GM Computer Glitch Throws Industry for a Loop

General Motors Corp. said Monday that it will report its April sales figures a day later than the rest of the industry, throwing a wrench in the industry's reporting system.

The automotive giant was scheduled to report last month's sales figures Monday, but a "systems failure," last Friday prevented GM dealers from submitting their data, according to a statement.

GM said it will publish the collated data Tuesday, one day later than the rest of the industry, but analysts said the computer glitch-generated delay compromises the entire reporting exercise.

"If the biggest automaker cannot come up with any numbers, you're going to get a skewed industry sales pace," said David Lucas, vice president of Autodata Corp., one of a handful of industry tracking firms.