Wholesale prices are still on the slow climb upward, says NADA Used Car Guide.

NADA expects that used-vehicle prices will continue to climb by 0.2 percent, or $25, this week, similar to the prior two weeks' wholesale price movement.

Across segments, expected changes are nearly all positive, with prices for only luxury cars anticipated to decline a slight .02 percent, or $50, officials reported.

And for the second week in a row, the biggest price spikes this week are expected to be in the midsize van segment, as prices are expected to grow by 0.5 percent, or $75.  

The compact car and midsize utility segments are expected to increase by $50 apiece, as well.

“NADA still expects that wholesale prices will begin increasing at an accelerated rate throughout the month of March; the past couple weeks have been a good indicator of strengthening prices across the board,” said NADA UCG.

And it seems seasonal factors may be playing a role in the strong wholesale environment.

Black Book managing editor Ricky Beggs said earlier this week that seasonal patterns, such as an uptick in car buyers during tax season, lifted used-car pricing and wholesale activity this month.

And continuing toward spring, “additional growth in new-car sales from pent-up demand will bring in more trade-in volume and result in a continued slow easing of prices at the wholesale level,” said Beggs.

And though the effects seem to have not reached the auction lanes quite yet, gas prices continue to rise towards $4.

Per Energy Information Administration data released this week, the average price of regular grade gasoline (all formulations) increased by three cents from $3.75 to 3.78.  This is six cents higher than what was recorded for the same week last year.

Looking forward, as fuel prices continue to surge upwards, gas-sipping segments “should continue to get a lot of looks from the increase in springtime fuel prices,” said Beggs.

But that doesn’t mean the truck and SUV segments will fall off; in fact, as service sectors look to add vehicle inventory for continued construction activity, demand for these vehicles will grow, as well, Black Book reported.

For more information on future wholesale price predications, 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.