November MSR: Dollar sales, unit volume are up

CHICAGO – Wholesale dollar sales for the traditional powerboat segment rose just over 1 percent in November compared to figures from the same reporting period in 2004, and were up 6 percent YTD, gaining across all categories, according to the November Monthly Shipment Report released recently by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Inboard boat wholesale dollars were up almost 12 percent, while sterndrive boat dollars were up nearly 5 percent and outboard boat dollars were up almost 1 percent.

“Unit volume for the inboard boat segment, including skiboats and cruisers, was up just over 7 percent YTD and almost 12 percent YTD in dollars,” said Jim Petru, director of industry research and statistics for NMMA. “This indicates larger price point boats continue to do well, regardless of recent shifts in consumer confidence. With these high dollar increases and dealer inventory reportedly low at the end of last year, we’re still confident the industry is poised for a turnaround in 2006.”

Although dollar volume was up, wholesale shipments for the traditional powerboat segment (outboard, sterndrive and inboard boats) declined, down 5 percent YTD and 7 percent for the month of November, compared to the same period the previous year.

Total boat shipments (including PWCs, canoes, kayaks, inflatable boats, sailboats and houseboats) were down 3 percent in November compared to one year ago, and down just over 1 percent YTD.

Wholesale dollar sales for total boat shipments were up, showing a 2 percent increase over the same period in 2004 and an almost 6 percent increase YTD.

Outboard motor factory unit sales were also down 4 percent for the first 11 months of the year, while wholesale dollars were up 9 percent.

NMMA’s MSR tracks manufacturers’ shipments to dealers for both boats and outboard engines using a control group of boat and engine manufacturers. The 2005 boat control group represents about 77 percent of the overall boat marketplace while the 2005 outboard engine control group represents about 95 percent of the market. With this information, companies can measure how their sales are compared to the rest of the boat and engine manufacturers.

Companies participating in the control group are asked to contribute their sales figures by the fifteenth of each following month. For information on subscribing to NMMA’s monthly statistical reports, contact Vicky Yu at (312) 946-6261; vyu@nmma.org.

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