Those worried about a potential crash in used-car prices, take heart.

For now.

One of the indices measuring wholesale vehicle values has seen its first increase in 27 months.

While the April reading of Black Book’s Used Vehicle Retention Index (113.1) was just a hair above March’s (113.0), it’s at least a temporary pause to the gradual downturn that has been ongoing since January 2015.

The index, which is based on Black Book wholesale average values on 2- to 6-year-old vehicles, was at 126.8 that month before sliding for more than two years.

April was also seasonally stronger, including the much maligned car segments. Compact cars and subcompacts are starting to pick up in value after descending the past year or two.

In fact, in a separate report, Black Book said that car segment values have climbed six straight weeks.

Meanwhile, recent weeks have shown greater supply and competition within the compact crossover segment, leading to greater price drops.

“April saw stronger seasonality trends than what we had been seeing during the last few spring seasons,” Black Book’s Anil Goyal said in a news release accompanying the monthly Used Vehicle Retention Index.  

“There certainly remains a growing concern over rising supply levels, which typically leads to higher depreciation, but with prices on some segments seeing better value, consumers may be more willing to consider used vehicles in some key car segments.”

Spring has been more robust than anticipated, and the strength in car retention has been encouraging, says a spokesperson for the company via email when asked for Goyal's take on whether April was temporary relief or an encouraging sign.

However, prices are likely to move back into the usual summer depreciation, the spokesperson said.  

Last week, cars segment values climbed 0.14 percent, Black Book said in the weekly Market Insights report. The increase in the prior four weeks was 0.12 percent.  There was a 0.06-percent increase in truck segment prices last week.