FREDERICK, Md. -

AuctionNet volume climbed 5 percent year-over-year in 2014, and the fourth quarter showed a particularly noteworthy increase of 8 percent.

That’s according to data from National Auto Auction Association economist Ira Silver that was cited in social media posts from the organization this week.

This annual gain in auction volumes makes it three years in a row, reflecting what Silver had predicted in NAAA’s Economy and Auction Industry Report released after the third quarter.

In that same report, NAAA was forecasting that these increases could continue for years to come. The trend lines in the new-car market in recent years are likely to show separate and positive impacts in both dealer and commercial consignment down the road, NAAA said.

“Going forward we anticipate that increasing new-car sales and trade-ins will drive growth in dealer consignment up somewhat from recent levels,” Silver said in the report.

“Past growth in new-vehicles sales into leasing and fleets will support good gains in commercial consignment for the next couple of years as those vehicles make their way into the auction lanes,” he added. 

NAAA president Ellie Johnson and president-elect Mike Browning addressed growing supply and how it will impact auctions in a recent interview with Black Book’s Ricky Beggs.

“I think the physical auctions are going to be needed now more than ever. To liquidate the assets of supply saturation we aren’t used to, we are going to need physical locations,” Browning said.

And Johnson said auctions should ramp up training in an effort to stay prepared for a busier period.

“We will have to make sure we are up-to-date on all of our training, whether you are a chain auction or an independent, make sure all of your team is up-to-date on it and service to the customer is key,” Johnson said.

Editor's Note: Staff Writer Sarah Rubenoff contributed to this report.