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STAMFORD, Conn. — While used values were still stronger than where they were a year ago, the steepness in the year-over-year wholesale price upswing continued to mellow in July, according to RVI Group. 

Specifically, the RVI Used Car Price Index was 1.227, an increase of 1.5 percent from the prior month and a 14.4-percent upswing from the prior-year period.

However, prices were up by 15.1 percent on a year-over-year basis in June. Moreover, not only was July's year-over-year gain much less robust than the peak level of 26.9 percent in December, it marked the softest increase in a 10-month span, according to RVI.

Looking at individual segments, the only sequential declines were found in the luxury categories, as luxury coupe prices fell 1.2 percent, while luxury SUV and luxury full-size sedan prices were each down 0.9 percent.

The luxury midsize sedan was the exception to the rule, however, as its prices climbed 2.6 percent from June.

The heaviest improvement from June was found in the small pickup segment, where values were up 5.3 percent.

It was one of four segments whose values climbed 3 percent or more, along with full-size vans (up 3 percent), sub-compacts (up 3.5 percent) and sports cars (up 3.5 percent).

All segments showed increases from the prior-year period, with 13 of the 19 up double-digit percentages. Full-size vans had the most dramatic year-over-year value increase (up 26.2 percent) followed by sub-compacts (up 24.3 percent).

New-Vehicle Trends

Continuing on to the new-vehicle side of the market, there was a slim uptick in transaction prices from May to June, as these climbed less than 0.1 percent. This continued the string of weak month-over-month gains that began in February.

The year-over-year increases have become less steep, falling to 1.3 percent for June. In May, new-vehicle prices were 1.9 percent stronger than the year-ago period. In December, they were 5.1 percent stronger.

However, for every month of 2010, the year-over-year increase has dwindled (through June).