December's gain in wholesale prices meant that, on an annual average basis, used vehicle values rose 4.6 percent in 2005, the biggest such gain since 1996. Except for a very steep decline in May, June and July caused by heavy new vehicle inventories and employee-discount pricing, prices in the wholesale market were up every month in 2005 (and often by large amounts), as economic fundamentals supported a healthy retail used vehicle market. Higher consumer confidence supports current and future spending.
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