Soaring used-car prices finally start fall -- a little

After a big rise, wholesale prices of used cars are finally starting to fall a little. It should moderate, or at least slow, rocketing retail used-car prices -- what you'll pay -- that are up more than 30% this year.

At the wholesale level, used car prices fell another $300 in June and are now more than $600 below their April peak for the year so far, says Tom Kontos of Adesa's consulting arm. Adesa itself is one of the nation's largest wholesale sellers of used cars.

Even though wholesale used-car prices have tapered off, don't expect the party to last. "Tight used vehicle supplies plus strong retail demand should keep used vehicle prices from dropping dramatically," Kontos writes in a note to the industry.

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