May 2004

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) reports that shipments to retailers of all RVs were reported at 32,600 units in May, up an impressive 24.4% from one year ago and the best May totals in more than 25 years. Gains were reported across all vehicle types with Towables climbing 23.1% this month to 26,600 units while Motorhomes jumped 30.4% to post shipments of 6,000 units. Year to date, shipments have grown to 161,200 units, up 20.6% over the same five month period last year. 

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Consumer confidence dipped in May to 90.2, down from 94.2 in the April survey, as measured by the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center. Although small, the decline since January’s recent peak has been based on concerns for rising inflation and expectations of correspondingly higher interest rates. However, the news was not all negative as consumers reported they expected more favorable employment trends and higher wage gains in the future.

Retail sales data remained quite strong with four of the five vehicle categories reporting final sales higher than at this same time last year. Type A motorhomes motorhomes stood at 114.2 in the May survey of manufacturers, meaning retail sales were 14.2% greater over the past twelve months than in the previous twelve month period this time last year.

Towable RVs

All towable RVs were reported at 26, 600 units in May this year, up 23.1% over May last year. Year to date, totals for all towable RVs were at 129,400 units, up 18.6% over this same period last year and the highest five month start to a year since 1976.

Conventional travel trailers continue to increase the most units, rising 2,300 units over this same month last year, while truck campers posted by the largest percentage growth, up 37.5% in May. Year to date totals for conventional and fifth wheel travel trailers were up a combined 19,100 units over this same five month period last year.

Motorhomes

Wholesale shipments of all motorhomes were up by nearly a third over May last year rising 30.4% to 6,000 units. Type A motorhomes gained 20.7% on reports of 3,500 units while type C motorhomes gained an impressive 53.3% to 2,300 units for the month.

Year to date, all motorhome shipments were at 31,800 units through May this year, a gain of 29.3% over the same period last year. Type A motorhome shipments were up 24.2% on shipments of 20,000 units with Type C motorhomes rising 42.1% to 10,800 units.

Conversion Vehicles

The decline in conversion vehicles has slowed measurably with uneven gains reported during part of the year. Van conversions remain the groups leading category accounting for slightly more than two-thirds of all conversions vehicles. Pick up truck conversions gained in our May survey helping to post 5,300 units year to date but still behind year to date shipments in 2003. Sport utility vehicle conversions continue to slide lower, having slipped further on much smaller totals.