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The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that wholesale shipments of all RVs totaled 28,900 units in May, up 2.5% from this same month last year. Year to date, totals have now climbed to 147,400 units through May of this year, up 4.3% from this same period last year. Seasonally adjusted, shipments in May were up 7.7% over last month and moved back above the 315,000 unit level on an annual rate basis. All towable products did quite well this month while type A and type C motorhomes fell behind. The Index of Consumer Sentiment conducted by the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center rose to 110.7 in the May survey of consumers, up from 109.2 in April. Through the first five months of this year, the Sentiment Index has never averaged higher in its fifty-year history. "Consumers were unfazed by the latest hike in interest rates," reported Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "Consumers saw little reason to alter their very optimistic outlook for job and income prospects." Towable RVs Total shipments of all towable RVs were 23,700 units in May, above last year by 6.3% and the best May in twenty-two years. Year-to-date totals for all towable RVs have now risen to 117,200 units, up 6.1% over this same period last year. Conventional travel trailers, particularly smaller units without slideouts, did quite well in May rising 7.4% over this same month one year ago. Fifth-wheel travel trailers also did well this month growing to 5,700 units to record their best May total ever. Folding camping trailers were slightly ahead while truck campers improved by 20% to 1,200 units for the month. Motorhomes Weakness in type A motor-home shipments pulled all motorhomes down as they finished at 5,200 units, off 11.9% from May last year. Through May, all motorhome shipments are now at 30,200 units, off 1.9% from last year but still the second best start since 1988. Conventional type A motor-home shipments of 3,300 units in May brought their year to date totals to 20,400 units, off 3.3% compared to this same period last year. Type C units were down slightly in May, as well; and have now reached 8,200 for the year, 1.2% behind this point last year. Conversion Vehicles Conversion vehicle shipments continued their earlier trend of lower shipments again in May as wholesale shipments slipped 13.3% this month to 11,700 units. Van Conversions remain the major product category accounting for two out of three conversion vehicles, but totals have fallen 19.4% this year to 36,600 units through May. Pickup truck conversions have done better, rising 10% over this point last year on shipments of 16,500 units. However, sport utility vehicles have sagged to 3,400 units and a 42.4% decline. . Click Here For
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