CARY, N.C. -

Auction sales volume in March was steady with year-ago figures and dipped 2 percent sequentially, according to the latest Guidelines report from J.D. Power Valuation Services.

Showing a particularly sharp increase in the auction lanes was the late-model compact utility vehicle.

Overall, there were 384,704 auction sales of vehicles up to 8 years in age, which was off from the prior four-week period but consistent with the 379,182 sales in March 2016.

As far as late-model used vehicles, there was a 1-percent month-over-month increase and a 3-percent year-over-year jump in auction sales volume, the report said. First quarter late-model auction sales volume climbed 8 percent.

(Vehicles up to 3 years old are considered late-model.)

Auction sales volumes for late-model subcompact and compact cars were down 5 percent year-over-year in March, on average, and midsize cars were up by 12 percent, J.D. Power said. Compact utility vehicles showed a 30-percent lift in auction sales volume.

Looking ahead, overall used-car supply is forecasted at 13.3 million units for 2017, according to an analysis released Tuesday by ALG. That’s expected to swell about 8 percent over the next three years, coming in at 14.4 million units in 2020.

Luxury used-vehicle supply will likely see about an 18 percent uptick in the next three years, with mainstream supply increasing approximately 6 percent, according to ALG. This is driven by the faster growth in luxury on the new-car side.