CARMEL, Ind. -

As evidence of the continued downturn in used values, June marked the first time in four months that average sale prices at auction came in below $10,000, according to the latest analysis from ADESA’s Tom Kontos.

ADESA Analytical Services’ monthly data indicates that the average wholesale price in June came in at $9,893, the lowest reading since February and the second-lowest for the year.

This level also marked a 3.7-percent month-over-month softening and 3.6-percent year-over-year decline.

“Wholesale used-vehicle prices continued to soften cyclically and seasonally,” Kontos said.

“The average sales price for all vehicles sold at auction fell below $10,000 for the first time since February, signaling an end to this year’s characteristically strong spring/tax season,” he continued.

Breaking it down further, car segment values fell 4.4 percent month-over-month and were down 6.9 percent from June 2011. There was a 3-percent drop in truck values from May and a 0.5-percent slide from a year ago.

“As gasoline prices softened in June, prices for car segments fell more dramatically than for truck segments,” Kontos pointed out.

All car segments showed both year-over-year and sequential decreases, with prices for full-size cars (down 10.4 percent) showing the heaviest month-over-month drop and compact cars (down 8.5 percent) falling the furthest of the car segments from June 2011.

Within the truck segments, full-size vans (up 0.2 percent) were the only category to climb from May and showed the greatest year-over-year hike among trucks (up 9.7 percent), as well. Full-size SUVs (up 7.1 percent) and full-size pickups (up 2.1 percent) also increased in price from June 2011.

Minivans had the most significant sequential slide (down 7.4 percent) of the truck segments, while luxury SUVs posted the steepest year-over-year drop (off 5.4 percent) among these vehicle types.

By consignor types, Kontos pointed out that there was a 1.9-percent sequential gain and 5.6-percent year-over-year hike for OEMs, “reflecting continued tight supplies of late-model off-rental and off-lease vehicles.”

As for fleet/lease consignors, their prices were down 5.7 percent from May and fell 2.4 percent from June 2011. Dealer consignment prices dropped 1.6 percent month-over-month and dipped 4.4 percent year-over-year.

Looking at the retail side of the market, Kontos cited CNW Research indicated that used sales for franchised dealers jumped 8.1 percent from May and climbed 1.9 percent from June 2011. The same data points to independents’ used sales falling 1.6 percent month-over-month and declining 8 percent year-over-year.

These trends are “an indication that both inventory and traffic favors franchised dealers in the current used-vehicle market environment,” Kontos noted.