STAMFORD, Conn. –

In a month where wholesale values climbed double-digits year-over-year and rather modestly on a month-over-month basis, RVI Group found that there was particular strength in fuel-efficient segments during January, which may come as no surprise with the dramatic gas-price spikes.

Interestingly enough, though, pickups were also quite robust, RVI indicated.

Specifically, there was a 0.8-percent month-over-month sequential rise in used-vehicle prices during the month. Year-over-year, January wholesale prices climbed 15.7 percent.

“Although annual increases have weakened since November, used-car prices continue to inch up,” officials stated.

Breaking it down by segment, the greatest increase in prices from January 2010 was seen in the subcompact segment (up 29.3 percent). RVI pointed out that, “Compacts and small SUVs are not far behind with strong double-digit strengthening from last year.”

These two segments climbed 20.4 percent and 19.6 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, full-size pickups showed sequential (up 2.9 percent) and year-over-year (up 18.3 percent) strength, as did small pickups, which improved 2.9 percent from December and 11.1 percent from January 2010.

New-Vehicle Trends

Moving over to the new-car side of the market, December transaction prices showed no month-over-month change (seasonally adjusted). Against year-ago figures, December transaction prices moved ahead 0.3 percent, according to RVI.