Report Expects Continued RV Industry Growth Through 2014
Things are looking sunny for the RV industry – at least according to a report given during the Recreational Vehicle Association’s Committee Week 2013, which ran from June 2-6, 2013.
Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the Consumer Research Center at the University of Michigan, provided the initial outlook for RV wholesale shipments in 2014 on June 3.
According to Curtin’s report, RV shipments to dealers are expected to climb 8.4 percent in 2013 and 3.9 percent in 2014. To put this in perspective, Curtin’s report speculates that 310 thousand units will ship in 2013, followed by 322 thousand in 2014. A total of 286 thousand units were shipped to dealers in 2012.
The RV industry had its most successful year in 2006 when 391 thousand units shipped, but just three years later the economy had tanked and shipments dropped to 166 thousand units. It’s been a gradual climb back up every year and if Curtin’s report is true, the climb will continue through at least 2014.
This report comes on the heels of news that the RV industry saw impressive growth in the first quarter of 2013 with an 11.2 percent gain in units shipped to dealers.
Curtin’s report shows the biggest gains are expected to come from motorhomes, with gains of 18.8 percent of 2013 and 6.3 percent in 2014. Conventional fifth wheels and travel trailers are expected to gain 7.7 percent in 2013 and 3.7 percent in 2014, while folding campers and truck campers are expected to rise just 0.7 percent in 2013 and 2.0 percent in 2014.
Breaking Down RV Sales By Class
Travel Trailers:
Fifth Wheels:
Folding Trailers:
Truck Campers:
Class A Motorhomes:
Class B Motorhomes:
Class C Motorhomes:
