NASHVILLE, Tenn. -

Pickups enjoyed strong price retention throughout 2013, spurred by high demand and low supply. And it seems consumer interest isn’t waning.  

According to the latest Automotive Shopper Intensity report from Dataium, there was a large increase in in online auto shopping activity towards full-sized trucks last month.

But not just any trucks; those “capable of meeting the needs of construction workers,” Dataium reported.

Dataium, whose report examines the new-vehicle market, shared that growth in the housing and construction market is spurring interest in these units.

The Ram 2500 and 1500 took the top two positions, respectively, on Dataium’s New Vehicle ASI Ranking for December.

They were followed by the Ford F-250 pickup and Ford Expedition EL. These vehicles showed the greatest increase in online auto shopping activity when compared to November, Dataium said.

On the used-car guide, NADA Used Car Guide spoke to the trend of growing interest in pickups this week, as well.  

Supported by what NADA’s Jonathan Banks says was a “unique combination of both consumer and commercial demand along with lower gas prices and comparatively tight supply,” large pickup price increases led the pack in 2013.

The segment saw their values rise 9.6 percent over 2012 levels. Throughout 2013, pickups enjoyed much stronger price retention than other segments, and were not affected by seasonal downturn, according to the latest Guidelines report.

Going back to the Dataium report, the firm found that consumers weren’t just showing more interest in full-sized trucks this past month; the Dataium ASI index increased 2.45 percent total from the previous month, with online shopping activity increasing across the automotive market.

Breaking it down by segment, shopper interest increased 11.6 percent in compacts, 11.7 percent in midsized cars, 10.6 percent in large cars, 15.6 percent in midsized sporty cars and 15.2 percent in midsized CUVs, when compared to November.