The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that recent moves by the federal government to reduce interest rates and to offer consumers future tax cuts have been met with a poositive response by the RV industry. Still, January shipments lagged behind behind a-year-earlier results stirring concerns of future shipment direction.

January wholesale shipments of all RVs were ahead of many projections but well behind this same month last year. The 19,200 units shipped the first month this year were 28.4% below totals from January one year ago. As with recent trends, towables out-performed motor-homes again in January.

Consumers reacted negatively to published reports of a weakening economy as reflected in the most recent Index of Consumer Sentiment. The Index tumbled to 94.7 in the January survey, according to the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center, down more than 17 points in the past two months.

"Apprehensions about future income and job prospects were widespread across all income groups in our January results," reported Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "These heightened concerns about income and job prospects will no doubt delay discretionary spending."

Towable RVs

Shipments of all towable RVs were at 15,700 units in January, off 24.2% from this same month last year. Conventional travel trailers provided 7,600 units, 48% of the category's total. Fifth-wheel trailers were at 4,000 units while folding camping trailers and truck campers were at 3,400 and 700 units respectively.

Although quite a bit below last January's total, January 2001 shipments of towables looked a lot like January 1999. Compared to that month, shipments of 15,700 units this year would have been down just 8.2%. Both were at seasonally adjusted annual reates of more than 200,000 units each.

Motorhomes

Shipments to retailers of all motorhomes were very weak in January, off 42.6% from this same month last year. Shipments of all type A conventional motorhomes fell 46.7% campared to this same month last year to just 2,400 units. This was the worst January total for type A motorhomes since 1993. Both type B and type C motorhomes were also well below last January with shipments of 200 and 900 units respectively.

Diesel motorhomes, particularly diesel type A motorhomes, did rather well in January. Diesel chassis have gained market share throughout the past two years topping out at 56% of all type A motorhomes last December. This month diesels represented 40.2% of all type A shipments.

Conversion Vehicles

Shipments to retailers of all conversion vehicles were at 5,200 units in January off 42.9% compared to this same month last year. Van conversions were hardest hit, dropping 45% to just over 3,300 units. Pickup truck conversions and sport utility conversions were also much lower this January compared to the first month last year.

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Total RV Shipments 1985 - 2001
New - Only Recreation Vehicles

Source: RVIA