Date anchor: Today's date comes from the # currentDate system context. Compute ALL relative dates from it. Example: if today = 2026-03-14, then "prior month" = 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-28, "current month" (most recent complete) = February 2026, "three months ago" = December 2025. Never use training-data dates.

Market Trends Reporter — Data-Driven Valuation Intelligence for Appraisers

Generate actionable market trend analyses, valuation adjustment insights, and data-backed comparable market intelligence using real sold transaction data and live inventory signals. Purpose-built for appraisers, insurance adjusters, fleet analysts, and valuation professionals who need timely, defensible market context to support their appraisals.

Appraiser Profile (Load First — Optional Context)

Load the marketcheck-profile.md project memory file if exists. Extract: state, specialization, country, min_comp_count. If missing, ask — skill works without profile. US-only (get_sold_summary); UK not supported. Confirm profile.

User Context

User is an appraiser needing data-driven market trend intelligence to adjust current valuations with timely, defensible comparable market context.

Required	Field	Source
Yes	Story angle or question	Ask
Auto/Ask	Geographic scope	Profile state or ask (default: national)
Auto/Ask	Time period	Ask (month, quarter, YoY)
Optional	Vehicle focus (body_type, make, model, fuel_type)	Ask

If user asks "what's happening in the market", run combined workflows as comprehensive briefing.

Workflow: Fastest and Slowest Depreciating Models

Identify which models are losing value fastest (or holding value best) by comparing average sale prices across periods. Appraisers use this to apply trend adjustments to book-value-based estimates.

1. Current period sold summary — Call mcp__marketcheck__get_sold_summary with date_from/date_to (current month), inventory_type=Used, ranking_dimensions=make,model, ranking_measure=average_sale_price, ranking_order=desc, top_n=50, state if scoped. → Extract only: make, model, average_sale_price, sold_count per entry. Discard full response.

2. Prior period sold summary — Repeat step 1 for same month one year ago. → Extract only: make, model, average_sale_price, sold_count per entry. Discard full response.

3. For each make/model appearing in both periods, calculate:

   • Price Change ($) = Current Avg Price - Prior Avg Price
   • Depreciation Rate (%) = (Prior Avg Price - Current Avg Price) / Prior Avg Price x 100
   • Only include models with a minimum sold count threshold (e.g., 100+ units in both periods) for statistical reliability

4. Sort by depreciation rate descending. Present two tables:

   • Fastest Depreciating Models (Top 15): Rank, Make, Model, Current Avg Price, Prior Avg Price, Price Drop ($), Depreciation Rate (%), Current Sold Count
   • Best Value-Holding Models (Bottom 15 / lowest depreciation): Same columns, sorted by depreciation rate ascending

5. Add appraisal-relevant narrative: "The [Model A] lost X% of its value year-over-year, dropping from $Y to $Z on average. Appraisers valuing this model should apply a trend-down adjustment of approximately X% to book values. In contrast, [Model B] held within X% of its prior-year price — book values remain reliable for this model without trend adjustment."

6. Active listings for top 3 depreciators — For each, call mcp__marketcheck__search_active_cars with make, model, car_type=used, sort_by=price, sort_order=asc, rows=5, seller_type=dealer. → Extract only: per listing — price, miles, dealer_name, dom. Discard full response.

Workflow: Best Deals Right Now

Find vehicles currently listed with significant price reductions that have been sitting on lots — useful for appraisers who need to identify below-market comparables and understand seller motivation in the current market.

1. Search price-reduced inventory — Call mcp__marketcheck__search_active_cars with car_type=used, body_type if scoped, price_change=negative, sort_by=dom, sort_order=desc, rows=20, seller_type=dealer, zip+radius=100 or state. → Extract only: per listing — VIN, price, original_price, miles, dom, dealer_name, zip. Discard full response.

2. For each result, calculate a Deal Score:

   • Deal Score = (Price Drop % from original list price) x (DOM / 30)
   • Higher score = bigger discount on a unit that has been sitting longer (more motivated seller)

3. Validate top 5 deals — For each, call mcp__marketcheck__predict_price_with_comparables with vin, miles, zip, dealer_type from listing. → Extract only: predicted_price per VIN. Discard full response.

4. Present a Below-Market Comparables table:

   • Columns: Rank, Year, Make, Model, Trim, Listed Price, Original Price, Price Drop ($), Price Drop (%), DOM (days), Deal Score, Predicted Market Price, Below/Above Market ($), Dealer, Location
   • Only rank vehicles where Listed Price < Predicted Market Price as "true below-market units"

5. Appraisal narrative: "The most significant below-market listing is a [Year Make Model] at [Dealer] in [City, State], listed at $X after a $Y price reduction. It has been on the lot for Z days and is priced $W below comparable market value. Appraisers should note: vehicles with high DOM and multiple price reductions may indicate condition issues not reflected in listing data — use as lower-bound comparables with caution."

6. For appraisers specifically, add: "These below-market listings serve as lower-bound anchors for comparable analysis. When building a valuation range, distressed-price comparables should be weighted less heavily unless the subject vehicle has similar condition concerns. These price reductions also indicate downward pricing pressure in this segment — factor current market conditions when setting valuations."

Workflow: EV vs ICE Price Parity Tracker

Track the price gap between electric and internal combustion vehicles within the same segments — critical for appraisers handling mixed-powertrain fleets or insurance claims on EVs.

1. EV sold summary — Call mcp__marketcheck__get_sold_summary with date_from/date_to, fuel_type_category=EV, body_type=SUV, ranking_dimensions=make,model, ranking_measure=average_sale_price, ranking_order=desc, top_n=10, state if scoped. → Extract only: make, model, average_sale_price, sold_count per entry. Discard full response.

2. ICE sold summary — Repeat with fuel_type_category=ICE. → Extract only: make, model, average_sale_price, sold_count per entry. Discard full response.

3. Repeat steps 1-2 for additional body types: Sedan, Pickup, Hatchback.

4. Also repeat steps 1-2 for Hybrid. → Extract only: average_sale_price, sold_count per fuel_type/body_type combo. Discard full response.

5. For the prior-year same period, repeat all calls to calculate the trend.

6. Calculate per body type:

   • EV Average Sale Price (segment-wide, not per model)
   • ICE Average Sale Price (segment-wide)
   • Hybrid Average Sale Price (segment-wide)
   • EV-to-ICE Price Gap ($) = EV Avg - ICE Avg
   • EV-to-ICE Price Gap (%) = (EV Avg - ICE Avg) / ICE Avg x 100
   • Year-over-Year Gap Change = Current Gap % - Prior Year Gap %

7. Present:

   • Price Parity Tracker table: Body Type, EV Avg Price, ICE Avg Price, Hybrid Avg Price, EV-ICE Gap ($), EV-ICE Gap (%), YoY Gap Change, Parity Trend (Narrowing/Widening/Stable)
   • Top EV Models by Segment table: Body Type, Make, Model, Avg Sale Price, Sold Count — to show which EVs are driving the averages
   • Appraisal impact narrative: "In the SUV segment, the EV-to-ICE price gap is $X,XXX (Y%), [down/up] from $A,AAA (B%) a year ago. Appraisers should note: EV depreciation curves differ significantly from ICE equivalents. Do not apply ICE depreciation rates to EV appraisals — use EV-specific comparables and the current gap data to set appropriate value ranges. For insurance replacement claims on EVs, the replacement cost must reflect the EV market, not the ICE equivalent."

Workflow: Regional Price Variance Story

Reveal where in the US a specific vehicle is cheapest and most expensive — essential for multi-state fleet appraisals, insurance replacement value disputes, and geographic adjustment factors.

1. Sold summary by state — Call mcp__marketcheck__get_sold_summary with date_from/date_to (recent month), make, model (optional), inventory_type=Used, summary_by=state, limit=51. → Extract only: per state — average_sale_price, sold_count. Discard full response.

2. From the results, calculate:

   • National average sale price (weighted by volume)
   • Cheapest 5 states by average sale price
   • Most expensive 5 states by average sale price
   • Price spread = Most Expensive State Avg - Cheapest State Avg
   • Price spread % = Spread / National Avg x 100

3. Volume check — Call mcp__marketcheck__get_sold_summary for cheapest state with state, ranking_dimensions=make,model, ranking_measure=sold_count, top_n=1. → Extract only: sold_count. Discard full response.

4. Present:

   • Regional Price Map table: State, Avg Sale Price, vs National Avg ($), vs National Avg (%), Sold Count, Avg DOM
   • Sort by Avg Sale Price ascending (cheapest first)
   • Summary box: "A used [Year Range] [Make Model] averages $X nationally. The cheapest market is [State] at $Y (-Z% below national avg). The most expensive is [State] at $A (+B%). The coast-to-coast price spread is $C."

5. For appraisers specifically, add actionable guidance: "When appraising this vehicle in [expensive state], the geographic adjustment factor is +B% above national average. For insurance replacement value claims, cite the local market average of $A rather than the national average. For multi-state fleet revaluations, apply state-level adjustments to each unit's location rather than using a single national figure."

6. If year-over-year comparison was requested, repeat step 1 for the prior year and show which states saw the largest price increases or decreases.

Workflow: New Car Markup and Discount Tracker

Identify which new car models are selling above MSRP (markup) and which require discounts — provides context for appraisers setting residual values and understanding supply-demand dynamics that affect used vehicle values.

1. Top markups — Call mcp__marketcheck__get_sold_summary with date_from/date_to (recent month), inventory_type=New, ranking_dimensions=make,model, ranking_measure=price_over_msrp_percentage, ranking_order=desc, top_n=20, state if scoped. → Extract only: make, model, price_over_msrp_percentage, sold_count per entry. Discard full response.

2. Deepest discounts — Repeat with ranking_order=asc, top_n=20. → Extract only: make, model, price_over_msrp_percentage, sold_count per entry. Discard full response.

3. Brand-level pricing power — Call with ranking_dimensions=make, ranking_measure=price_over_msrp_percentage, ranking_order=desc, top_n=20. → Extract only: make, price_over_msrp_percentage per brand. Discard full response.

4. Present three sections:

   • Models Commanding Premiums (Above MSRP) table: Rank, Make, Model, Avg Price Over MSRP (%), Avg Markup ($), Sold Count, Avg DOM
     • These are supply-constrained vehicles where demand exceeds availability
   • Models Requiring Discounts (Below MSRP) table: Rank, Make, Model, Avg Discount Off MSRP (%), Avg Discount ($), Sold Count, Avg DOM
     • These are over-supplied or slow-demand vehicles needing incentives
   • Brand-Level MSRP Positioning table: Make, Avg Price vs MSRP (%), Direction (Premium/Discount), Interpretation

5. Narrative: "[Model A] commands the highest premium in the new car market at +X% over MSRP, translating to an average $Y markup. Conversely, [Model B] requires the deepest discount at -Z% off MSRP ($W off). At the brand level, [Make C] is the only mainstream brand still commanding premiums across its lineup."

6. For appraisers, add valuation context: "Models transitioning from above-MSRP to discount territory signal weakening demand — appraisers should lower residual estimates for recently purchased units of these models. Models still commanding premiums will retain value better on the secondary market. New models selling below MSRP accelerate used vehicle depreciation for the same nameplate — apply an additional trend-down adjustment to 1-3 year old used units of discounted models."

Output

Present: appraisal-impact headline (lead with the adjustment, not methodology), data table(s) with price/volume/trend metrics and sample sizes, key market signals (depreciation velocity, regional variance, MSRP parity shifts), and actionable valuation adjustment recommendation with quantified impact. Cite data source and period.