Official: RV industry could begin to rebound in 2009

By JIM MEENAN, Tribune Staff Writer

Tools

RV industry

(WSBT file photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 18, 2008 at 11:59 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 18, 2008 at 11:59 AM EDT

Despite Thursday’s announcement that Monaco Coach was closing facilities in three Elkhart County cities, resulting in the loss of 1,400 jobs, Mark Bowersox, director of recreational vehicles of Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council, believes the industry’s long-term future is still good.

"The future long-term is bright," Bowersox said Friday morning, "because the economic climate and conditions that are affecting the business right now appear to be short term."

Bowersox cited the stock market, volatility of fuel prices, housing foreclosures and the shake-up in the banking industry.

"Fuel prices are a part of the equation," he said. "But a lot of people around this industry a whole lot longer than me will tell you the volatility is just as big an issue as the cost per gallon."

Stabilizing fuel prices would benefit the industry, Bowersox said, while adding, "All the other issues are a factor in what is negatively affecting the business right now."

Layoffs in the RV industry total more than 2,900 in Indiana so far this year.

And Bowersox said, as he understands it, the industry’s problems could bottom out in the first quarter of 2009, before growth takes place in the second quarter.

The current prediction of Richard Curtain, an economist at the University of Michigan who studies the industry, is that the industry’s problems will bottom out in the first quarter of 2009 and begin to see growth in the second quarter.

Friday, Jul 18 at 9:26 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Who cares what happens in 2009! Right now almost 2000 people are without jobs and I am sure the positions are not going to come back next year.

Friday, Jul 18 at 4:35 PM Anonymous wrote ...

And monkeys might fly out of my butt

Friday, Jul 18 at 4:20 PM Anonymous wrote ...

YOU BETCH YA AND THE YUGO IS GOING TO MAKE A COMEBACK TOO.

Friday, Jul 18 at 4:02 PM Anonymous wrote ...

What has this guy been drinking? If the RV industry does recover even a little I am betting it will be atleast 4 or 5 years.

Friday, Jul 18 at 3:21 PM Steve wrote ...

Are good times really just around the corner? I wouldn't bet on it

Friday, Jul 18 at 2:59 PM Anonymous wrote ...

It is about time we start drilling on our own. Specialist in oil drilling say if they know for sure where the oil is they can put out in 1 year. If the have to drill test wells, then it would take 5 years. In the mean time we can be bulding refiners at the vacant military bases.

Friday, Jul 18 at 2:30 PM Hotel Dweller wrote ...

I'd rather just stay in a hotel. Motor homes are great if you're retired because then you can carry your eccentricities wherever you go, like my inlaws collect animal skulls they find on the side of the road. They travel all over, have quite a collection. Whenever they're in town they just creep the hell out of me. Friendly enough, though.

Friday, Jul 18 at 1:22 PM Cynic wrote ...

Cha right. Maybe if they can build an RV that runs on frickin rainbows and sunshine. Fact is like happy camper said, the chinese and the indians are just gonna suck up our oil and they're too big to invade and steal it back from. Way things are goin, we wont be worrying about buying fuel for an RV, cos we'll be livin in tents eating worms and crying about the good old days. Mark my words!

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:37 PM Happy Camper wrote ...

Let's talk fuel prices. Gas is not going to get much cheaper. Let's consider three things. India has had the largest increase in vehicle purchases prior to recently. They are a growing and prosperous country. And China...the house over half the population of the world and also are becoming more affluent thus using more resources -especially fuel. Thirdly, past oil reserves where easily accessible, all future exploration will be expensive. Economics 101 - Supply vs. Demand

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:30 PM Happy Camper wrote ...

Hopefully the economic predications are correct. But that is another 9 moths of bad times before growth is predicted. If growth is defined as more sales than today than it's easy to predict that - as these companies are selling at record low numbers. Even when fuel prices stabilize - the people that have been spending their life savings to survive the last couple of years won't be in the market anytime soon to buy a house on wheels. It's going to take some doing to get back on track.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

WSBT Weather

icon
65
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Bears Preseason: Cleveland @ Chicago
10.00
Democratic National Convention
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman
12.35
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
1.35
Big Brother 10

Question of The Day

Do you think tropical storm Gustav will cause gas prices to rise?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5:30.

  • Yes
  • No