Retail used-vehicle sales remained flat in May compared to April, with approximately 1.53 million units sold across franchised and independent dealerships, according to Cox Automotive’s vAuto Live Market View data. Despite persistent affordability concerns, the market demonstrated steady demand and stability as the industry heads into the summer months.
The days’ supply of used inventory stood at 43 by the end of May, one day lower than at the start of the month and down two days compared to the same time last year. Inventory dipped slightly, but steady levels and modest price declines point to ongoing consumer interest, particularly in mainstream vehicle brands.
Certified pre-owned (CPO) sales followed a similar trend. While CPO transactions dipped by 0.5% from April, May totals reached 231,137 units — only marginally lower than the prior month. On a year-over-year basis, CPO sales were up 2.4%, and year-to-date volumes remain 3.5% higher than the same period in 2024.
Looking ahead, analysts at Cox Automotive caution that June’s data may present distorted year-over-year comparisons due to the anniversary of a major cyberattack that disrupted reporting in 2024. Any significant shifts in upcoming figures are expected to reflect discrepancies in data availability rather than actual changes in market performance.
Overall, the used-vehicle market continues to show resilience amid ongoing economic pressures, with stable retail performance, strong consumer demand, and only slight fluctuations in inventory and pricing.
