GAINESVILLE, Ga. -

Following a record-breaking week of wholesale value adjustments, the third week of 2012 was significantly milder and auctions actually experienced a "little lull” in activity, according to Black Book managing editor Ricky Beggs.

Visiting five auctions throughout three states last week, Black Book editors found that attendance was strong, but activity and end-of-week numbers were somewhat soft, Beggs reported in the latest “Beggs on the Used Car Market” video report. What’s more, the average number of daily adjustments was just 1,329, versus the all-time high of 3,280 adjustments the previous week.

“Even though attendance was solid, the activity and end of auction numbers resulted in a ‘little lull’ this past week as compared to the previous week,” Beggs shared.

“A few of these auction personnel were not completely surprised when they compared this third week of the year business to the previous year’s for the same time period,” he continued. “They all seemed to think the activity and sales percentages would climb back up this coming week.”

Sharing more insight, Beggs noted that a little more than half (52 percent) of the adjustments were positive last week. This was very similar to the prior week, when 53 percent were upward movements.

Beggs also pointed out that the average positive change was $97, and the average negative change was $125. A week earlier, the average negative change was $148.

Breaking it down by segment, just one of the 10 car segments (entry level cars, which were up for the second straight week) climbed in price from the week before. Upper midsize cars (down $3) showed mildest decline with entry midsize cars second in line (down $11).

On the truck side of the market, Black Book spotted more of the same.

“The 14 truck segments — with an average change overall of (negative) $18 — was right in line with the average change for the previous three weeks, so consistency within the trucks abounds,” Beggs shared.

Six of the 14 climbed in value, and leading the way was the midsize pickup class (up $23).

Moving along, Beggs offered a tidbit about what Black Book has in store as he closed the week’s commentary.

“After also spending time with two key manufacturers and two brand new models this past week, a couple of the editors will be meeting with a manufacturer regarding the fleet business, rental penetration, residual projections and model comparisons,” he said.

“We will follow that with getting to see the latest specifications and insight while driving two more redesigned vehicles with another manufacturer,” Beggs added. “All of this adds to our ability to project solid and realistic residual values.”