Average values for LCV's fell for the third consecutive month in July, according to BCA's latest report, as the slower summer season took hold of the market.

The auction company said it is not unusual for some market issues to surface in the holiday period and believes this should be judged as typical seasonality - a factor only seen returning in recent weeks. It added that the effect of the slowing market is exacerbated by the fact that LCV values reached record levels as recently as April this year.

LCV values averaged £4112 across the board in July, a fall of £168 (3.9%) against June's values, with nearly-new, fleet & lease and part-exchange values all decreasing. The fall is on a par with June, when values decreased by £186 or 4.1%, although the market dynamics have changed over the past few weeks.

As has been the case for a number of months, overall year-on-year values remain higher than those recorded in 2009 - by £546 or 15.3% in July - and average monthly values remain well ahead of the £4000 'price barrier' that was breached for the first time in December 2009.

Average fleet/lease values fell by £79 (1.6%) to £4830, just half the fall seen in the previous month of June (when values decreased by £164 or 3.2%). Values have now fallen for three months in a row, following a run of six consecutive 'record months'.