According to the Blue Book Market Report for April 2012, rising used-car values aid in new-vehicle sales. Click here to read the full results: Blue Book Market Report – APRIL 2012.
THIS MONTH’S REPORT INCLUDES:
MARKET ANALYSIS
- Kelley Blue Book Raises Sales Forecast to 14.2 Million Units on Improved Economic Conditions, Strong Q1 Sales
Kelley Blue Book raised its annual sales forecast for 2012 from 13.5 million units to a range between 14 and 14.2 million units after a strong Q1 and an improving economic outlook. March sales reached 14.4 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), a step back from the 15 million SAAR in February, yet well above the 14.1 million SAAR recorded in January…
- Inventory Levels Improving, Yet Challenges Remain for Toyota and Honda
Through most of 2011, consumers faced a limited selection of vehicles at dealerships as a result of the earthquake in Japan. According to Kelley Blue Book’s Q4 Consumer Sentiment study, 29 percent of respondents complained about a small selection of vehicles, while 28 percent of respondents reported that they were unable to find the specific vehicle they wanted…
- Rising Used-Car Values Aid New-Vehicle Sales
After a sluggish start to the year, gains in used-car values have accelerated in recent weeks. Values at auctions across the country increased nearly 2 percent in March, primarily led by strong gains in values of fuel-efficient vehicles, which have been in high demand from rising gas prices…
- Economic Conditions Improving
After several years of stagnant economic growth, there finally is reason for a bit of optimism in future prospects. Although there still is a long way to go, many major economic indicators appear to be trending in the right direction. Of particular interest are improvements in unemployment, which declined from 9 percent in September to 8.2 percent in March…
- Downside Risks Remain
Although there is plenty to be optimistic about, there remain significant risks that pose a threat to our fledgling recovery. Fuel prices should be a major concern to anyone following the economy today. At $3.90 per gallon nationally, the country is only $0.20 per gallon shy of the high point established in 2008…
- Used Fuel Sippers Surge; Dealers Need to Remain Cautious
Values of subcompact, compact and hybrid cars increased 6 to 10 percent last month due to increased demand from consumers for fuel-efficient vehicles. The 2010 Toyota Prius was especially strong, increasing more than 14 percent in just a few short weeks…
- Trucks Decline Slightly, Will Only Drop Moderately in the Months Ahead
It is only logical to expect that as fuel prices rise, demand and subsequently values for fuel-thirsty trucks and SUVs will decline. While this is true to some extent, the declines in values of the least-fuel-efficient vehicles on the road have been relatively minor thus far…
- New Redesigns and Leases Drive Mid-Size Sales in March
Sales of mid-size cars were up more than 25 percent year-over-year, driven primarily by the all-new Toyota Camry and the soon-to-be-released redesigned Nissan Altima. The Camry sold more than 40,000 units overall, which is the most since the Cash for Clunkers program in August 2008…
- Subcompacts Surge as Compacts Tread Water Year-Over-Year
In a month where mid-size and subcompact cars increased sales by more than 20 percent, compact cars were held to a more conservative 3 percent gain year-over-year. Sales in the segment typically surge as fuel prices approach $4.00 per gallon, but this year sales have been relatively flat…
LATEST HOT USED-CAR REPORT
- Fun Cars and Fuel Sippers
Due to this year’s warm winter and a spike in gas prices, used-car shopper activity for sports cars and fuel-efficient vehicles is rapidly rising as we enter Spring. The segment with the largest lift month-over-month is premium sports car, which consists of Porsche 911, BMW M3 and other high-end models. All models in this segment experienced a modest lift…
ALL-NEW ‘BLUE BOOK MINUTE’ VIDEO
In addition, this month we have created a video with Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book, detailing the latest insights into the marketplace for April. To view the latest video, click here: http://mediaroom.kbb.com/blue-
