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Shipments for the Month of March 1996
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that deliveries to retailers increased to 45,200 units in March, up 19.6% from last month but off 4.6% from this same month last year. Seasonally adjusted, shipments in March declined to 477,300 units annualized, down 5.5% from last month. Year-to-date totals have now risen to 119,800 units, off 3.9% from this same period one year ago.
The Index of Consumer Sentiment increased markedly to 93.7 in the March survey, up from an 88.5 reading in February, according to the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center. The March increase was the largest single monthly improvement in the Index since the start of 1994. The largest gain in the March survey occurred in the Northeast where earlier losses had been greatest.
"The March data indicate a consolidation of expectations at favorable levels across a broad range of measures as well as across all areas of the country," reported Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "Since the start of 1996 both home and vehicle buying attitudes have significantly improved."
RV manufacturers reported in March that nearly 3 in 4 fifth wheel travel trailers included a slideout room, while the ratio for conventional travel trailers was the mirror image showing just 1 in 4 with a slideout. For motorhomes, slideouts represented less than 1 in 6 reported in March and were most popular in the 30 to 38 foot length categories.
Towable RVs
Wholesale deliveries of all towable RVs improved to 18,900 units in March, up more than 25% over last month but down 7.4% from this same month, one year ago. Year-to-date deliveries of all towables have now climbed to 48,800 units through the first quarter this year, off 7.4% from this same period a year earlier.
Fifth-wheel travel trailers continued to improve over last year increasing to 4,700 units in March, up 4.4% from March one year ago. First quarter totals for these products have grown 2.5% over their 1995 start. Other towable categories are running behind last year's pace with conventional travel trailers off 10.6% and folding camping trailers off 10.8%, year to date.
Deliveries to retailers of all motorhomes increased nearly 18% over last month but were off slightly from this month last year. Still, some products have made increases in this market. Type B (van campers) have increased each month this year rising 25% in March. Their year-to-date total of 1,200 units are 20% greater than the first quarter last year.
Type A, conventional motorhomes, have followed closely last year's course but have inched above the 1995 pace by 2.2% on year-to-date shipments of 9,400 units. Only type C product sales have fallen behind last year with deliveries of just 3,700 units, type C's are 15.9% behind this same period one year ago.
Conversion Vehicles
Shipments of 20,900 units of conversion vehicles were reported in the March survey, up 15% from last month but off 2.8% from this month last year. Im-provements in pickup truck and sport utility conversions have helped offset declines in shipments of conversion vans so far this year.
Through March, vans accounted for 58% of conversion vehicle shipments down from a 71% share reported first quarter last year. Availability of van chassis continue to hamper efforts to increase shipment totals and meet rising van conversion demand.
Source: RVIA
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