The inaugural issue of Black Book Market Insights  — a weekly report focused on the latest vehicle valuation trends at auction by Black Book’s team of editors — focused on tax season trends in the lanes and how the impact of refunds is hitting the market a bit later than normal this year.

The industry has become accustomed to receiving weekly auction updates via Black Book’s “Beggs on the Used Car Market Report,” but in light of editorial director Ricky Beggs’ upcoming retirement, the company has launched this weekly newsletter to fill the spot.

The inaugural report, delivered Wednesday, focused on tax season trends in the lanes. Black Book pointed out that traditionally, values for lower-prices cars and trucks start to spike in by early to mid March in connection with tax season trends.

But this year, according to Black Book, tax season in the auto industry began a little earlier, starting to impact the auctions in late 2014.

Consequently, we may not see the dramatic price increases expected during this time of year.

Furthermore, the vehicles normally in tax season demand may be a bit different, as well.

According to the report, with gas prices still low, buyers may be looking to use their refunds for full-size trucks, SUVs and full-size cars.

“Although gas prices have picked up in recent weeks, they remain historically low. Sustained lower gas prices would be positive for vehicle sales and value retention, especially less-fuel efficient light trucks,” said Anil Goyal, vice president of automotive valuation and analytics at Black Book.

Of course, entry-level cars will remain a popular buy for tax refund money, but the pool of segments shoppers may be considering is growing.

 “Entry level cars are starting to show seasonal strength in value driven by demand from the tax season buyer while the luxury segments show some weakness,” Goyal added.

These trends are illustrated by last week’s auction price movement.

Entry-level cars saw a 0.31 percent or $19 increase in price last week, due in part to dealers who are still preparing for tax refund buyers, Black Book pointed out.

Overall, the car segments saw an average price drop of 0.09 or $9 last week.

“This is stronger than the retention we have seen in the previous two weeks,” the report stated.

And the trucks saw prices stay pretty steady, as well, only dropping by an average of 0.23 percent or $34 last week.

Segments performing poorly last week, on the other hand, were the luxury car and luxury SUV segments — which are not traditionally associated with tax season buys. These two segments had the highest dollar price declines last week, with the luxury SUV segment experiencing a $140 or 0.54 percent drop, while the luxury cars saw prices drop by 0.33 percent or $57.

Black Book closed the new report by sharing what editors are hearing and seeing in the lanes since they attend more than 60 auctions each week throughout the country. Here’s the latest sampling:

From Minneapolis, “Internet activity was strong on late model clean and extra clean units with lower mileage.”

And this comment coming out of Nashville, Tenn., “Dealers stocking up units for tax time.

Two other comments from Florida and California summarized the bidding activity.

Out of the Sunshine State, “Sellers on the block feel they can hold out for more money but buyers were only willing to pay book value and not more,” while seen in the Golden State, “Strong bidding from both attendees and Internet buyers today.”