Black Book might have seen the last uptick in wholesale prices for the year.

Black Book released its Used Vehicle Retention Index for October as editors pinpointed the latest reading at 116.3, which represented a 1.5-percent increase over the last 12 months (114.6) and a 0.2 percent uptick since September (116.0).

Editors explained October’s used-vehicle retention activity may have represented the last positive change of the 2018 campaign, as seasonal depreciation patterns began to take hold throughout the month. Black Book noticed that cars, especially, saw their run of positive changes begin to lose steam, with strong retention trends that persisted throughout much of the year.

While most truck segments performed slightly better than cars, editors determined trucks still saw depreciation accelerate during the month.

The segments with the highest month-over-month gains in the index included:

• Compact crossover/SUV: up 0.95 percent

• Subcompact car: up 0.88 percent

• Midsize luxury CUV/SUV: up 0.53 percent

While the segments losing the most included:

• Full-size luxury CUV/SUV: down 0.81 percent

• Premium sporty car: down 0.46 percent

• Small pickup: down 0.45 percent

The Black Book Used Vehicle Retention Index is calculated using Black Book’s published wholesale average value on 2- to 6-year-old used vehicles, as percent of original typically-equipped MSRP. It is weighted based on registration volume and adjusted for seasonality, vehicle age, mileage and condition.

“This Index data can be especially valuable this time of year because it is designed to give automotive professionals and portfolio managers an analytical look into the trends driving segment performance across cars and trucks,” said Anil Goyal, executive vice president at operations.

“Particularly as we begin to close out the year, it’s important to leverage the index data and related residual forecasts as dealers and lenders begin to look at their inventory and portfolio makeup, and whether to increase or decrease in any particular segment, and what they want that to look like heading into 2019,” Goyal went on to say.

Black Book reiterated the index dates to January 2005 when editors published a benchmark index value of 100.0 for the market. During 2008, the index dropped by 14.1 percent while during 2016, the index fell by just 6.4 percent.

During 2011, the index rose strongly from 113.3 to 123.0 by the end of the year as the economy picked up steam and used-vehicle values rose higher. It continued to remain relatively stable, rising slightly until May of 2014 when it hit a peak of 128.1.

To obtain a copy of the latest Black Book Wholesale Value Index, go to this website.