OK, OK, OK. Want a sure sign the spring market is blooming in the auction lanes?

Perhaps, here it is.

The latest Black Book Market Insights report indicated compact cars performed the best out of all vehicle segments. On the other hand, editors noticed full-size vans saw the largest depreciation, dropping 0.38 percent in value last week.

However, Anil Goyal noted that most of both car and truck segments continued to show strong retention as the industry gets deeper into spring.

“Wholesale markets held steady last week with strong bidding in the auction lanes resulting in most car segments improving in values,” said Goyal, who is senior vice president of automotive valuation and analytics at Black Book.

Looking at volume-weighted data, editors determined overall car segment values increased by 0.16 percent last week. In comparison, the market showed similar performance increasing on average by 0.14 percent during the previous four weeks.

As mentioned, Black Book reported that most car segments increased in value. Compact car, sporty car and full-size car segments gained the most by 0.50 percent, 0.38 percent and 0.33 percent, respectively.

Again volume-weighted, editors found that overall truck segment values — including pickups, SUVs and vans — remained steady last week. In comparison, truck values depreciated by just 0.03 percent in the previous four weeks.

Minivans made up the best performing segment two weeks in a row whereas full-size vans declined the most by 0.38 percent.

Black Book personnel mingling in the lanes with dealers at about 60 auctions added more color to the spring market scene; alluding to the fact we might be at the peak in some locations.

That sentiment came from Texas where Black Book’s lane watcher said, “Great weather, lots of buyers and trucks are very strong. It’s possible that we are close to the top of the market.”

Another strong indicator came from southern California where the representative noted, “The market is really holding its head up with prices keeping pace.”

Elsewhere, the spring scene might still be in the budding stage such as in Georgia where Black Book gathered this report: “The sale started out really strong selling almost everything with high prices. Quickly though, no-sales and softer prices were the norm for the remainder of the auction.”

And in North Carolina, the story went, “Dealers remain optimistic as the spring market continues here. Luxury vehicles, whether they be SUVs or passenger cars are the only tough sales at the auction.”

Perhaps dealers still wondering when spring will come might operate out of the Midwest. That’s where two other reports from Black Book only gave a hint about spring.

Out of Michigan, Black Book received, “Retail is not as hot here as it should be but trucks were firm today with active bidding. Sport cars and convertibles are finally bringing spring values.”

And in Illinois, the lane watcher shared an assessment that might be valid at any time of year, relaying “Dealers say that they may pay more than a fair price to acquire the good, clean inventory that they need for retail.”