Updated from 2:13 p.m. EST General Motors ( GM ) said its February sales declined 52.9% and estimated that industry February sales were the worst since 1967. "It was stone cold flat the entire month," said Mark LaNeve, vice president for sales and marketing, on a sales conference call. "We didn't get the traditional lift that you get the back half of the month." He blamed "a barrage of bad economic news," particularly stock market news, and said many potential consumers are either out of work or worried about their jobs. "People are tracking their investments," LaNeve said. "That doesn't put them in the mood to go out and splurge on a new vehicle. Luxury got killed." GM said it delivered 127,296 vehicles in February; fleet sales fell by 75% while retail sales were off 43%. Car sales rose by 23%, while crossover sales rose by 6%. Earlier today, Ford ( F ) reported that its February sales had fallen 48%.