| The Recreational
Vehicle Industry Association reported wholesale shipments of 30,100
units in March, down 18.9% from the same period in 2007. Motorhomes
were down 27.6% while towables were down 17.3%. The year-on-year monthly
change continues to be negative and the trend does not signal any
short-term recovery. The economic slowdown and climbing fuel
prices continue to weigh on industry growth.
According to the RVIA and Dr. Richard
Curtin, Director of Consumer Surveys at the University of Michigan, RV
shipments will again decline in 2008 due to higher credit standards,
falling household wealth, slower growth in real incomes, and diminished
consumer confidence. Shipments in 2008 are still expected to be the
eighth highest in the past 25 years, totaling approximately 305,000
units. That represents a 13.6% decrease over 2007. Year to date, the
actual wholesale shipments are down 11.8% compared with the same period
in 2007.
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