Auto Trader : Lockdown has little impact on used car prices as demand drives strong rates of growth

Press release Lockdown has little impact on used car prices as demand drives strong rates of growth 22nd Jan 2021

According to the latest data from Auto Trader, based on the circa 510,000 vehicles currently advertised on its marketplace, used car prices continue to record strong levels of growth despite the current lockdown measures in place across the UK. Last week (11^th - 17^th January), the average retail price grew 7.7% year-on-year (YoY) on a like-for-like basis, which is a marginal decrease from the 7.8% recorded a week earlier but marks the 37^th consecutive week of price growth.

The increase continues to be driven primarily by supply and demand dynamics. Whilst the tightening restrictions are adding pressure on supply networks, the healthy level of demand in the market has been largely unaffected, evidenced in the 4% increase in visits to Auto Trader last week, which grew to 11.4% YoY at the weekend. With a daily average of 1.3 million users, the strong consumer engagement on its marketplace resulted in a 9.4% YoY increase last week in the number of leads being sent to retailers.

Retailer pricing behaviour

In terms of how the measures have influenced retailer pricing behaviour, based on the number of retailers making price changes and the value of their adjustments, activity remains relatively consistent with January 2020.

Last week's average of 2,325 retailers making daily price adjustments is 175 fewer than the same period last year, and below the pre-lockdown average of 2,500 - 3,000. However, a total of 18,078 vehicles were repriced during the week, which falls within the levels typically seen during normal trading conditions (17,500 - 24,000), albeit at the lower end. In regard to the price reductions being made, pre-COVID-19 retailers typically lower prices between £250-£550 per day. Last week the average price reduction was £325 which similarly remains at the lower end of the scale.

Commenting, Auto Trader's director of data and insight, Richard Walker, said: 'Nearly three weeks after the Prime Minister announced the third lockdown, we have a much clearer view of what impact the new restrictions are having. Once again, as we've seen consistently over the last year with the various measures that have been introduced across the UK, it's done little to dampen consumer demand, which has helped used car prices to continue recording exceptionally high rates of growth.

'This price growth, which we've been tracking for close to eight months, has helped drive robust profit margins, and for this reason we continue to urge retailers to hold firm. Whilst retailers are currently limited to online retail channels, with the current levels of supply and demand in the market, along with the margins available, we don't see any reasons to suggest a different approach to pricing.'

Drop in diesel demand does little to dampen price growth

Looking at the different fuel types, the average price of used diesel and petrol cars on Auto Trader followed a similar trend to the wider market, recording robust rates of growth last week. The average price of a used diesel increased 9.5%. Although demand for the fuel type dropped -6.4%, the levels of supply fell more sharply at -9.9%.

In contrast, despite the levels of demand for used petrol increasing -3.1% YoY, it was outperformed by the levels of supply in the market, which increased 7.7% last week. However, the imbalance in favour of supply had minimal impact on price growth, with the average price growing 7.5% last week.

Hatchbacks and estates see largest price growth, but SUVs most in demand

Like-for-like prices continued to increase across all body types, with hatchbacks and estates recording the highest rate of growth, up 8.8% and 8.6% YoY respectively. However, SUVs remain the most in demand, increasing 12.2%, helping to fuel a 7.0% price growth.