FREDERICK, Md. -

Dealer consignment volume in the auction lanes increased more than 8 percent during the first quarter, and while consignment from fleet/lease and OEM channels was still down, their declines have mellowed from the full-year downturns in 2011.

These were just some of the findings in the recently released first-quarter Auction Industry Report from the National Auto Auction Association.

NAAA economist Ira Silver authored the report, which found that overall auction volumes were down 0.9 percent year-over-year in the first quarter.  Full-year 2011 showed a 7.3-percent decrease in auction volume.

Breaking it down by consignment types, Silver noted: “First quarter dealer consignment continued strong while the drag from fleet/lease and factory was less than in 2011.”

Specifically, dealer consignment was up 8.3 percent from the first quarter of 2011. Last year as a whole saw a 10.7-percent spike in dealer consignment.

Fleet/lease volume dropped 9.4 percent year-over-year during the opening quarter of 2012, but this decline is less steep than the 23.1-percent decline for full-year 2011.

Likewise, manufacturer/factory volume dipped 14.5 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, but again this compares to a much heavier 25.6-percent decrease for the entirety of last year.

Repossession volume was off 66.4 percent. For full-year 2011, repo volume fell 25.2 percent.

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned to Tuesday’s Auto Remarketing Today for a more in-depth look at the quarterly Auction Industry Report, including regional breakdowns and vehicle segment trends.