How will May’s used-vehicle sales shake out once the month wraps up later this week?

It depends on whom you ask.

Among three industry observers providing May used-vehicle sales projections, two predict a used market in a neighborhood above 4 million sales, while one forecasts a market closer to the 3 million range.

In an analysis released late last week, TrueCar.com called for about 4.39 million used-vehicle sales in May (including numbers for franchised and independent dealers plus private-party sales). This would be a 6.3-percent hike from the same month of 2011 and a 15.7-percent month-over-month uptick.

Meanwhile, also including dealers and private-party sales, Edmunds forecasted approximately 3.23 million used sales for the month, down from 3.49 million in April.

A few days earlier, CNW — which examined the first 18 days of May — forecasted 4.19 million used sales for the month, which would be a 1.6-percent hike from May 2011.

The year-to-date sum is likely to be pushed to 14.89 million, a 5.4-percent increase, the firm projected.

As detailed in Auto Remarketing previously, franchised dealers are expected to climb 0.9 percent year-over-year and move 1.52 million units, with year-to-date sales coming in at 5.21 million units (up 2.7 percent).

CNW projects independents to move 1.31 million used units (down 12.1 percent) with five-month sales at 4.82 million (down 6.3 percent). The firm is forecasting 1.36 million private-party used sales this month, which would be a 20.4-percent increase from last May. Year-to-date sales would be at 4.86 million units (up 24.3 percent).