It’s the midst of winter and the analysts at J.D. Power Valuation Services are still seeing the impacts of what happened in the wholesale market during the summertime.

The December installment of Guidelines included the forecast of how wholesale prices would land for 2018. Analysts explained that because of the “exceptionally strong performances observed over the summer months” that they projected wholesale prices would come in 3 percent higher at the close of 2018 compared to the end of the previous year.

While just a couple of days into 2019, J.D. Power Valuation Services thinks that wholesale prices will soften by 1.2 percent when the year finishes.

This edition of Guidelines also included the latest reading of J.D. Power Valuation Services’ Seasonally Adjusted Used Vehicle Price Index. The November figure declined by 0.8 points compared to October to settle at 119.7. The slight tick lower still kept the reading at its highest level since early 2016 and 3.6 points above the mark registered in November 2017.

Looking deeper into the data, analysts found that passenger cars kept prices robust on the mainstream side of the market.

J.D. Power Valuation Services projected that compact-car prices would finish 2018 at a point 9 percent higher than 12 months earlier. Analysts pegged the expected price jump for midsize cars at 7 percent.

While still rising, analysts contend that compact utility prices would come in 2 percent higher at the close of 2018 compared to a year earlier. And J.D. Power Valuation Services sees midsize utility prices finishing 2018 at about 5 percent above the same point.

Analysts explained in the report why car prices are rising more than utilities.

“Mainstream SUV prices are also expected to increase, however not nearly to the same level as their car counterparts,” analysts said. “There are a few reasons for this. One of the primary drivers is the increase in used supply of these segments along with affordability, which favors more competitively prices passenger cars.”

On the premium side of the wholesale space, J.D. Power Valuation Services indicated a much different story is unfolding.

“Prices are expected for be down for most segments, with some of the worst losses expected in the luxury midsize car segment, which has seen steady year-over-year declines since 2012,” said analysts, who are thinking prices for these units could soften by 7 percent at the close of 2018.