There has been a 9-percent upswing in auction volume for vehicles up to 4 years in age this year — and consumers appear to have no problem with gobbling up this increased supply on the retail side.

That’s the latest from NADA Used Car Guide, whose Guidelines report breaks down auction volume changes by age groups.

Through July, AuctionNet auction volume for vehicles ages 1 to 2 years old climbed 5 percent year-over-year, and the volume for 3- to 4-year-old vehicles jumped 13 percent, NADA UCG indicated.

“Judging by the low rate of deprecation and the strength in used prices recorded over the past few months, a vigorous consumer appetite for used vehicles is readily absorbing the additional influx of later-model used supply,” NADA UCG executive automotive analyst Jonathan Banks said in the report.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there has been a 16-percent slice in auction volume of vehicles between the ages of 5 and 8.  The decline has been particularly pronounced for 5- to 6-year-old vehicles, where volume has fallen 30 percent.  For cars that are 7 or 8 years sold, the drop was only 1 percent.

Looking at all ages, auction volume is down 3 percent year-to-date through July.

That said, consider what NADA UCG discovered about auction volume in recent weeks.

“Excluding the holiday week of July Fourth, the number of 1- to 8-year-old AuctionNet transactions recorded over the past four weeks (July 8-July 29) grew by 1.9 percent relative to the four weeks prior,” Banks noted.

“Volume growth over the period was led by the 2006-2009 model years rather than 2010 and newer units, which is likely the result of older units finding their way to auction after being taken in on trade for a new — or newer pre-owned — unit over the Independence Day holiday.”

Joe Overby can be reached at joverby@autoremarketing.com. Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.