LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -

Well, perhaps you can call it a gift for used-car managers. At least wholesale values aren’t rising as much now as they did earlier this year.

That’s the gist of the latest Market Insights from Black Book, which described the auction scene as dealers get ready for what some stores call the “13th month.”

Black Book analysts said, “As we continue through the holiday season, buyers are in lanes actively trying to fill their lots before the end of the year in preparation for the ‘13th month’ at the end of December, as well as for the upcoming spring market.

“The inventory coming through the lane continues to be a bit rougher than would be expected for lease returns, with lower condition report grades and a higher percentage of recalls, damages and manufacturer buybacks,” Black Book continued in the newest report. “Floor prices are still holding steady at a record high level, even on less desirable units due to supply shortages.”

Taking a look a pricing trends beginning with cars, Black Book said that overall car segment values increased just 0.01% last week on a volume-weighted basis. A week earlier, car values jumped 0.25%.

“Cars aged 2-to-8-years old are beginning to soften,” Black Book said, while noting that cars less than 2 years old generated a price increase of just 0.10% last week.

Analysts added that values for compact cars decreased 0.37%, while prices for near luxury cars jumped 0.35%.

Moving on to volume-weighted truck data, Black Book determined overall truck segment values increased 0.30% last week; not quite as much as a rise spotted during the prior week of 0.50%.

Analysts pointed out that values for full-size vans continue to post “extreme strength,” increasing another 1.20% last week, marking the 45th uptick during the past 46 weeks.

Just one truck truck/SUV segment softened in value last week, and it was a 0.01% dip for compact luxury crossovers

Black Book added that compact crossovers have slowed their rate of increase, rising just 0.09% last week after climbing 0.90% during the prior week.