DETROIT, Michigan, Oct 1, 2008 (AFP) - Ford Motor Co. posted a sharp 34 percent drop in US sales in September as the nation's economic woes took a bite out of auto sales.

Ford has already been suffering from a sharp drop in demand for its gasoline guzzling trucks and sport utility vehicles amid high fuel prices. Now dealers are reportedly loosing customers unable to get loans because of a credit crunch.

'Consumers and businesses are in a very fragile place,' said Jim Farley, Ford's vice president of marketing and communications.

'An already weak economy compounded by very tight credit conditions has created an atmosphere of caution.'

Ford's September sales fell to 116,734 vehicles in September from 176,204 a year ago. Year-to-date sales are down 17.3 percent at 1.5 million vehicles.

Truck sales were down 39.5 percent for the month and 22.3 percent for the year to date while car sales were down 19 percent in September and 6.3 percent so far this year.

Ford is hoping to improve sales next month with the launch of the new F-150 pickup truck, which has been the nation's best selling truck for 31 years in a row.

'The sell down of the current model F-150 is ahead of schedule, and the first shipments of the new F-150 will arrive soon at Ford dealers,' said Farley.