Here is this week's Used Car Market Report from Black Book and Ricky Beggs. Black Book was able to spend some time last week in New Orleans as part of the AFSA Conference as well as the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Exposition. The financial market continues to grow while serving the needs of the auto industry with the biggest question mark being around the CFPB regulations. But when it comes to collateral values and the future market, that’s where the interest is focused, at least based on the questions and interaction of the panel session I participated in.

As you can see from the clip from the show booth, the outlook for the market is very positive. Even though the biggest comments from the auctions this past week were mostly about the weather, the average segment changes indicate a more stable market. Both the cars and the trucks had the lowest declining segment change for the past four weeks. Another sign of an improving market is the percent of the changes made that were increases. The 26% increases this past week is the highest level of positive changes since back for the week ending June 7, 2013.

The better moving car segments were surprisingly the Compact Cars at -$15, the Entry Mid-size Cars also at -$15 and the Entry Level Cars at only -$19. I say surprising in that gas prices have been very stable while actually softening slightly over the past four weeks.

Within the truck segments the Full-size SUVs made a turn to actually increasing $11 for the week. Also faring well were the Full-size Vans and Wagons.

Another thought on the market came from a Black Book survey person who reminded us that we are only two to three weeks away from some of the tax checks appearing. So it may be time to watch some of the older and less expensive trades and wholesale units.