With the help of Michael Meyer of Rate-Highway Inc. and Jim Tennant of The Tennant Group, Auto Rental News publishes monthly auto rental rate surveys for six major cities: Boston, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Seattle and Los Angeles. The rates are based on weekly surveys.

Analysis and commentary provided by Jim Tennant of The Tennant Group. This survey is dated Jan. 10.

The December 6 City Average rates were down less than 2% and the individual cities were relatively stable as well, but like the person who drowned in a river that averaged one foot deep, we need to look under the surface for a complete picture.

The 12/2 and 12/9 pulls — for rentals 2 to 3 weeks out — for Miami had rates at more than $100 per day for two consecutive weeks. The highest city rates that we have seen since we started this rate analysis in May were rates more than $80 per day in Boston for four weeks in late June and July.

This short visit to car rental heaven came back to earth in the 12/16 pull with a Miami rate of $36.83. Chicago and Houston rates were down more than $6 per day and Seattle continued to have the lowest rates of the 6 cities.

For November's report, click here.