After analysts reported November wholesale price movement had slowed to about 2 percent, NADA Used Car Guide predicted auction prices to continue to inch downward this week.

NADA UCG anticipates that prices at auction will fall by 0.2 percent (or $25) versus the two-week average.

“Across the board, depreciation will be relatively mild,” said David Paris, NADA UCG automotive analyst.

And a few segments are also expected to see small levels of growth this week, with the midsize van segment leading the way. This segment is expected to see prices grow by 0.8 percent, or $100.

Midsize utilities and luxury cars will follow with respective gains of 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent, or $50 apiece.

On the other hand, compact utilities are predicted to see the biggest dollar drop this week, falling by 0.8 percent (or $100).

And as gas prices continue to fall, compact car prices are being impacted; this segment is expected to fall by 0.8 percent, as well, or $75, according to NADA UCG.

Ricky Beggs, editorial director and senior vice president at Black Book, echoed the same sentiment Wednesday.

Smaller used cars have seen the biggest price drop over the last twelve months, when gas prices have also dropped from a high of $3.78 in February to a current level of $3.29, he reported.

Over that span, entry-level cars have depreciated 16.6 percent, while midsize cars have fallen by 16.9 percent, suggesting a connection between dropping fuel rates and lower prices for fuel efficient vehicles.

“The depreciation levels for entry-level cars and entry midsize cars are average in comparison against pre-recession-level price changes, but it’s still something to keep a watchful eye on when you compare with the rest of today’s segment activity,” said Beggs.

This week, midsize cars, large pickups, luxury utilities and large SUVs will all see losses under half a percent, NADA Used Car Guide’s Paris shared.

As for the rest of this year, Kelley Blue Book, meanwhile, is reporting the industry will see another 2 percent decline through year-end.

“Typically auction values continue to fall at this steady rate through year-end into January and February, and only then will values start picking back up as we approach early spring,” said KBB senior analyst Alec Gutierrez. “This softening in auction values is attributed to increased off-lease vehicles and thus higher auction volume than seen in previous years.”

For more on predictions and insight into November’s wholesale price activity, see the Auto Remarketing story here.

Four- and two-week AuctionNet wholesale average prices are created by collecting all AuctionNet records for vehicles  up to five years of age for a specified period of time.  Prices are then adjusted for changes in mileage and mix.

Current week prices are based on NADA's proprietary used-vehicle value model which includes assumptions for new-vehicle prices, used-vehicle supply, gasoline prices and other economic factors.