LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.—Used vehicle values continued to get a boost in December, according to Black Book.
The company’s Used Vehicle Retention Index in December increased 0.1% (0.2 points) to 148.0 from November 2024 (147.8), which is 2.0% below where it was at the same time in 2023. The increase marked the fifth consecutive month of used car values increases.
"In December, the wholesale market experienced a steady decline in values; but the rate of decline was slightly lower than the normal rate for the time of year, leading to a slight increase in the Index. This is partly due to the impact of fewer new vehicle sales from three years ago, resulting in reduced inventory that is helping to maintain price stability," explained Laura Wehunt, vice president of data and analytics. "Some segments performed exceptionally well, notably the Compact Car segment, which recorded a 6.8% increase in the Index compared to 2023, as consumers actively seek more economical used vehicle options."
The Black Book Used Vehicle Retention Index is calculated using Black Book’s published Wholesale Average value on two- to six-year-old used vehicles, as percent of original typically equipped MSRP. It is weighted based on registration volume and adjusted for seasonality, vehicle age, mileage, and condition.
Click here to obtain a copy of the latest Index data.