|
RVing
and
the
Economy
"They
rarely
leave
the
RV
lifestyle"
Some
manufacturers
and
dealers
are
making
far
from
glum
predictions,
despite
the
downturn
...
|
|
|
The
stock
market
is
down
and
the
economy
is
slowing;
gas
prices
are
causing
problems
for
many
people.
The
US
housing
market
is
the
worry
of
the
world,
not
just
the
people
of
the
US
(NY
Times
-
"Finance
leaders
from
the
world's
wealthiest
nations
warned
Saturday
Feb.
9th
that
global
economic
woes
could
get
worse
from
the
slump
in
the
American
housing
market.")
So
what
about
the
RV
manufacturing
industry?
Roaming
Times
has
published
results
from
2
leading
manufacturers
this
week:
1.
Thor
-
the
world's
largest
RV
manufacturer
-
announced
sales
of
$504
million
for
the
quarter
ended
January
31,
2008
-
up
3%
from
last
year.
(Read
the
story
here)
(And
sales
of
RVs
in
general
keep
going
up
and
up.
2006
for
example
had
the
highest
number
of
RVs
shipped
to
customers
in
the
US
-
390,000,
the
best
annual
total
in
30
years
-
RVIA
figures.)
2.
Monaco
Coach
reported
this
week
revenues
of
$1.3
billion
for
2007
-
equal
to
2006
-
with
a
profit
of
$140
million
compared
to
$124
million
in
2006
-
up
13%.
Chairman
Kay
Toolson
said:
"We
feel
the
Fed's
recent
interest
rate
cuts
should
help
the
RV
market
in
the
second
half
of
2008."
(Read
the
story
here)
No
glum
predictions
for
Monaco
or
Thor.
And
many
retailers
are
making
far
from
glum
predictions:
The
Minneapolis
Star
Tribune
reported
that
dealers
at
the
Minneapolis-St.
Paul
RV
Show
(ending
Feb.
10th)
were
"upbeat
about
sales
prospects
this
spring
and
summer."
The
Florida
Pasco
Tribune
also
reported
this
week
that
dealers
say
that
"high
gas
prices
and
high
interest
rates
haven't
slowed
their
RV
businesses"
and
comment
that
with
the
baby
boomer
generation
approaching
retirement,
dealers
"expect
the
RV
market
to
jump
in
the
next
few
years."
What
does
RoTi
think?
We
think
as
the
Monaco
chairman
commented:
"We
believe
that
while
some
RV
buyers
may
delay
their
purchasing
decisions
when
times
are
uncertain,
they
rarely
leave
the
RV
lifestyle
and
can
be
expected
to
return
to
purchase
a
new
RV
when
their
confidence
is
restored."
Latest
RVing
news
headlines
No
glum
predictions
-
"they
rarely
leave
the
RV
lifestyle"
What
do
you
think?
...
|
Readers'
comments:
Jay Rosman
:
I'm not super rich and I'm not influential but I'm very happy with my financial situation. I'm retired and have a Country Coach and I love it. The downturn might cause me to lose some money but its unlikely I'll change my lifestyle.
John A
:
Good news for the luxury motorcoach manufacturers. I think it's maybe true that the current economic environment represents an investment opportunity. I'm thinking of buying stock in Thor. Their share price has dropped over the last few months but I think they're undervalued now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
