FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NADAUCG: May's Used-Vehicle Price Index Rises for First Time This Year

The firm reported that wholesale prices for cars eight years or older fell 2% in May, which was better than the 2.7% drop recorded for the month over the last four years. The improvement led to the first increase this year in the NADA Used Car Guide's used-vehicle price index.

by Staff
June 22, 2016
2 min to read


TYSONS, Va. — Wholesale prices for cars eight years or older fell by 2% in May, according to June’s NADA Used Car Guide. The report stated that the price for used mainstream cars continued to fall at industry-high rates in May. However, it added that May’s overall performance was better than expected.

The report noted that the 2% drop in used-vehicle prices was better than the 2.7% drop recorded for the month over the past four years. Due to this improvement, the NADA Used Car Guide’s seasonally adjusted used-vehicle price index rose for the first time this year by 0.7% to 119.1.

Ad Loading...

“When compared to the same period in 2015 on an index basis year to date, average prices this year are down by about 4%. Through the first five months of the year, depreciation has accelerated at a steeper rate for small to mid-size cars, as well as small and mid-size utilities. Vehicles in the large car, truck, SUV and luxury segments have fared better,” the report stated.

The best performing segments for the month were mid-size and large pickup trucks by a large margin. Prices for the two segments fell by a combined average of 0.4% during the month, a slight improvement over the previous month’s drop of 0.6%.

Mid-size vans also fared well. The segment saw prices fall less than 1% in May, marking an approximate 1.5% improvement over the last two years.

Luxury vehicle prices performed better than the rest of the mainstream segments, the report stated. Luxury CUV prices saw the steepest fall with a 2.1% drop in price. The rest of the luxury segments averaged a 1.2% drop, according to the report.

Compact car prices suffered the biggest dip, with prices for the segment falling 3% in May. Large and mid-size cars followed closely behind with a 2.7% price dip, while subcompacts saw prices fall by 2.4%. Subcompact prices could have been worse, the report stated, but a “17% pullback in late-model auction sales volume over the month” helped performance.

Ad Loading...

Even the much sought-after CUV segment experience above-average depreciation in May, according to the report. The report cited a growing pool of supply and higher new-vehicle incentives for the segment’s price drop of 2.5%.

On a year-to-date basis, CUV depreciation is nearly 5% worse compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. CUVs are now tied with subcompacts and compact cars for the biggest negative swing in the industry, the report stated.

More F&I

Woman in casual clothing sitting at a desk
F&Iby Rick McCormickMarch 31, 2026

Curb The Confusion

Talk to F&I customers like you’d talk to a friend, without industry lingo or sales-like questions, and use hard proof to show, not tell, them about a need.

Read More →
Photo of man's hand on laptop computer keyboard with blank screen
F&IMarch 16, 2026

There Is Always one More Product

Helping F&I customers understand complementary offerings is likely to lead to more sales, based on the success of a high-performing practitioner of the philosophy.

Read More →
REGISTER FOR EFI 2026
F&Iby Kate SpataforaMarch 16, 2026

EFI Conference Extends Early Bird Discount as Room Block Nears Capacity

Ethical F&I Manager's Conference will take place at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on April 13–15, 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Explore the 12 Rules for an F&I Life at EFI

EFI 2026 will take place April 13–15 at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

Read More →
F&IMarch 4, 2026

Creating Your Own Economy

In this video, Reese Dailey explains how effective follow-up drives better results across the dealership, including increased sales, higher F&I penetration, and stronger customer retention.

Read More →
Industryby StaffMarch 2, 2026

Prove You Can Do F&I at EFI

‘So You Think You Can Do F&I’ is a live role-play contest taking place at the 2026 Ethical F&I Managers Conference.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 25, 2026

Report Finds Year-End F&I Strength

Deal volume ebbed and flowed throughout 2025, but product performance remained steady, according to automotive technology and data intelligence solutions provider StoneEagle.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellFebruary 23, 2026

Some Auto Brands Cheaper to Insure

A new top 10 list ranks the least expensive for average full insurance coverage on a clean driving record and high driver credit scores.

Read More →
F&IFebruary 13, 2026

Business Office Blueprint

Try following these 20 steps to greater success in the dealer F&I office this year.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 11, 2026

Insurance Shopping on the Rise

A TransUnion study found that relationship-driven sales models proved to be important, as consumers who used an agent had a lower shopping intensity than those going it alone.

Read More →