SSI: Retail Sales Outpace Wholesale Shipments in May

At 42,028 units, the retail registration total for May represents a 17% year-over-year decline compared to the 50,674 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 164,498 retail registrations, a 21.1% decrease compared to the 208,695 units recorded through April of last year.

It’s worth noting that, for the third month in a row, retail sales (42,028) outpaced wholesale shipments (30,919). 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 May, retail sales in 2023 – at 164,498 units – are running ahead of the 140,735 wholesale shipments, which is a difference of at 23,763 units or 14.4%.

United States

• Travel Trailers – 24,882 retail registrations in May 2023 (vs. 30,399 in May 2022; an 18.1% decrease). Market share leaders: THOR Industries (43.8%), Forest River (36.9%), Grand Design RV Co. (6.9%).

• Fifth-Wheels – 6,004 (7,426; -19.1%). Market share leaders: THOR (45.9%), Forest River (25.8%), Grand Design (15.3%).

• Camping Trailers – 695 (784; -11.4%). Market share leaders: Forest River (61.6%), Aliner (15.4%), Sylvan Sport LLC (5.2%).

• Park Models – 296 (225; +31.6%). Market share leaders: Skyline Champion (52.4%), Cavco Industries (11.8%), Kropf Mfg Co. Inc. (9.8%).

• Class A – 839 (961; -12.7%). Market share leaders: THOR (51.1%), Forest River (19.9%), Newmar Corp. (12.4%).

• Class C – 2,180 (1,914; +13.9%). Market share leaders: THOR (53.9%), Forest River (24.2%), Winnebago Motorized (9.7%).

• Class B – 1,215 (1,311; -7.3%). Market share leaders: THOR (36.1%), Winnebago Motorized (34.7%), REV Recreation Group and Forest River (5.0%).

Canada

• Travel Trailers – 4,379 retail registrations in May 2023 (vs. 5,708 in May 2022; a 23.3% decrease). Market share leaders: THOR (44.0%), Forest River (35.4%), Grand Design RV Co. (7.0%).

• Fifth-Wheels – 625 (954; -34.5%). Market share leaders: THOR (44.2%), Forest River (24.2%), Grand Design (20.6%).

• Camping Trailers – 125 (140; -10.7%). Market share leaders: Forest River (72.8%), Mfr Unknown (12.8%), Aliner (8.0%).

• Park Models –4 (6; -33.3%). Market share leaders: Woodland Park and Cavco Industries (50.0%).

• Class A – 64 (155; -58.7%). Market share leaders: THOR (54.7%), REV Recreation Group (20.3%), Newmar Corp. (14.1%).

• Class C – 477 (415; +14.9%). Market share leaders: THOR (54.5%), Forest River (40.0%), Winnebago Motorized (2.7%).

• Class B – 105 (107; -1.9%). Market share leaders: THOR (64.8%), Roadtrek Inc. (13.3%), Winnebago Motorized (12.4%).

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/ssi-retail-sales-outpace-wholesale-shipments-in-may/