It has been more than six months since the year-over-year change in used-vehicle supply has been flat, according to CNW Research, but it looks like May is headed that way.

In some “Early Returns” data included in CNW’s latest Retail Automotive Summary,  the days’ supply of used units in May is off only 0.9 percent from May 2011.

“For the first time in more than six months, used-vehicle inventories are virtually flat in terms of days’ supply,” stated CNW president Art Spinella.

“While still down around 1 percent, this is a far cry from the past year and reflects both tighter inventory control by medium and large used-car dealers, as well as somewhat slower floor traffic for used cars,” he continued. “It has also resulted in softening prices at wholesale.”

This was just one of many findings in the firm’s monthly report.

CNW also touched on how used-vehicle sales are likely to shake out this month.

Based on the first 18 days of May, CNW is forecasting 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.

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).

Independents, however, don’t appear like they’ll enjoy the same fate.

“Independent dealers are on the verge of suffering another monthly setback in sales,” Spinella explained. “Projections based on the first 18 days of May show independent used-car sellers trailing year-ago by more than 12 percent. On a year to date basis, independents are off more than six percent compared to 2011.”

Specifically, their projected May sales are at 1.31 million units (down 12.1 percent) with five-month sales at 4.82 million (down 6.3 percent).

CNW 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).