Wholesale shipments to retailers of all RVs were reported at 17,400 units in the September survey of manufacturers, a gain of 13.0% compared to this same month last year. September shipments of all towable RV were 17.5% ahead while motorhome totals were 23.5% behind totals one year ago. Seasonally adjusted, September shipments represented an annual rate of more than 230,000 units, the highest annualized total so far this year.

Year to date, shipments of 121,400 units have been recorded, behind the first nine months of 2008 by 42.7% with towables off less than motorhomes. Conventional travel trailers represented 53.8% of all RVs through September last year but have grown to 61.8% so far this year.

Along with the overall improvement in RV shipments, many other macroeconomic indicators have started to rise as well. The Index of Consumer Confidence registered strong gains in September, reflecting widespread consumer optimism that the recession has ended. September marked the highest level this indicator has been in nearly two years.

According Dr. Richard Curtin, director of consumer surveys at the University of Michigan.s Survey Research Center, the gains in September 2009 were a result of generally favorable consumer expectations of lower unemployment and inflation ahead.

Towable RVs

Wholesale shipments of all towable RVs were reported at 16,100 units in the September survey, ahead of last year by 17.5%. This total represented at an annualized rate of more than 215,000 units, the best in more than 16 months for these products. Conventional travel trailers were reported at 11,300 units, the highest monthly total for these vehicles since June 2008.

Year to date, shipments of all towable RVs have reached 112,500 units and are now 39.7% lower than at this point last year. Conventional travel trailers continued to grow as a share of all RV shipments and now represent 61.8% of all RV shipments.

Motorhomes

All motorhome shipments totaled 1,300 units this September, off 23.5% from this same month one year ago. Importantly, type A motorhome shipments of 600 units were the highest total for this category of vehicle all year. Seasonally adjusted, the September total represented an annual rate of more than 15,000 units, the best in nearly one year for all motorhome products.

Through September, all motorhome shipments have totaled 8,900 units, off 64.8% compared to the first nine months last year. Type A shipments were off the most, declining 71.8% compared to the first nine months last year while type C have slipped 59% so far this year.