DETROIT - General Motors' October U.S. sales plunged 45 percent, and Ford's and Chrysler's were not far behind, as low consumer confidence and tight credit brought industry sales to an "unsustainably weak level" that was the lowest in 17 years.

DETROIT - General Motors' October U.S. sales plunged 45 percent, and Ford's and Chrysler's were not far behind, as low consumer confidence and tight credit brought industry sales to an "unsustainably weak level" that was the lowest in 17 years.