Black Book’s Used Vehicle Retention Index Dips Slightly in June

Black Book, a division of Hearst that provides used vehicle valuations and residual value forecast solutions, released its Used Vehicle Retention Index for June 2026. The seasonally adjusted Index decreased 0.1% (0.1 points) to 147.3 from May 2026 (147.4), which is 0.5% below where it was at the same time in the previous year.

“As anticipated, the market continued its transition out of the extended spring selling season in June, with depreciation trends returning at a measured pace,” said Laura Wehunt, vice president of data & analytics at Black Book. “While Black Book’s Used Vehicle Retention Index posted only a modest decline for the month, market performance varied across segments. Demand for full-size cars remained resilient, supporting gains in both month-over-month and year-over-year retention, while full-size pickups and full-size vans experienced more pronounced depreciation.

“Increased new vehicle incentives from OEMs placed additional pressure on late-model used vehicles, particularly in segments where new inventory became more competitive. As we move further into the summer, we expect the used vehicle market to continue normalizing, with depreciation trends driven by the balance between consumer demand, new vehicle pricing strategies and broader economic conditions.”

Monthly Retention Index Figures

• June 2026: Index 147.3 (-0.1% MoM)
• May 2026: Index 147.4
• June 2025: Index 148.1 (-0.5% YoY)

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 a percent of original typically equipped MSRP. It is weighted based on registration volume and adjusted for seasonality, vehicle age, mileage and condition. The Index offers an accurate, representative and unbiased view of the strength of today’s used vehicle market values, according to company officials in a press release.