April 2002

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) reports that RV wholesale shipments in April were 31,200 units as reported by manufacturers, marking the highest monthly shipment total in two years. Shipments surged 14.7% above last month and were 16.4% ahead of this same month last year. Year to date, RV shipments have now climbed to 102,000 units, up 10.3% ahead of the same period last year and on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of nearly 280,000 units.

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The Index of Consumer Sentiment slipped a bit in April, sliding to 93.0 from the prior month’s reading of 95.7. Significantly, the readings have increased from the low 80’s recorded during the final months last year and reflect consumers’ expectations about the pace of  the current recovery, not any doubts about the direction of economic progress.

"Most consumers still expect improving economic conditions ahead," said Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "They expect interest rates will rise and constrain the pace of growth later this year."

Not only did wholesale shipments continue to improve in April but so too did retail sales of RVs, as measured by a survey of manufacturers. Final sales of all towables were well above wholesale shipments with motorhome shipments and sales beginning to even out.

All towable RVs were reported as 25,500 units in April, up 17.5% from last month and up 15.9% compared to this same month last year. Shipments of 13,400 conventional travel trailers reported in April were up 20.7% compared to this same month last year. Fifth-wheel travel trailers weren’t far behind, rising 15.4% this month to 6,000 units, the third best April on record.

Year to date, shipments at 82,200 units were up 9.2% compared to the first 4 months of 2001. Conventional travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers were well ahead of last year with increases of 12.6% and 9.9% respectively.

All motorhome shipments rose to 5,700 units in April, up 3.6% from last month and up 18.8% compared to the same month last year. Both type A and type C motorhomes improved by 400 units compared to the same month last year while type B motorhomes increased by 50% with 100 units more.

Year to date, all motorhomes of 19,800 units are up 15.1% as all three categories of vehicles improved. Type A motorhomes have increased by 12.2% so for this year with type C motorhomes up 18%.

Wholesale shipments of all conversion vehicle products show real signs of improvement this year, gaining 5.1% in April to 6,200 units. Van conversions have led the recovery with solid gains over the past three months. Van conversions, representing two-thirds of all conversion products, were up 12.8% this month, and year to date, are ahead of last year by 16.8%.