IRVINE and SANTA MONICA, Calif. -

Both Black Book and Manheim so far this week shared their observations about the notable and somewhat sustained softening wholesale used-vehicle prices are making.

Their contemporaries from Kelley Blue Book and TrueCar are noticing similar movements involving new models.

New-vehicle average transaction prices (ATPs) decreased to $46,404 in January, according to new data released on Wednesday by Kelley Blue Book, after reaching a record high in December.

KBB said that prices fell 1.8% or $839 month-over-month, mostly due to fewer luxury vehicles being sold in January. But prices remain elevated compared to one year ago, as KBB pegged the jump at 12.5% or $5,155 from January 2021.

Ahead of January closing, TrueCar projected average transaction prices for new vehicles to be up 16% from a year ago and down about 2% from December.

With new-vehicle supply holding steady at the same level since Thanksgiving and customer demand remaining strong, experts from both Cox Automotive and TrueCar said that dealers continue to hold prices at or above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).

“The surge in new-car prices appears to have peaked,” Cox Automotive executive analyst Michelle Krebs said in a news release. “Yet, while we expect vehicle supply to improve, it will continue to be tight particularly through the first half of the year. Because of this, we expect prices to remain high for the foreseeable future, but car shoppers can rest assured we don’t anticipate any more record highs.”

According to KBB data, the average price paid for a new non-luxury vehicle in January was $42,859, down $294 and marking the third consecutive monthly decrease. However, while the average MSRP on a non-luxury vehicle has decreased over the past four months, KBB indicated shoppers still are paying on average more than $900 above sticker price.

Consumers have paid more than MSRP for each of the last eight months, whereas one year ago, non-luxury vehicles were selling for more than $1,600 under MSRP, according to KBB.

TrueCar mentioned the financing component in its latest new-car forecast, projecting that the average interest rate on new-vehicle financing would be 4.3% with contract terms averaging 69 months.

“After nine months of consecutive increases in new vehicle transaction prices, we are finally seeing a slight decrease in January,” TrueCar lead industry analyst Nick Woolard said in another news release. “While December often represents a peak due to a richer vehicle mix, at the brand level the declines could also point to a slight recovery in supply.

“As the supply of chips recovers, we expect to see manufacturers balance their vehicle mix back to historic norms,” Woolard continued. “However, industry conditions remain volatile and we’ll need to see these and other trends continue for several months, which will likely take the bulk of the year.”

And no doubt, an influence from those latest movements likely might take some time to matriculate into the wholesale market. Perhaps to the delight of used-car managers, relief might be ahead, but they'll continue to need patience.

“The chip shortage will continue to affect the industry in 2022,” said Valeri Tompkins, senior vice president of OEM solutions at TrueCar.