PWC sales settle down in April after bullish 2012

PWC sales growth continued to settle into 2012 levels during April, losing growth momentum in 2013 that had been building since May a year ago, according to the latest Bellwether report from Info-Link Technologies.

After hitting bottom in May 2012, sales of PWC were up 5 percent year-over-year in April ’13 among bellwether states, which represent roughly half of the U.S. boating population, geographically dispersed. The 5 percent growth among bellwether states is just above half of the growth experienced in January.

Weather has played a role in sales of new watercraft. An absent winter in 2011-12, and an early start to spring drew boat and PWC sales several months earlier, but a lingering winter in 2013 has pushed back sales of all recreational vehicles as boaters wait for ice to clear and weather to warm.

After reaching 12 percent growth from October 2012 through January 2013, sales of powerboats 15-foot and greater were up 6 percent year-over-year among Bellwether states during the month of April, losing momentum as well that had been building since 2011.

Full graphs of the data including all boating segments tracked can be found here: Info-Link Technologies Bellwether Report