Since the Internal Revenue Service needed more time to get online tax filing systems up and running so potential used-vehicle buyers could get refunds, Black Book found that dealers are talking up “spring market” and “tax time” as they walk the lanes nowadays.

Black Book managing editor Ricky Beggs said this year’s electronic filing date was delayed by about a week, so personal income tax refunds have been “a little slow” in getting into buyers’ hands.

“I have had several dealers say anxious buyers are now coming in with checks in hand,” Beggs said in this week’s edition of “Beggs on the Used Car Market,” Black Book’s regular analysis of wholesale price changes and more.

“The demand apparently is carrying over to the lanes as most of the Black Book survey personnel mentioned in their auction summary reports that there was great activity, steady bidding and prices that were mostly up,” Beggs continued.

“One report from North Carolina even termed it the ‘best sale in a long time,’” he went on to say. “The under $10,000 car is still grabbing all the attention.”

Beggs then described the varying circumstances faced by auction buyers and sellers.

“If you happen to be a seller, I am sure you have noticed it being a little more difficult to get the necessary money for the 2013s and the 2012s,” Beggs said.

“From the buyer’s perspective, you have your price point set which isn’t enough to convince the seller to make a move. They will find their sweet spot in time,” he continued.

When Black Book editors delved into results of a full week of market analysis, Beggs indicated it “sure” supports most of the comments from the survey personnel.

Black Book ended up with 41 percent of its adjustments being increases to the previously published values, the strongest level of the past six weeks.

Car prices softened by just $24, the lowest declining weekly amount since the week ending May 11.

Propping up car prices last week were increases for entry level cars (up $8) and full-size cars (up $5). Meanwhile, editors noticed prices for four other car segments dipped by $20 or less for the week, categories that included luxury level cars, upper midsize cars, compact cars and entry midsize cars.

“You could assume that spring time and tax time might be appearing on the cars,” Beggs said.

Meanwhile looking at trucks, Black Book found that prices for these units decreased by $33, the largest declining level during the last 4 weeks when that amount averaged $26.

Six truck segments declined by less than $20, including compact crossovers (down $17), midsize pickups (down $16), full-size SUVs (down $1).

Beggs then turned his attention to developments at the fuel pump.

“If you are driving a plug-in electric car, the fluctuation in the price of gas and diesel is probably putting a small smile on your face,” he said.

The most recent reports show the price of gas increased 18 cents to $3.54, about 6 cents higher than this time a year ago.

Diesel increased by 9 cents during the past week and topped out at $4.02. Diesel didn’t top the $4 level at the beginning of 2012 until the week of Feb. 27.

“Sometimes volatility can affect the best made plans,” Beggs said. “Looking at a truck related segment that over the past three months has been up and down and not in tune with the overall segment change levels is the compact SUVs.

“This segment paints a pretty diverse pattern. It has had a couple of weeks of increasing values and also a couple of weeks with greater than $40 weekly declines,” he went on to say.

To wrap up his latest commentary, Beggs mentioned he’s received a number of comments about this market update and the information and insight it provides. The feedback came during the past couple of weeks at several auctions as well as this past weekend at the National Automotive Dealers Association Convention & Expo in Orlando, Fla.

“Thank you for your comments,” Beggs said. “Next week’s market update will be coming from the motorcycle industry’s primary dealer exposition in Indianapolis. We hope you will tune in then for the latest market news on the autos, with a touch of the two wheels insight.

“Have a great week and be looking for the tax refund checks,” he concluded.

Beggs’ video can be viewed below.

Nick Zulovich can be reached at nzulovich@autoremarketing.com. Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.