LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -

Wholesale price drops steepened in July, falling by over 1 percent as we head toward fall.

According to Black Book data, used-vehicle prices for model-years 2009 through 2013 depreciated by 1.5 percent in July. In comparison, prices in June fell by 1 percent on a monthly basis, according to Black Book. And each of the 24 vehicle segments the company tracks depreciated in July.

According to Manheim, used-vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis) declined 1 percent in July.

That resulted in a Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index reading of 122.7 for the month, an increase of 1.5 percent from a year ago.

This marks the third consecutive monthly decline in wholesale pricing, after the highs of spring’s tax season began to fade.

Taking a look at segment movement, both Black Book and Manheim picked out a few that have been seeing larger-than-average price declines in the lanes: luxury, smaller, and midsize cars.

Manheim chief economist Tom Webb pointed out in his July analysis that, “Luxury car prices has been good for buyers; not so much for sellers.”

According to Manheim data, last month the price drops in wholesale values for most luxury cars were twice that of the overall market.

“And there were segments within the luxury market (for example, entry-level and premium units) that suffered even more,” said Webb. “These segments have been underperforming the overall market throughout the past year.”

Webb pins the trend on growing used supply as well as an effort to push new sales in these segments.

“That’s great for consumers and dealers (who acquire vehicles at the right price and turn quickly), but it has been a little rough on commercial sellers of these units. Most of them, however, had been long expecting this adjustment in price,” Webb shared.

Black Book focused on midsize and smaller cars when looking at July’s biggest depreciators.

For example, the upper midsize cars led the pack for price declines last month, according to Black Book data.

This segment’s prices fell by 3 percent, and the average segment price at the end of July was $12,005, down 12.4 percent from a year ago.

 “The market is beginning to feel the impact from incoming 2015 models and still-low fuel prices, which are combining to elevate depreciation levels especially for smaller car segments,” said Ricky Beggs, editorial director at Black Book. “We anticipate this trend of accelerating depreciation will continue through the rest of the year, with smaller cars and luxury segments seeing higher levels of depreciation.”

On the other hand, once again, the trucks are holding strong when it comes to price.

Eleven of the 13 strongest-performing segments during July were truck categories, said Beggs.

One outlier that touts the strongest retention rate for cars in July only saw prices decline by 0.9 percent, according to Black Book. That is the premium sporty car segment, whose average price at the end of July was $48,681, a 12.4-percent drop from year-ago levels.

Taking a look overall price movement, Black Book said domestic cars saw a 2.5-percent drop in prices; import cars fell by 1.6 percent; domestic trucks saw prices rise 1.5 percent; and import trucks saw a drop of 1 percent.

As far as price tiers go, Manheim’s Webb explained price movement was fairly consistent last month.

Our analysis of average mileage by price tiers showed that the strongest pricing in July was in the $13,000 to $15,000 range, whereas the weakest price was just below that, in $10,000 to $12,000 range,” said Webb. “But the differences were not large and were totally consistent with the shifts in auction volumes.”

And though wholesale price declines are speeding up, Webb says it’s premature for any talk of “free-fall pricing.”

“Wholesale prices have been on a secular downward trend since the all-time peak was reached in May 2011; but the movements have been modest, and there have been several up-cycles within the larger trend,” Webb said. “Recent price movements reflect an adjustment that many thought would occur earlier in the year. That it came now, just prior to a period of historical seasonal weakness in pricing and impending wholesale supply increases, only intensified the fear of a collapse. But such a collapse cannot come from industry forces alone. It would also require a significant altering in the current trajectory of labor market and credit conditions.

“That’s possible, but not likely,” he added.

For full-year 2014, Black Book is expecting depreciation to hit 13.5 percent.