According to KBB.com: Used Compact, Hybrid Car Values On The Rise, Could Repeat Twenty Percent Gains Of 2011

Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, a provider of new car and used car information, reported on March 19 that used compact-car values are on the rise and could reach the same twenty percent gains seen in 2011. According to their Book Market Report for March 2012, values of used fuel-efficient compacts increased a modest 0.4 percent in February; however, values picked up significant momentum during the last weeks of the month. In the last week of February, used compacts increased 1.3 percent, while hybrid cars increased a more substantial 3.6 percent.

Used Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Values Begin to Climb

     Change for Week Ending:    Auction Values
Segment      Feb 10    Feb 17    Feb 24    Mar 2    Feb 3      Mar 2   Total Change
Hybrid Car    -1.1% 1.8%       1.6%   3.6%    $16,014    $16,974    6.0%
Compact Car -1.2%    0.1%       0.3%       1.3%    $12,229    $12,286    0.5%
Subcompact Car    -0.9% -0.5%      0.2%   0.7%    $11,124    $11,071    -0.5%

Note: All changes reflect values of MY09-11 vehicles

"The 2010 Toyota Prius led in gains, increasing in value $1,370 through the month of February," said Alec Gutierrez, Senior Market Analyst of Automotive Insights for the site. "Dealers have been aggressively bidding on fuel-efficient vehicles at auction as consumer demand increases in response to rising gas prices. If the past is any indication of things to come, Kelley Blue Book could see values of used fuel-efficient vehicles increase more than twenty percent during the course of the next few months."

In 2011, fuel-efficient vehicle values reached record levels in response to gas prices approaching $4.00 per gallon, and if fuel prices continue on their current trajectory, the site expects to see a similar trend this year. Values of fuel-efficient vehicles will only remain elevated as long as fuel prices remain high, so if fuel prices were to ease, expect values to return to normal levels. The site advises dealers to stock up on inventory sooner rather than later, since values likely will increase sharply during the next thirty-to-sixty days.

The monthly Blue Book Market Report explores the state of the automotive industry by analyzing Kelley Blue Book Auction Values. You can access this report at: http://mediaroom.kbb.com/blue-book-market-report/

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