Analysts say July U.S. auto sales reached nearly 1.5 million vehicles, an increase of approximately 10% from July 2013. The increase boosts the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) above the 16 million unit benchmark. Edmunds.com reported a July SAAR of 16.8 million, which would be the highest in eight years.Through the first half of 2014, total U.S. industry sales were nearly 8.2 million vehicles, an increase of 4.3% from the first half of 2013. The increase in sales is expected to continue through 2014 and into 2015. In fact, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Chief Economist Steven Szakaly predicts close to 16.8 million vehicles will be sold in 2015.