Average New-Car Prices Rise Nearly 4 Percent For January 2018 On Shifting Sales Mix, According To Kelley Blue Book

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 1, 2018 The analysts at Kelley Blue Book today reported the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $36,270 in January 2018. New-car prices have increased by $1,360 (up 3.9 percent) from January 2017, while dropping $486 (down 1.3 percent) from last month.   

"January was a strong month for transaction prices, rising nearly 4 percent on average," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "The shifting sales mix to trucks and SUVs has been particularly extreme lately, and as volume shifts away from cars, the average vehicle price ticks up. However, there was a glimmer of hope in the mid-size car segment, where prices rose 3 percent in January, thanks to the newest generations of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. These well-received new models, along with the redesign of the Nissan Altima due later this year, will test how much demand still exists for sedans."

While American Honda and Volkswagen Group continue to strengthen their average transaction values, other noteworthy manufacturers include General Motors and Fiat Chrysler. General Motors was up 4 percent year-over-year, with GMC showing the most improvement. GMC's average climbed 7 percent, with the redesigned Terrain as its best performer, up 6 percent. Buick also had a good month, up 5 percent, as the redesigned Enclave rose 9 percent.

Fiat Chrysler's average jumped nearly 4 percent in January 2018 on a strong mix of RAM trucks and Jeep SUVs. The new Jeep Compass had the best month for Fiat Chrysler, rising 5 percent, although the Wrangler, which is due for a redesign early in 2018, was down 1 percent. Dodge rose an impressive 8 percent, an average that was helped by the discontinuation of the Dart sedan.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com), and get updates on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+kbb.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, financial, retail and wholesale solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader^®, Dealer.com^®, Dealertrack^®, Kelley Blue Book^®, Manheim^®, NextGear Capital^®, vAuto^®, Xtime^® and a host of other brands. The global company has 34,000-plus team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book