New auto sales in Hawaii rose 13.4 percent during the first half of the year from the same period a year ago but that pace is expected to slow during the final six months of 2013.

Retail light vehicle registrations are expected to finish the year up 10.8 percent at 47,100 units, according to data released today by the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

In the second quarter, state auto sales jumped 16.6 percent to 12,998 from 11,143.

“Pent-up demand is easing,” according to the Hawaii Auto Outlook report. “The vehicle fleet in the U.S. is still at record-high levels, which will help keep the market moving in a positive direction, but the boost supplied by pent-up demand will subside somewhat during the next 18 months.”

New car sales rose 12.1 percent to 12,109 through June from 10,806 a year ago and represented 50.5 percent of the Hawaii market. Light truck sales jumped 14.8 percent to 11,867 from 10,334 and represented 49.5 percent of the local market.