Every weekend in August so far has had a clearance rate above 70 per cent. If a clearance rate above 70 per cent is recorded again this weekend, this year’s winter market would be on track to have the highest clearance rate since 2009. The average winter clearance rate was 57 per cent last year, 55 per cent in 2011, and 68 per cent in 2010. The winter clearance rate in 2009 was 85 per cent but with nearly 20 per cent less auctions than this year. Stock levels are also higher this year compared with last, up around 20% for the same time.