Used construction-equipment values are creeping up after bottoming out last summer, a sign that credit is looser and fewer firms are ditching their fleets. Values rose for the fifth month straight in February, posting a 1.9% monthly gain and a 6.2% six-month increase, according to Beverly Hills, Calif.-based appraiser Rouse Asset Services. Monthly gains of 13.1% for straight-boom lifts, 7.2% for articulating-boom lifts, 3.5% for telehandlers and others propped up values, while prices declined 1.4% for dozers and 0.8% for compactors. However, values still are 26.6% below April 2007’s market peak.

Source: Rouse Value Index. Average Orderly Liquidation Value for 10 Equipment Categories at 66 months old. Percentage of Replacement Cost.