June 2002

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reportsshipments of all RVs surgedahead in June setting recordtotals for deliveries to retailersand continuing a recovery in RVshipments that began in January. RV shipments totaled 28,400 units in June, the same total as the previous month, andwere at a seasonally adjustedannual rate of more than 320,000 units. Year to date, totals have reached 158,800 units, 13.9% ahead of the first six months last year.

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Battered by a stream of business scandals and corporate failures, consumer confidence sank lower in June. The Index of Consumer Sentiment moved down to 92.4 in the June survey, according to the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center, down from May's 96.9 rating. Consumers are increasingly anticipating a slower pace to the recovery and that job growth will be limited in the year ahead.

"Even so, most of the shift inopinion was toward the view that the economy would remain largely unchanged rather than anticipating that the economy would worsen," reported Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "Consumer confidence still remains consistent with continued but modest spending growth during the year ahead."

In spite of weaker consumerconfidence retail sales of RVswas rather robust in June, continuing to move upward in allvehicle categories surveyed.Final sales for fifth wheels have shot up in recent months reducing further low inventories of these products.

Towable RVs

Shipments of all towable RVs were at 22,600 units in June, up 20.2% compared to this same month last year. This was the largest total for towables during the month of June in more than twenty years. Year to date, all towable RVs are at 128,000 units, up more than 12% compared to the same period last year.

Conventional travel trailers (including hybrid trailers) remains the most popular RV category by a large margin, representing more than 40% of all RV shipments so far this year and more than half of all towable shipments. Fifth-wheel trailers are running a distant second to conventionals but continue toclimb, posting shipments of 5,500 units in June, up nearly 15% from this same month last year and are ahead 12.9% for the first six months this year.

Motorhomes

Motorhome shipments madesignificant gains in June as type A motorhomes were up 27.6% and type C motorhomes were up 58.3% compared this same month one year ago. Total motorhome shipments were up 34.9% for the month and, year to date, are ahead of last year by 18.5% on shipments of 30,800 units.

Conversion Vehicles

Conversion vehicle shipments slipped in June, falling 13.9% from June of last year on shipments of 6,200 units. Van conversions had been making steady, albeit modest growth this year but dropped off 18% in June.

Year-to-date totals for all conversion vehicles were at 33,600 units in June, off 2.9% compared to this same six-month period last year. In spite of June's dip, van conversions remained above the year-earlier totals at 23,700 units shipped to retailers through the first half of 2002.