It was the same story, different week for vehicle values — sort of. 

“Last week, the depreciation rate on car segments accelerated to the highest level in the year, while truck segments, including pickups and SUVs, continue to show strength,” Anil Goyal, senior vice president of automotive valuation and analytics for Black Book, said in the most recent Market Insights report.

Volume weighted, overall car segment prices (model years 2008-2014) decreased by 0.62 percent last week, slightly higher than the average depreciation rate of 0.44 percent seen in the previous four weeks. For the segment as a whole, vehicle values were down an average of $71.

Midsize car, near-luxury car and prestige luxury car segments declined the most, by 0.74 percent, 0.92 percent and 0.93 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, volume-weighted, overall truck segment values decreased by 0.29 percent last week, similar to the average depreciation rate of 0.32 percent seen in the previous four weeks. For the segment as a whole, vehicles values were down an average of $47.

Compact van and subcompact crossover segments declined the most, by 1.36 percent and 1.12 percent, respectively.

Representatives from Black Book go out into the auction lanes throughout the U.S. each week. Below are some of their most recent observations:

“The market trend at this location is slow, but full-size trucks are still in demand,” said a lane watcher in Tennessee. “Dealers state that the slow retail business is due to the heat.”

Heat did not seem to be an issue in Nevada, where a watcher noted that “buyers were aggressive today, with many dealers buying to fill slots in their inventory.”

Late-summer vacations appear to have played a role in Pennsylvania, where Black Book personnel noted: “There was a slight slowdown in retail last week due to vacations before school started back, but dealers were buying well today.”

Elsewhere in the Keystone State: “Slow sale today per several dealers.”

Meanwhile, a Black Book rep in Texas noted: “A fairly steady auction today but many no-sales.”

Finally, in Michigan, “Retail is a bit soft here, but bidding has been very active just the same.”

What happened in July

According to Black Book data, the average price of a used vehicle for model years 2011-2015 depreciated by 1.5 percent in July, slightly better than June’s 1.7 percent and similar to monthly depreciation rates seen in the past three Julys: 1.4 percent in 2015, 2.1 percent in 2014 and 1.3 percent in 2013.

Vehicles in July averaged a 12-month depreciation change of 15.4 percent, the same as June and at the lower end of the range seen prior to the recession, Black Book said. Across all segments, the average vehicle price at the end of July was $15,893, down from $18,784 a year ago.

Cars overall depreciated by 1.9 percent in July. Car prices finished the month at an average of $12,677, down from $15,487 a year ago.

Trucks, meanwhile, finished at 1.2 percent for July. Truck prices finished the month at an average of $20,121, down from $23,119 a year ago.

Luxury cars saw the highest depreciation in July at 2.5 percent, finishing the month with an average price of $22,883, down from last year’s $29,251.

In addition to luxury cars, five other segments saw an increase in depreciation by 2.0 percent or greater in July: compact luxury cars (2.3 percent), midsize cars (2.2 percent), prestige luxury cars (2.1 percent), subcompact cars (2.1 percent) and full-size cars (2.0 percent).

Full-size crossovers saw the strongest retention during July at 0.5 percent, finishing the month with an average price of $28,739, down from last year’s $31,780.

Full-size vans (0.7 percent) were the only other segment with a depreciation rate of less than 1.0 percent on the month.

“Although we saw depreciation trends last month that was consistent with typical seasonal valuation patterns this month, many segments showed slightly better retention heading into the deeper summer months,” Goyal said. “Depreciation for all segments will likely worsen as fall nears and demand for certain segments continues to dwindle.”