December 1997

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that deliveries of all recreation vehicles were reported at 26,900 units in the December survey of manufacturers, raising the total for the year to 438,800 units. This marked the fifth consecutive year in which shipments have exceeded 400,000 units.

Seasonally adjusted, shipments in December represented an annualized rate of nearly 410,000 units, up nearly 3% from last month. Deliveries of towables and motorhomes rose 6.4% over last month and were 13.7% higher than this same month last year. Conversely, conversion vehicle shipments dipped, falling 11.2% from last month and off 29.5% from this same month last year.

The Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to its lowest level in six months in the December 1997 survey, according to the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center. Although substantial, the loss still leaves consumer sentiment near an all-time record high.

"The substantial reservoir of confidence among consumers will support continued strength in spending during 1998," reported Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "Low unemployment rates, low inflation and expectations of favorable economic conditions persist."

Retail sales of travel trailers and folding camping trailers outperformed last year and finished at or above their wholesale shipment comparisons. Type A motorhomes also performed well with wholesale shipments up 7.1% while retail sales stayed steady.

Towable RVs

Deliveries to retailers of all towable RVs improved to 12,400 units in December, up 9% over last month and up 8.8% over this same month, one year ago. Totals for all of 1997 were up 3.8% compared to the prior year with unit shipments at 199,500 units.

Conventional travel trailers moved ahead of their 1996 totals finishing at 78,800 units, up 4.5%. Fifth-wheel trailers ended at 52,800 units, up 8.9% over 1996 and another all-time record high.

Folding camping trailers were up slightly in 1997, rising less than one percent to 57,600 units while truck campers slipped to 10,300 units, off 6.4%.

Motorhomes

Shipments of all motorhomes were reported at 4,200 units in December, up 31.3% compared to December 1996. Yearly totals for all motorhomes improved to 55,000 units, off less than one percent from their 1996 totals.

Conventional type A motorhomes increased to 37,600 units, up 3% over 1996 totals. Both type B and type C units were down slightly.

Conversion Vehicles

Deliveries to retailers of all conversion vehicles slid nearly 30% in December, leaving totals for the year at their lowest level in five years. Shipments of van conversions were hurt most, off 15.1% on totals of 122,300 units. This was the lowest van conversion total since 1982. Pickup truck totals were down as well, finishing at 49,200 units, this marked the lowest total for pickups since 1993. Only sport utility vehicles conversions finished above 1996 with deliveries of 12,800 units, more than 4% over the prior year.

Source: RVIA