(April 1, 2015) IRVINE, Calif. — The analysts at Kelley Blue Book kbb.com today report the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $33,280 in March, an have increase of $1,125 (up 3.5 percent) from March 2014. Prices dropped $41 from last month.

"A lift in average transaction prices can be attributed to consumers' continued interest in buying trucks and SUVs," said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. 

"In fact, 85 percent of the industry's growth this year can be attributed to trucks and utility vehicles.  Transaction prices are rising in each of the truck segments, with the largest jumps in full-size and luxury full-size SUV segments.  Right now is a great time to be an automaker selling trucks."

Both General Motors and Hyundai-Kia are up 5.9 percent year-over-year. For GM, this is primarily due to the shift in the manufacturer's share away from cars and toward trucks and utility vehicles.  Last year, about 59 percent of General Motors' sales year-to-date were truck-based and this year, about 69 percent of sales are trucks, vans or utility vehicles. Hyundai-Kia continues to climb on strength from the redesigned Hyundai Genesis and Kia Sedona. 

Ford Motor Company is following closely with an increase in average transaction prices by 4.4 percent, helped by two recently redesigned models.  

"The Mustang was up 10.6 percent, while the F-Series jumped 3.9 percent," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.  "The F-Series makes up about 30 percent of Ford's sales, so as the availability of the new model continues to grow, so will Ford's average transaction prices."