New-Car Transaction Prices Rise Less Than 1 Percent In October 2014, According To Kelley Blue Book

Ford Posts Solid Gains on Strong F-Series Pricing; Nissan Falters Despite Increased Sales

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The analysts at Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry, today report the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $33,361 in October 2014.  New-car prices have increased by $246 (up 0.6 percent) from October 2013, while rising $185 (0.7 percent) from last month. 

"Utility vehicles, especially small and mid-size, are the story once again, as consumers are buying more and willing to pay more for these models," said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book.  "With gas prices at a three-year low and with consumer confidence at a seven-year high, this trend should continue."

This month, Ford Motor Company is among the top performers with transaction prices up 2.1 percent.  The Ford brand is up 2.3 percent on strong F-Series pricing, while Lincoln was down 2.1 percent.  The only Lincoln model with a higher average transaction price year-over-year was the Navigator at 1.9 percent.

"Among import brands, Nissan North America continued to show declines in transaction prices, despite increasing sales by 13 percent this year," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.  "This is partly due to their mix, as the share of the brands smallest cars, the Versa and Sentra, makes up more than one quarter of Nissan's sales.  The Nissan brand was down 1 percent in October, while Infiniti was down 2.3 percent."

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About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only 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's KBB.com ranked highest in its category for brand equity by the 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend^® study and has been named Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year for three consecutive years.  Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive company.

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SOURCE Kelley Blue Book

For further information: Chintan Talati, 949-267-4855, chintan.talati@kbb.com, or Brenna Robinson, 949-267-4781, brenna.robinson@kbb.com