DETROIT (WKZO)-- Auto industry forecasters expect total sales for this year to top 14-and-a-half-million cars and trucks. The figure would represent the best year since 2007, when sales totaled 16-point-one-million.

The automakers will report December sales figures on Thursday. In addition, most forecasts indicate the annual selling rate rose steadily throughout 2012. The December pace was about 15-point-four-million.

J.D. Power and Associates says luxury-vehicle sales are expected to account for 16-percent of all retail sales in December. That's up from 14-point-eight-percent for the same month last year.