularly large rise in rental buyers.