Used car prices
Wholesale (what dealers pay), retail (what they list) and what buyers actually finance, in one place, with the read for this month. Updated 2026-10-27.
The read
Wholesale prices firmed in October on tight supply (index +0.7% mix-adjusted, but unadjusted prices actually fell 2% from September). Retail listings are at a post-2022 high of $27,235 and inventory is building, which usually means dealers get softer on price by December. If you are selling or trading, do it now while wholesale is firm; if you are buying, inventory growth favors waiting a month and shopping aged units.
Wholesale: Manheim index
| Month | Index | vs prior month | vs year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 (mid-month, through Oct 15) | 207.4 | +0.7% | +2.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 205.9 | -1.1% | -0.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 208.2 | — | — |
Wholesale days' supply 28.2 (was 28.7). Wholesale days' supply, mid-October; tighter supply is what lifted the index. Sources: Cox Automotive mid-October 2026 trends · Cox Automotive September 2026 trends.
Retail: listings and loans
| Average listing price, September 2026 | $27,235 (+5.9% y/y; $27,223 prior month) |
| Retail days' supply | about 44 |
| Average amount financed (Experian, Q2 2026) | $27,852 |
| Average used-car APR (Experian, Q2 2026) | 11.19% |
| Average used-car payment (Edmunds, Q3 2026) | $582 (was $576 last quarter, $566 a year ago) |
| Average new-car payment, for comparison | $787 |
Highest monthly average since December 2022; inventory rising as the sales pace slowed. Sources: Cox Automotive used-vehicle inventory, September 2026 · Edmunds Q3 2026 financing data.
Used-vehicle prices, year over year BLS CPI, last 5 years
The 2021–22 spike and the 2023–24 unwind; prices turned up again in 2026. Source: FRED CUSR0000SETA02.
What a $27,852 used car costs to finance
| Term | At 11.19% (average) | At 6.29% (super prime) | At 19.10% (subprime) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 months | $722 | $658 | $834 |
| 60 months | $608 | $542 | $724 |
| 72 months | $533 | $465 | $653 |
Payment only, on the Experian average amount financed. Rates by tier: credit-score page.