Black Book’s latest recap of bidding activity and price movement showed how aggressively dealers are getting in the lanes either in person or online.

As certain units kept auction ringmen busy, the Black Book Market Insights report indicated 13 out of the total 22 vehicle segments saw an increase in average value.

On the other hand, editors found that the segment with the weakest retention was the sub-compact luxury crossover/SUV, which declined in value by 0.50 percent.

“Sentiment was positive in the auction lanes with most locations experiencing high sale percentages. This higher demand resulted in increased values in most segments last week,” said Anil Goyal, senior vice president of automotive valuation and analytics.

Before going into how dealers behaved, Black Book recapped its volume-weighted data, which showed overall car segment values increased by 0.10 percent last week. In comparison, the market showed similar performance increasing on average by 0.15 percent in the previous three weeks.

All car segments except luxury and premium showed an increase in values, according to editors, which pointed out that the sub-compact car and sporty car segments gained the most at 0.37 percent and 0.49 percent, respectively.

Again volume-weighted, Black Book determined overall truck segment values — including pickups, SUVs and vans — edged up slightly by just 0.05 percent last week. In comparison, editors mentioned truck values depreciated by 0.06 percent during the previous three weeks.

Black Book went on to mention minivan was the best performing segment, whereas sub-compact luxury crossover declined the most among truck segments.

And now those recaps from Black Book personnel stationed at about 60 auctions each week. The most colorful assessment came from North Carolina as the lane watcher reported back saying, “It is amazing how high dealers will bid to obtain the front-line ready inventory that they need. If it is a clean low-mile unit, look out.”

In New Jersey, a similar situation unfolded as Black Book’s representative said, “The auction this week was the best it has been in several months. Anything under $10,000 with curb appeal was especially strong.”

Next door in Pennsylvania, dealers walked the lanes or watched their screens. “Lots of people on the lanes and bidding online today. The dealer lanes I watched were experiencing very high sales percentages and the money was strong,” Black Book’s watcher in the Keystone State said.

Action was active down in Texas, too, with the recap mentioning, “Seemed like the lanes were much busier this week with a lot of strong sales.”

The last two reports Black Book shared came from Ohio and California, where the situation in the Buckeye State was, “Full-size trucks were selling very well with the bids closing out where they should. Average vehicles bringing average values.”

And out West, “Prices were up today. Most of the dealers I spoke with are short on cars for retail.”