By Sharon Silke Carty, USA TODAY

DETROIT — U.S. auto sales for November are expected to be down about 28% when they're released Tuesday, another major decline as consumers sit on the sidelines waiting for some sign that the economy is stabilizing.

The glum report will coincide with Tuesday's deadline for Detroit automakers to submit restructuring plans to Congress to justify their plea for federal loans.

The U.S. sales tally comes on the heels of reports Monday by carmakers in Europe and Asia that showed the auto sales drop-off is global. November sales in Spain were down nearly 50% and in Italy by nearly 30%. Japan's sales were down 18.2%. The European Commission has said it will help the car industry, and included it in a $258.8 billion economic stimulus package, and several nations in Europe are considering aid, as well.