REDWOOD CITY, CA - In the retail market, April new vehicle sales of 981,000 represent an 8-percent decrease from March-10, but are up 20 percent year-over-year. April used vehicle sales of 3.2 million were up sharply from the previous month (a 37-percent increase) and a 2.5-percent increase year-over-year.

Below are highlights from the May edition of the OPENLANE Market Index report, which is now available for viewing online at: http://marketing.openlane.com/OA/analytics/MIR/market_index.pdf.

U.S. Pricing Trends: Continued strengthening of used vehicle prices in April. Overall US Auction prices experienced a slight dip in the second week of April but increased thereafter, finishing at a month-average level of 2 percentage points above March. April month-average levels also represent the highest price levels of 2010 at 109 index points.

1. Minivan prices began the month with a steep downward movement but turned around in the second week of April when it rose 8 percentage points to bring month-average levels back on par with March 2010.
   

   
   

2. SUV prices showed a strong upward trend in April ending 8 percentage points above March 2010.
   

   
   

3. Dealer interest in Cars increased 2 percentage points last month and exceeded April 2009 levels by double digits.
   

   
   

4. Dealer interest in Minivans decreased 7 percentage points last month but exceeded April 2009 levels by 13 percentage points.