Industry keeping eye on high fuel prices
JOPLIN, Mo. – Record high prices at the gas pump are beginning to take their toll on the RV industry and the recreational boating industry is keeping a watchful eye on the situation, the Joplin (Mo.) Globe reported in a story yesterday.
The newspaper interviewed the co-owner of Cedar Oaks RV Resort on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, who said about 50 RV owners have canceled reservations in the past six weeks and that her customers tell her they’ll be skipping their RV trips this year because of gasoline prices.
But the Globe also spoke with Mark Adams, a regional manager for the National Marine Manufacturers Association in St. Louis, who said that the boating industry continues to do well despite the high fuel prices. Adams told the newspaper that recent quarterly figures show boat sales are up 17 percent, and said that boat builders throughout Missouri are backed up more than usual.
The Globe said Tracker Marine in Miami, Okla., which employs about 350 people building boats, has reported that it is hiring more workers and increasing production.
Stephen Campbell, plant manager for Tracker, told the newspaper that the price of gas hasn’t dampened boat sales yet, but if gas prices continue to climb, he believes sales will be affected.
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