With the help of Jim Tennant of The Tennant Group and Michael Meyer of Rate-Highway Inc., we are conducting rate surveys on a weekly basis and providing analysis and comments where appropriate. We publish this monthly recap in our electronic edition and more comprehensive looks in the print editions.

January 2016 rate quotes were down again, almost exactly the same as December — down $6.11 in January versus $6.12 in December.

Since August 2014, ICAR rate quotes have been down year-to-year every month but two (May 2015 and November 2015).

All regions were down, but the Southeast and Northeast were both down double digits while the other three regions (Midwest, Southwest and Northwest) were only down a couple of dollars. The unusual weather likely played a role in January’s results.

Hertz is no longer quoting ICAR rates for its brand significantly above Avis and National. In November and December, Hertz rate quotes were $4 or $5 above Avis and National, but in January, Hertz is only 20 cents above National and $2.34 above Avis.