BEIJING - Car sales in China are expected to drop in October compared with September, an industrial survey showed.

The automobile consumption index, which tracks consumers' future car purchase interest, stood at 65.2 in September, down from August's 67.6, data from the China Automobile Dealers Association showed.

Sub-indices for car purchase demands and willingness all edged down over the previous month.

Market uncertainties and downward economic pressure cooled automobile consumption, the association said.

China, the world's largest auto market, saw sluggish sales in the first eight months of this year after losing steam in 2018 with car sales dropping for the first time in over two decades.