LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.—Will the trend of increasing used car values continue all summer?
Based on the latest report from Black Book, the impact from Trump tariffs continue to inflate prices of new and used cars.
The company’s Used Vehicle Retention Index for May increased 0.1% (0.1 points) to 149.4 from April 2025 (149.3), which is 0.5% above where it was at the same time in 2024.
“The market exceeded traditional seasonal expectations once again last month, with the Index reporting another increase from the previous month,” stated Laura Wehunt, vice president of data and analytics. “Speculation about the impact of tariffs created a frenzy among used market buyers in April and May, but buying activity began to taper off by the end of the month. As we move into June, the market appears to be stabilizing, aligning with more typical seasonal patterns.”
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.
To obtain a copy of the latest Black Book Wholesale Value Index, click here.