April’s used-vehicle sales numbers backed up assertions that the economy is generally on a positive path and finance companies can leverage the situation into profits down the road.

According to CNW Research, used-vehicle sales in April to deep subprime buyers — customers with FICO scores below 500 — jumped by 19 percent year-over-year and climbed 24.5 percent versus March.

The number of used cars sold by franchised and independent dealers in April, plus those included in private-party sales, came out to 3.96 million last month, CNW said.

This compares to 3.82 million in April 2012. Through four months, there have been 11.44 million used vehicles sold, up from 11.26 million in the same period of 2013.

Franchised dealers sold 1.41 million used cars in April (up 4.7 percent), independents moved 1.28 million (up 3.95 percent) and casual sales increased 2.21 percent at 1.26 million.

In his Retail Automotive Summary published before the April used-vehicle sales tallies, CNW president Art Spinella noted the firm’s Jitters Index improved slightly.

“Americans are still worried about much of their home-centric economic condition, but there was a slight easing of those concerns versus both a year ago and (February),” said Spinella, noting both readings showed an identical 0.7 percent decline.

“Hardly upbeat, at least it’s a move in the right direction,” he continued. “To put it into historical perspective, though, the March index registered a 7.66. In January 2007, it was at 3.84. For most of the 1990s, the index hovered between 4 and 5.

Earlier last month when the company reported its first-quarter financial performance, Consumer Portfolio Services chairman and chief executive officer Brad Bradley explained how rising consumer confidence coupled with another industry factor is helping companies that specialize in financing subprime buyers.

“Looking at the economy, I think consumer confidence is finally edging up to where it’s probably helping. The biggie for us and certainly for lots of folks is that the rates are so low. I would say the rates are going up bit they just don’t seem to be going anywhere,” Bradley said.

“So for a company like CPS to have those rates sit here where we can generate large amounts of paper and continue to build our portfolio locked in those long-term rates and have them to be very low, really helps in terms of both generating cash flow and also in locking long-term profits,” he continued.

Manheim chief economist Tom Webb offered more commentary that might indicate sales prospects might be upbeat beyond the typical spring market.

“First-quarter earnings reports suggest the economy might be setting up for acceleration in the months ahead,” Webb said in Manheim’s latest Auto Industry Brief. “Evidence came not in the numbers (they were too distorted by the weather), but in the commentary and future guidance.

“Banks, for example, had only mediocre results (due to weakness in the mortgage market and investment banking); but most reported a pickup in commercial loans to small and midsize businesses,” he continued. “Economists have been arguing in recent years whether weak business lending was the result of low demand or the reluctance of banks to lend. Maybe now we can put aside the academic argument and simply enjoy the ensuing benefits.

“With labor markets improving (but still far from healthy) and inflation below both targets and expectations, there is no doubt that the monetary punchbowl will remain full way beyond the ability of all guests to consume,” Webb went on to say. “This year’s long rave may not end nicely, but it won’t end in 2014.”

Turning back to last month’s used-vehicle sales performance, Spinella gave some overarching analysis on April’s used-car market in his report released Friday.

“The Internet continues to drive traffic to used car sellers at the expense of newspapers,” he said. “In April, the number of shoppers went to a dealership because of something seen on the Internet jumped 116 percent versus a year ago and nearly 28 percent versus March of this year.

“Newspapers, on the other hand, saw a decline in the number of consumers who say they were driven to a dealership by print newspapers — down 16 percent versus a year ago.”

Spinella went on to note: “More consumers are shopping franchised dealerships for a used car or truck versus March of this year (up 46.5 percent), but off somewhat vs. year ago (down 4.5 percent). For independent dealers, the comparable percentage changes are up 22 percent (versus last month) and down 22 percent (versus last year).”

Staff writer Joe Overby contributed to this report.