DETROIT AP – Auto sales, once a bright spot in the economic recovery, grew fainter last month.

General Motors Co.’s August sales fell 7 percent from July, and an even sharper 25 percent from August of 2009, when sales were boosted by the government’s Cash for Clunkers rebates. Ford saw sales slip 5 percent from July. Subaru, whose strong lineup of smaller cars benefited from clunkers last year, also suffered.