Hawaii auto sales as measured by new vehicle registrations declined 1 percent in the third quarter of the year, compared with the same period last year, according to the Hawaii Auto Outlook report issued today.

Year-to-date, new light vehicle registrations rose 0.5 percent through September, while the national increase was 2.4 percent.

Sales are projected to improve 3.2 percent this year compared to 2009, according to Pennsylvania-based Auto Outlook Inc., which prepares the report on behalf of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.