McLEAN, Va. -

Following a recent trend, potentially due in part to falling gas prices and a new wave of inventory hitting the lanes as the new-car sales surge brings more trade-ins to the market, NADA Used Car Guide reported all the wholesale price segments it tracks are expected to experience declines over the course of the current week.

And as fuel prices fall for the sixth week in a row — per Energy Information Administration data,  the average price of regular grade gasoline fell four cents from $3.79 to $3.75 — the compact car segment prices are sliding, as well.

This segment is predicted to fall for the second week in a row, this time by 1.5 percent or $175, NADA UCG reported.

 “The decline in the average price of regular grade gasoline along with seasonal market adjustments continue to apply downward pressure compact car segment prices,” officials surmised.

And according to  this week’s installment of exclusive AuctionNet Wholesale Price and Forecast Data provided by NADA UCG to Auto Remarketing, the midsize van segment is expected to see the biggest drop at 2.1 percent or $325, and should be followed closely behind by the large SUV segment at 1.5 percent or $375, the organization reported.

And what does NADA UCG see as the factors behind this slide?

 “Seasonality and initial returns of 2012 model year off-rental units are both factoring into softening prices for the van segment,” officials explained.

Moreover,  both the midsize car and midsize utility segments are expected to drop by $225 over the course of the current week, followed by luxury and compact utilities at $200 apiece. 

Wrapping up its commentary, NADA UCG touched on the fact that the two-week average rate of growth for all segements declined slightly, as well.

Midsize vans fell the most of any segment by 2.4 percent, following closely behind was mid-size cars which fell by 2.2 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 forecasted 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 $11,675 $11,500 $11,325 -1.5% ($175)
Compact Utility $15,550 $15,250 $15,050 -1.3% ($200)
Large Pickup $19,250 $19,125 $19,100 -0.1% ($25)
Large SUV $25,475 $25,075 $24,700 -1.5% ($375)
Luxury Car $23,825 $23,650 $23,575 -0.3% ($75)
Luxury Utility $27,125 $26,925 $26,725 -0.7% ($200)
Mid-Size Car $13,925 $13,625 $13,400 -1.7% ($225)
Mid-Size Utility $18,900 $18,625 $18,400 -1.2% ($225)
Mid-Size Van $15,750 $15,375 $15,050 -2.1% ($325)