Growth Markets
January 12, 2026
Recreational vehicle wholesale shipments slump
Written by Greg Wittbecker
The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) November 2025 survey of manufacturers recorded total RV shipments at 21,424 units, down 9.1% year over year.
Year-to-date shipments remain 2.7% ahead of the 2024 pace at 318,901 units. Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, were down 8.5% year over year at 18,999 units.
Motorhomes experienced deeper decline, falling 13.5% year over year on shipments of 2,425 units. Park model RV shipments rose 12.1% year over year.
Why this matters
The fourth quarter is typically not a strong period for RV shipments, as dealers reduce year-end inventories during the “winter dead zone” for RV sales.
However, 2025 declines were steeper than usual, which may be an early sign that consumer discretionary spending is being constrained by the persistent effects of inflation.
Dealers are also actively managing working capital amid continued elevated interest rates.
Key events to watch for RV demand trends include the Louisville Boat, RV and Sportshow, scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 1. This mid-winter expo is the traditional kickoff for dealers to begin placing spring orders with OEMs. Consumer sentiment at this event will help set the tone for 2026 build rates.
From an extrusion and sheet perspective, the RV market is not a major end-use. However, RVs form part of a broader group of discretionary consumer products, such as boats, utility terrain vehicles (UTV), and motorcycles, that serve as a useful barometer of consumer sentiment and spending.
With ongoing discussions about demand destruction, RV shipments may offer an early indication of how widespread that pressure may—or may not—be in 2026.
