McLEAN, Va. -

Prices are expected to continue their seasonal slide in the lanes this week — that is all except for one segment.

NADA Used Car Guide predicts that wholesale prices will fall by an average of 0.3 percent, or $50, with luxury cars bucking the trend.

As the only segment expected to see a price increase this week, prices for luxury cars are predicted to see a gain of 0.2 percent $50).

And it seems the truck segments are still close to the top when it comes to retention levels.

“Large pickup trucks and large SUVs are still performing very strong, with expected declines of under 0.2 percent for each respective segment,” said David Paris, automotive analyst for NADA UCG. 

Gas prices have been mild lately, perhaps contributing to price strength in the larger segments.

Per Energy Information Administration data released this week, the average price of regular grade gasoline (all formulations) only grew by one cent to land at $3.36 per gallon.

Following trends seen last week, the biggest price drops are expected in the midsize van segment, where prices should fall by about 1 percent ($125), NADA UCG said.

The midsize car (down 0.9 percent), compact car (0.8 percent), and midsize utility (0.6 percent) are expected to follow.

All remaining segment prices are expected to decline by less than 0.5 percent, NADA UCG said, with overall “mild” movement expected across all segments.  

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.

NADA Segment Average AuctionNet® Wholesale Price 2-Week v. Current
4-Week Average 2-Week Average Current Week % Change $ Change
Compact Car 9625 9550 9475 -0.8% ($75)
Compact Utility 13550 13500 13450 -0.4% ($50)
Industry 14425 14400 14350 -0.3% ($50)
Large Pickup 19950 19925 19900 -0.1% ($25)
Large SUV 23725 23700 23650 -0.2% ($50)
Luxury Car 21875 21900 21950 0.2% $50
Luxury Utility 24800 24675 24575 -0.4% ($100)
Mid-Size Car 11425 11375 11275 -0.9% ($100)
Mid-Size Utility 16475 16400 16300 -0.6% ($100)
Mid-Size Van 13125 13050 12925 -1.0% ($125)