McLEAN, Va., and CHICAGO -

Wholesale prices are still on the upward swing as March comes to a close and we near the end of tax season, according to AuctionNet data provided to Auto Remarketing. Meanwhile, pre-owned retail prices observed on Cars.com seem to have been on a different track.

According to Cars.com data, overall used prices on the site have held “mostly steady” this month, down just $6 to an a average of $23,243.

On the other hand, wholesale prices continue to spike, as NADA Used Car Guide is predicting auction prices to rise this week by an average of 0.3 percent (or $50) versus the two-week average.

Breaking it down by segment, the wholesale results are a bit of a mixed bag.

The biggest price increase is expected in the midsize utility segment, which is predicted to see rates rise by 1 percent ($200).

Large pickups, which continue to see strong price retention, will come next with an expected rise of 0.8 percent ($200), followed by midsize and compact car segments with 0.7-percent and 0.6-percent gains, respectively.

For pickups, this is continuing the price strength trend seen in 2013. Due to what NADA UCG’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.

The segment saw their values rise 9.6 percent over 2012 levels last year, 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.

Midsize vans and compact utilities are expected to increase this week, as well, but their respective gains of 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent are expected to “hover around the industry average,” said David Paris, automotive analyst at NADA UCG.

Though some of the heftier vehicles, such as the large pickups, are showing price strength, the story isn’t quite the same for their SUV counterparts.

NADA UCG expects large SUVs to see the biggest price drops this week, falling by 0.5 percent ($150).

Declines are also expected in both the luxury car and utility segments, although drops will be small at 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

On the retail side of the business, luxury units are also seeing price declines across the board. According to the latest post on the Cars.com "Kicking Tires" blog, which was written by Mike Hanley, models from luxury brands accounted for seven of the top 10 used cars with the biggest price drops this month.

The list included models such as the Audi A8, coming in at No. 3 with an average selling price of $63,171 as of March 1 — which marks a 2.4-percent drop from Feb. 1 rates.

Interestingly, though used-luxury prices dropped the most in February as far as segments go, one fuel efficient model saw the largest individual price fall-out.

The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car experienced the biggest price drop. It was down 3.1 percent ($811) to $25,000.

“This winter has not been kind to used Volt prices, which are down 10.5 percent ($2,922) since Dec. 1, 2013,” Hanley wrote in the blog.

To see the original Cars.com blog post and check out which luxury units saw the biggest retail price drops last month, see here.

Four- and two-week AuctionNet wholesale average prices are created by collecting all AuctionNet records for vehicles up to five years of age for a specified period of time.  Prices are then adjusted for changes in mileage and mix.

Current week prices are based on NADA's proprietary used-vehicle value model, which includes assumptions for new-vehicle prices, used-vehicle supply, gasoline prices, and other economic factors.

NADA Segment Average AuctionNet® Wholesale Price 2-Week v. Current
4-Week Average 2-Week Average Current Week % Change $ Change
Compact Car $11,500 $11,675 $11,750 0.6% $75
Compact Utility $16,300 $16,475 $16,500 0.2% $25
Industry $17,100 $17,275 $17,325 0.3% $50
Large Pickup $23,450 $23,725 $23,925 0.8% $200
Large SUV $31,575 $31,600 $31,450 -0.5% ($150)
Luxury Car $23,850 $23,900 $23,875 -0.1% ($25)
Luxury Utility $27,275 $27,450 $27,400 -0.2% ($50)
Mid-Size Car $13,550 $13,625 $13,725 0.7% $100
Mid-Size Utility $20,450 $20,650 $20,850 1.0% $200
Mid-Size Van $17,100 $17,075 $17,150 0.4% $75