Average Wholesale Prices Fall Modestly

Average wholesale used-vehicle prices fell modestly in December, but remained up on a year-over-year basis.

by Staff

January 30, 2015

Average Wholesale Prices Fall Modestly — KONTOS

3 min to read

Average wholesale used-vehicle prices fell modestly in December, but remained up on a year-over-year basis. These results reflect the ongoing growth and change in the composition of wholesale supply towards greater “institutional” volume (off-lease, off-rental, off-fleet, repos, etc.) vs. dealer consignment volume yielding a “richer mix” that elevates average prices even as supply growth applies downward pressure to those prices, according to ADESA Analytical Services’ monthly analysis of Wholesale Used Vehicle Prices by Vehicle Model Class¹.

"This is by no means the only factor that has supported used vehicle prices in a year of supply growth, as new vehicle incentives have been relatively benign; used vehicle retail sales, especially of certified vehicles, have been strong; supply curtailments and disruptions due to weather and recalls occurred throughout the year; and redistribution of volume into multiple remarketing channels, all have diffused the significant impact that supply normally has on wholesale values," according to Tom Kontos, executive vicep president at ADESA Analytical Services.

According to the analysis, wholesale used-vehicle prices in December averaged $9,844 -- down 0.3 percent compared to November and up 2 percent relative to December 2013. Luxury and sporty cars experienced healthy average price increases, perhaps as dealers looked to stock these cars on their lots for in time for the holidays, according to Kontos.

Wholesale Used-Vehicle Price Trends

	Average Prices ($/Unit)			Latest Month Versus:
	Dec-14	Nov-14	Dec-13	Prior Month	Prior Year

Total All Vehicles	$9,844	$9,870	$9,654	-0.3%	2.0%

Total Cars	$8,615	$8,612	$8,499	0.0%	1.4%
Compact Car	$6,651	$6,787	$6,530	-2.0%	1.9%
Midsize Car	$7,700	$7,672	$7,782	0.4%	-1.1%
Fullsize Car	$6,060	$7,617	$6,308	-20.4%	-3.9%
Luxury Car	$12,455	$12,181	$12,104	2.3%	2.9%
Sporty Car	$12,955	$12,565	$12,076	3.1%	7.3%

Total Trucks	$10,809	$10,856	$10,116	-0.4%	6.8%
Mini Van	$7,644	$8,147	$7,451	-6.2%	2.6%
Fullsize Van	$10,197	$10,680	$9,402	-4.5%	8.4%
Mini SUV	$12,734	$12,491	$11,329	1.9%	12.4%
Midsize SUV	$7,724	$7,841	$6,803	-1.5%	13.5%
Fullsize SUV	$11,533	$11,689	$11,178	-1.3%	3.2%
Luxury SUV	$19,061	$18,929	$19,419	0.7%	-1.8%
Compact Pickup	$7,420	$7,393	$7,039	0.4%	5.4%
Fullsize Pickup	$12,960	$12,911	$12,054	0.4%	7.5%

Total Crossovers	$11,921	$11,974	$12,457	-0.4%	-4.3%
Compact CUV	$10,417	$10,866	$11,069	-4.1%	-5.9%
Mid/Fullsize CUV	$12,988	$13,082	$13,811	-0.7%	-6.0%
Source: ADESA Analytical Services. November data revised.

Prices for used vehicles remarketed by manufacturers were up 9.6 percent month-over-month, but down 2.8 percent year-over-year. "Sale curtailments due to recalls were a factor in these December results, and “factory” inventories were relatively high entering 2015. Thus, the tailwind to prices that might have been provided by the absence of units due to these sale curtailments could turn into a headwind as these units are released in early 2015," Kontos noted.

Prices for fleet/lease consignors were up 1.3 percent sequentially, but down 0.3 percent annually. Prices for off-rental “risk” units within this segment held up well, rewarding rental companies that capitalized on the absence of factory units mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Dealer consignors registered a 1.7-percent increase versus November and a 3-percent increase relative to December 2013, indicating the wholesale market is readily absorbing excess dealer trades generated from strong new-vehicle sales.

Retail used vehicle sales in December were down 0.3 percent month-over-month and 4.1 percent year-over-year, based on data from CNW Marketing/Researh. Despite these December declines, retail used-vehicle sales in 2014 reached a respectable 29.6 million units, very close to last year’s total. Moreover, the composition of those sales included a higher percentage of higher priced, and typically higher grossing, certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles, which totaled 2.3 million units in 2014 versus 2.1 million the year before. CPO sales were particularly strong in December, rising 3.9 percent month-over-month and 17.2 percent year-over-year, according to figures from Autodata.

¹The analysis is based on over six million annual sales transactions from over 150 of the largest U.S. wholesale auto auctions, including those of ADESA as well as other auction companies. ADESA Analytical Services segregates these transactions to study trends by vehicle model class.

The views and analysis provided herein relate to the vehicle remarketing industry as a whole and may not relate directly to KAR Auction Services, Inc. The views and analysis are not the views of KAR Auction Services, its management or its subsidiaries; and their accuracy is not warranted. The statements contained in this report and statements that the company may make orally in connection with this report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as “should,” “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “bode”, “promises”, “likely to” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those matters disclosed in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Topics:Tom Kontos ADESA Operations