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The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that total RV deliveries to retailers improved again in April, growing to 34,300 units, up nearly 8% over last month and up nearly 5% over this same month last year. Year to date, deliveries have now reached 113,100 units through April this year, up 8.1% over this same period one year ago. Seasonally adjusted, shipments in Apirl were at an annual rate of more than 310,000 units, down slightly from the previous month but up nearly 6% from the 1998 annual total. So far this year, deliveries are running at an annualized rate of more than 311,000 units. The Index of Consumer Sentiment continues to bounce about at near all-time record high levels. In the April survey, the Index slipped to 104.6, down slightly from the previous month's reading of 105.7, according to the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center. "Consumers anticipate that the pace of economic growth will remain robust and that the unemployment rate will remain at its current three-decade low," reported Dr. Richard Curtin, director of the survey. "Overall, the outlook for consumer spending remains quite strong." While retail sales for all of the vehicle categories measured have been higher this year than last, final sales of type C motorhomes have done the best. Both wholesale deliveries and retail sales, as computed from a survey of manufacturers, are ahead of this same month last year by more than 20%. Towable RVs Wholesale shipments of all towable RVs increased to 27,200 units this April, up nearly 10% over last month and up nearly 4% over this same month one year ago. Year-to-date deliveries of all towables are now at 88,200 units, up 5,000 units from this same period last year. Conventional travel trailers have experienced the greatest improvement where deliveries were 6,100 units more than the first four months last year. Year-to-date shipments of conventional travel trailers have now reached 41,000 units, their best start since 1978. Fifth-wheel travel trailers set an all-time, single month record in April with 6,500 units, 22% greater than last month and 12.1% greater than this same month last year. Folding camping trailers lagged while truck campers held their own in April compared to April one year earlier. Year to date, both are very close to their same totals as last year. Motorhomes Wholesale deliveries to retailers of all motorhomes totaled 7,100 units in April, up slightaly from last month but up 9.2% from this same month last year. Large type A motorhomes continue to do well as type C numbers have moved up rapidly in all vehicle sizes. Conversion Vehicles Wholesale deliveries of all conversion vehicle products in April moved ahead of shipments this month, one year ago, by 9% to finish at 14,600 units. Van conversions were at or ahead of their totals from last year for the third time out of the first four months this year. Year to date, van conversions are at 36,000 units, up 1.7% from April one year ago. Pickup truck conversions and sport utility conversions are also doing quite well this year, albeit at lower volumes. Click Here For
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