According to the latest data from BCA, the used car market appeared to be stabilising in September and even showed signs of a minor recovery. However, September is traditionally one of the strongest months for average values and year-on-year values remained well behind 2007. BCA’s Pulse data for September shows that average monthly used car values rose for the first time since May, with a modest climb of ￡47 (1%) recorded against August. Values averaged ￡4,812 over the month, compared to ￡4,765 in August. In the same month, the new car market recorded its worst volume performance in 40 years, while economic markets continued to be in turmoil. BCA’s Tony Gannon commented “Used car values have fallen significantly during 2008, but September’s average values offered some relief for vendors as prices crept up, even if only marginally. While it would be foolhardy to suggest this heralds a recovery for used market prices, it was a welcome change from what we have seen in recent months. There was also an improvement against guide values as the average performance against CAP Clean rose to nearly 92% after spending two months stabilised around the 90% mark.” He added “Despite this small improvement, it is the third month running that the average auction value has been below the ￡5,000 threshold and compared to earlier in the year, values remain down by around ￡1,000. Year-on-year values are behind by a similar amount. In previous years, September has heralded a significant rise in average prices and that simply has not happened this year.” According to BCA’s figures, values for Fleet & Lease cars rose by ￡71 in September compared to August. Average Part-Exchange values rose by ￡63 in September, a rise broadly in line with last year, although year-on-year values are down by 12%. Nearly-New values continued to fall, although just ￡8 was taken off the average value in September.