G'day LBM,
yep, within an accumulation zone, as the accumulation progresses the volumes should become progressively lower, particularly each time price moves lower.
Usually it is the down legs within the trading range that are most important to watch, however each time price challenges the breakout line (creek), it potentially weakens the resistance residing there. And may cause price to pull back more deeply if increased supply is drawn out.
So overall in a developing accumulation zone, initially there will usually be some sort of climactic action that halts the downtrend, and causes price to begin trading sideways in a range.
Price will usually move up and down within this range for a period, in a motion that is designed to encourage weak holders (holders who are currently in a losing position), to sell at a loss. This is important, as those weak holders will most likely sell into a breakout, or once they are back at breakeven, and this selling will need to be absorbed (bought) by whoever is attempting to mark up the stock, if they are to keep the momentum positive. So it is in their interests to shakeout and absorb as much stock as possible at these lower levels (during the accumulation), rather than pay more at a higher price later when trying to maintain the upward momentum.
During the trading within the range, price will usually push lower multiple times (depending on how much supply is drawn out each time), and the expectation is for volumes to reduce each time price moves lower. This would suggest that there are less sellers each time price dips lower, and hopefully that means that less stock will be sold into a future breakout.
Often each downleg will also become more shallow creating multiple higher low's, especially towards the end of an accumulation zone.
However, if a down leg unexpectedly draws out increased supply at a certain stage, expect the accumulation to reset and extend out a bit longer, and include an extra down leg or two, perhaps also dipping lower (a new lower low) in an attempt to shakeout the fresh new supply.
Have a look on the chart below, all is going very well until the little shakeout which draws out some unexpected fresh new supply. this little shakout was possibly the last check for supply before an attempt at a breakout. But for whatever reason, fresh new supply is drawn out and in response price grinds lower, challenging any more sellers to come out and dump their stock....but very little more is drawn out, and price recovers, then one last pullback, before breaking out on increased volume (absorption volume).
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Hopefully that answers your question LBM,
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