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December 2004 The Recreation Vehicle
Industry Association (RVIA)
reports wholesale shipments of
all RVs in December 2004 were
reported at 25,900 units, up
16.1% from this same month
last year. This was the best
December total for all RV shipments
since 1976.
The full year total of 370,100
units was 15.4% greater than
the prior year and the best yearly
total since 1978. Although in
the final three months of 2004
shipments grew at a slower pace
than the first nine months, shipments
continued to average well
above the 345,000 units level for
the quarter, seasonally adjusted.
The Index of Consumer Sentiment
climbed to 97.1 in the
December survey according to
the University of Michigan’s
Survey Research Center, finishing
well above the reading of one
year ago. The recent strength in
consumer sentiment reflects
favorable evaluations of rising
incomes, low inflation and low
interest rates.
“Consumers expect the economic
expansion to continue,
although at a somewhat slower
pace,” said Dr. Richard Curtin,
d i rector of consumer surveys.
“Overall, consumer spending will
remain the driving force of the
expansion, with the overall pace
of growth in spending at about
3.5% in 2005”. Towable RVs
All towable RV shipments
were reported at 20,000 units in
the final month of 2004, up a
surprisingly strong 19.0% over a
very good final month last year.
Conventional travel trailers and
fifth wheel trailers were substantially
ahead while folding camping
trailers slipped a bit and
truck campers were even with
December one year ago.
All towable RV shipments for
the year reached 298,300 units,
up 15.2% and the highest total
for towables since 1973. Conventional
travel trailers (including
hybrid trailers) led all vehicle
categories with 163,600 units,
an increase of 17.0% over the
prior year. Fifth wheel trailers
rose 22% on total shipments of
91,000 units, an all-time record
high.
Motorhomes
All motorhome shipments of
5,900 units were reported in
December, a gain of 7.3% over
this same month last year. Year
to date, all motorhome shipments
grew 16.0% to 71,800
units, their best total since
1978.
Type A motorhomes were
again the category’s largest selling
products with shipments of
46,300 units, up 11.6% over
2003. Diesel chassis were
reported on 48.3% of all type A
motorhomes shipped in 2004,
the highest rate ever recorded.
Type C motorhome shipments of
23,000 units were 25.7% greater than 2003, the
fastest growing segment of the RV market in
2004.
Conversion Vehicles
Shipments of all conversion vehicles declined
5.6% in December 2004 on shipments to
dealers of 3,400 units. Year to date totals of
42,000 units of all conversions were reported in
2004, off 26.3% from the prior year.
Van conversions remain the largest vehicle
category in this group with a market share of
65.9% of all conversions. A total of 27,700 converted
vans were shipped to retailers in 2004,
down 28.6% from the previous year. RVIA
RVIA is
the Source for the Following Chart & Graph Information
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