Spring has seen wholesale prices drop across the board, but one segment that has managed to retain its value throughout the season is now expected to experience positive growth.

Though NADA Used Car Guide expects overall auction prices to fall by .2 percent (or $25) this week, relative to the two-week average, the large pickup segment is expected to see prices grow by .7 percent, or $150.

This trend may in part be due to the improving housing market and increasing new construction rates as summer nears.

Intrestingly, this segment remained strong through May, as well, when auction prices fell at rates not seen since October of last year, when prices dropped by 2.9 percent. This past month, used-vehicle prices fell by an average of 2.1 percent, according to NADA's latest Guidelines report.

NADA’s seasonally-adjusted used vehicle price index moved to 122.1 for May, which was a .6-percent improvement over April’s figure of 121.3, the report shared.

“With a year-to-date loss of just 0.4 percent, the index’s five month average of 122.5 remains just slightly below 2012’s historical peak of 122.9,” NADA Used Car Guide's Jonathan Banks said in the report.

For this week, only two segements are expected to see price increases. On top of the expected spike in large pickup prices, luxury cars are predicted to see a .2-percent, or $50, lift in prices, NADA UCG reported.

On the other hand, the midsize vans are expected to “lead the pack” again for percent declines this week, with prices expected to drop around .5 percent, or $75.

Luxury utilities should see a .3-percent, or $75, decline in prices over the course of the current week.

“All remaining NADA segments will see more muted declines over the course of the current week,” NADA UCG officials shared.

Compact cars and midsize cars are slated to decline by .2 percent, or $25, apiece followed by large SUVs at .1 percent or $25.
 
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.