GAINESVILLE, Ga. -

It seems seasonality that normally pushes higher price declines in the lanes  had not come into play this past month.

According to Black Book date, used vehicles from model years 2008-2012 depreciated an average of 1.3 percent in September, making no change from August’s rate of decline.

ADESA Analytical Services’ reported a little more of a drop this past month. Its analysis of wholesale used-vehicle prices by vehicle model class shows that prices in the lanes in September averaged $9,496, down 1.4 percent compared to August and 0.6 percent from the same period last year.

“Wholesale prices resumed their softening pattern and decreased both sequentially and annually in September, driven primarily by continued volume growth and lower retail used-vehicle sales for the month,” said Tom Kontos, executive vice president and chief economist for ADESA Analytical Services.

“Although overall average prices were down, late-model off-rental program and risk units continued to see year-over-year price growth despite seasonal declines,” he added.

According to Black Book data, leading the pack for highest depreciation rates for September was the compact SUV class, which includes models like the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Xterra.

This segment saw a average decline of 2.4 percent last month, finishing up with an average wholesale price of $16,914, Black Book reported. This number marks a 5.7-percent year-over-year decline; during the same time last year, the average price was at $17,936.

But this wasn’t the highest year-over-year price decline.

For the second straight month, entry midsize cars saw the largest year-over-year depreciation, falling a significant 17.4 percent in September, according to Black Book.

Truck Retention Rates Remain Strong in September

Following what has become a trend this year, truck retention rates remained above average this past month.

In fact, full-size pickup trucks led all segments for price retention, with rates remaining unchanged from August, Black Book shared.

This segment also saw the strongest year-over-year retention, as well.

Full-size pickups finished the month with an average wholesale value of $23,320, marking only a 3.7-percent decline from the same time a year ago, according to Black Book data.

ADESA found that the average wholesale price for full-size pickups in September came in at $11,883, down 0.9 percent from August, but up 6.1 percent from September 2012. 

Kontos said, “Full-size pickups are showing price strength on a year-over-year basis, as construction improves.”

Compact pickups also had a strong showing, with an average price of $7,047 in September, down 0.1 percent from August, Kontos reported.

However, the tides seem to be turning in October.

Black Book’s Ricky Beggs said one of the most interesting trends seen in the lanes last week was that the mix of price increases was greater for cars than trucks, contrary to trends seen this spring and summer.

The mix of price increases for cars came in at 19 percent, while the percentage of price climbs for truck segments sat at 11 percent.

Interestingly, last week was the first in the past six weeks when the average car segment price change came in less than the trucks, showing stronger retention for the cars this time around.

Beggs reported in his latest “Beggs on the Used Car Market” video report that last week, the average segment change for cars was a decline of $45, while the trucks saw an average drop of $57.

For more information on car and truck wholesale price trends, see the Auto Remarketing story here.

See September's auction price changes by segment, according to Black Book data, below: