Gas prices are still rising, but you wouldn’t know if judging by action in the lanes.

Though overall wholesale segment price movement is expected to flow in the downward direction over the course of the current week, NADA Used Car Guide reported that large pickups and midsize vans  are positioned to increase by  $125 and a slight $25, respectively.

In fact, despite high fuel rates — per AAA data released this week, the average price of regular grade gasoline (all formulations) increased six cents from $3.76 to $3.82 — the large pickup segment is expected to see the biggest increases over the course of the current week as prices are expected to rise by 0.7 percent. 

“Low inventory plus high demand continues to shield this segment from increasing fuel prices,” NADA UCG officials noted.

On the other hand, compact cars are expected to decline by 1.2 percent, or $125, followed closely by the luxury car segment at 0.4 percent, or $100. 

Furthermore, the midsize car segment is also expected to drop by a slight 0.2 percent, or $25.

On the truck side, large SUVs  are expected to see the biggest declines at 1.4 percent, or $325.

“The luxury utility segment ($100), compact utility ($75) and midsize utility ($50) segments are all expected to see minor declines over the course of the current week as well,” officials continued.

Wrapping up its commentary, NADA UCG noted the two-week average rate of depreciation for the midsize van segment saw the biggest drop at 2.3 percent followed by the compact car segment at 1.7 percent.

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.
 

In other news from NADA, as mentioned by Auto Remarketing in an earlier story, NADA UCG is now providing manufacturer-certified pre-owned values for every qualified vehicle in its printed and electronic editions.

"We recognize the tremendous effort that manufacturers and new-car dealers have put into developing and raising consumer awareness of CPO programs," said Mike Stanton, vice president and chief operating officer of NADA UCG.

"Our focus is to improve the accuracy of CPO values through NADA's industry-leading data collection and analysis, he added.

The organization also highlighted the rising importance of CPO in the industry, noting, “CPO sales now encompass a larger percentage of overall retail sales of late-model used vehicles than ever before. Manufacturer CPO programs add value to a vehicle because mandatory inspections and extended warranties reduce the risk for used-vehicle buyers.”

To gather the new values, NADA explained it estimates the CPO value by analyzing the sales records of both certified and non-certified vehicles.

The analysis of the data is based on key drivers, such as vehicle age, individual CPO program requirements of multi-point inspections, depreciation rates, warranty extension, age and mileage, officials continued.

"New-car dealers and consumers as well as lenders now have – at the point of sale – a guide for the retail premium of a CPO vehicle under a manufacturer's program," Stanton added. "NADA's CPO values will provide lenders with underwriting guidance for consumer loans associated with the growing number of used vehicles sold through manufacturer CPO programs."

And NADA execs will have even more to say on the importance of CPO in the industry come fall. Jonathan Banks, NADA UCG senior analyst, will be tackling CPO pricing in more depth at this fall's CPO Forum, which is part of the Used Car Week series of conferences held Nov. 12– 16 in Scottsdale, Ariz.