http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/columns/37-letter-from-the-editor/509071-top-10-reasons-boat-sales-will-rise-in-2011
So here are the 10 indicators Dammrich says point to better new-boat sales this year.
1. Improving consumer confidence.
2. Consumer spending up most of the last 18 months.
3. Light-vehicle sales strong and growing.
4. RV sales growing.
5. GDP has grown the last six quarters. Projections for 2011 GDP growth range from 3 to 4 percent. Fantastic. New-boat and engine sales do well when GDP is growing at 3 percent or above.
6. Dealer inventories perhaps at the lowest level ever.
7. Used-boat inventory drying up.
8. Used-boat prices rising (as a result of No. 7), making new boats more attractive.
9. Late-model used boats won't be available in the preowned market. Why? We didn't build them. We only built 80,000 boats in 2009 and 130,000 in 2010.
10. Manufacturers are introducing new models with new features and accessories, and these aren't available in the preowned market.
"We should be turning soon," says Dammrich, who believes recovery is going to come sooner and stronger in 2011 than people think. "Hope I am right."
So do we.
