As spring showed price strength in the truck segments while wholesale prices for cars fell by leaps and bounds,  you have to wonder — why are truck prices proving so much stronger in the lanes?

On top of increasing construction rates and housing development, Black Book’s Ricky Beggs highlighted another factor that may be playing a role for the midsize pickup segment, in particular. 

He explained the lack of new model options is driving up used midsize pickup values.

This segment includes models such as the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado (which currently are no longer sold as new), Dodge Dakota and Honda Ridgeline.

Beggs said, “Midsize pickups are showing strong price retention mostly because a lack of model options at new retail have driven up demand for the vehicles.

“Manufacturers shifted more production to the full-size pickups during the last several years because of their profitability, versatility and improved fuel economy, and they have not replenished models that were discontinued,” he continued.

Depreciation rates slowed for most segments this month, but midsize pickups still retained value much better than the average segment change.

So far this month, used vehicles (overall) depreciated a moderate 1.3 percent, according to Black Book data, while midsize pickups only saw a .7-percent drop in prices for model years 2007–2011.

Beggs also offered 12-month depreciation rates for a more significant comparison.

Overall used values have depreciated 13.7 percent during the last 12 months, Beggs reported.

Midsize pickups, on the other hand, have only seen a 5.1-percent drop during the same period.

Specifically, average prices on midsize pickups currently stand at $15,630 compared with year-ago prices of $16,470, according to Black Book.

Interestingly, some model years are seeing lower depreciation rates than others.

Beggs explained the 2010 model-year midsize pickups saw particularly low depreciation over the last 12 months, with a drop of 3.7 percent from original prices.

Black Book provided the following chart for comparison purposes. The chart highlights the complete breakdown of value changes of used cars and midsize pickups (2007–2011):

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