SSI: Retail Sales Continue to Outpace Shipments through April

At 35,987 units, the retail registration total for April represents a 23.7% year-over-year decline compared to the 47,194 units tallied in the same month last year, according to Statistical Surveys Inc., the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company that tracks retail and consumer data for the RV industry.

Year to date, there have been 120,284 retail registrations, a 23.8% decrease compared to the 157,931 units recorded through April of last year.

It’s worth noting that, for the second month in a row, retail sales outpaced wholesale shipments, as there were 35,987 retail registrations recorded in April 2023, compared to 31,216 wholesale shipments for the same month. In March 2023, there were 34,900 retail registrations compared to 31,869 wholesale shipments for the same month. Before that, retail sales and wholesale shipments were more or less in line with each other.

Through April, retail sales in 2023 – at 120,284 units – are running ahead of wholesale shipments –109,816 units – by 10,468 units, which is slightly less than 1%.

United States

• Travel Trailers – 22,420 retail registrations in April 2023 (vs. 28,640 in April 2022; a 21.7% decrease). Market share leaders: THOR Industries (42.1%), Forest River (37.5%), Grand Design RV Co. (6.9%).

• Fifth-Wheels – 5,409 (7,339; -26.3%). Market share leaders: THOR (44.1%), Forest River (28.2%), Grand Design (16.6%).

• Camping Trailers – 627 (731; -14.2%). Market share leaders: Forest River (59.5%), Aliner (15.5%), SylvanSport and Purple Line LLC (both at 5.3%).

• Park Models – 162 (199; -18.6%). Market share leaders: Skyline Champion (29.6%), Cavco Industries (19.8%), Kropf Mfg. Co. (16.0%).

• Class A – 838 (993; -15.6%). Market share leaders: THOR (51.8%), Forest River (20.3%), REV Recreation Group (11.2%).

• Class C – 1,992 (2,018; -1.3%). Market share leaders: THOR (57.8%), Forest River (21.4%), Winnebago Motorized (7.8%).

• Class B – 1,052 (1,306; -19.4%). Market share leaders: THOR (35.5%), Winnebago Motorized (32.1%), Storyteller Overland (6.5%).

Canada

• Travel Trailers – 2,559 retail registrations in April 2023 (vs. 4,537 in April 2022; a 43.6% decrease). Market share leaders: THOR (43.6%), Forest River (33.6%), Grand Design (8.8%).

• Fifth-Wheels – 387 (782; -50.5%). Market share leaders: THOR (39.8%), Grand Design (25.1%), Forest River (22.5%).

• Camping Trailers – 78 (116; -32.8%). Market share leaders: Forest River (74.4%), Aliner (10.3%), Sylvan Sport and Mfr. Unknown (both at 6.4%).

• Park Models – 4 (6; -33.3%). Market share leaders: Woodland Park (50%), Statton Rock and International Housing Concepts (both at 25%%).

• Class A – 33 (69; -52.2%). Market share leaders: THOR (45.5%), Newmar Corp. (24.2%), Forest River (18.2%).

• Class C – 257 (219; +17.4%%). Market share leaders: THOR (64.2%), Forest River (29.2%), Leisure Travel Vans (2.7%).

• Class B – 52 (67; -22.4%). Market share leaders: THOR (69.2%), Roadtrek Inc. (19.2%), Pleasure Way Industries (7.7%).

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/ssi-retail-sales-continue-to-outpace-shipments-through-april/