Two weeks ago, the proportion of price adjustments in lanes that were positive rose to a yearly high of 68 percent. Now, the bar has been pushed even higher, says Black Book’s Ricky Beggs.

In his latest “Beggs on the Used Car Market” video report, he said that last week, over 71 percent of all price changes at auction were increases.

Another sign of a particularly strong auction market: for the first time this year, the overall segment change for both cars and trucks finished at positive levels.

The truck segments ended with an average increase of $51, while cars saw a slight increase of $1.

Prices are up, and the market is strong, says Beggs.

One comment Black Book received from a dealer last week illustrated the auction environment well: “There was a buyer for whatever crossed the block.”

The truck segments continue to impress, remaining in high demand this spring, said Beggs.

Thirteen out of the 14 truck segments saw prices rise last week.  

“This market strength is being led by the very versatile compact crossover utilities at plus-$39 this past week, with this segment now positive week-over-week for four consecutive weeks,” Beggs said.

And for the first time in the past three weeks, increases were seen in both the full-size van segments and also the full-size SUVs.

The only segment to see a drop in price was the luxury SUVs with a decline of $33.

For pickups, this is continuing the price strength trend seen in 2013. Due to what NADA Used Car Guide's Jonathan Banks says was a “unique combination of both consumer and commercial demand along with lower gas prices and comparatively tight supply,” large pickup price increases led the pack in 2013.

Last year, the segment saw their values rise 9.6 percent over 2012 levels , according to NADA UCG data released in January.  Throughout 2013, pickups enjoyed much stronger price retention than other segments, and were not affected by seasonal downturns. The trend seems to be continuing into the new year.

The cars are showing positive consistency in the lanes, as well.

Moving back to the Black Book analysisl, six of the 10 car segments saw positive price increases last week. And Beggs pointed out that every segment that saw price increases this past week has now seen multiple consecutive weeks of positive change.

The entry level cars, entry mid-size cars and the upper mid-size cars have seen price increases for the past five weeks in a row.