Outdoor Power Equipment Shipments To Slow

Following a two-year increase of 3.4 percent for the years 1998 to 1999, OPEI predicts industry shipments to be generally flat for intermediate size commercial walk-behinds for the next two years – a forecasted drop of 0.2 percent in 2000 to 49,842 units shipped and an increase of 0.3 percent in 2001 to 49,979 units shipped.

Commercial riding rotary turf mowers are expected to continue to grow with a 10.3 percent jump in 2000 to 97,010 units shipped and a 5.2 percent increase in 2001 to 102,047 units shipped. However, the predicted growth in riding mowers is down significantly from the 35.1 percent growth in 1999 and the 24.2 percent growth in 1998.

On the consumer side, consumer walk-behinds are predicted to lose 1.5 percent to just over 5.8 million units, while all riding units are expected to decline 0.6 percent to 1.6 million units. A similar pattern is forecast for 2001, although shipments are expected to begin picking up in the middle of that model year.

John Liskey, OPEI director of statistical and technical services, cites rising mortgage rates and declining housing starts and housing resales as the major reasons for the expected slowdown in shipments for both commercial and consumer units.

OPEI’s Economic Forecast was most recently revised in November 1999. The forecast for model year 2000 covers the period of Sept. 1, 1999, through Aug. 31, 2000, and the forecast for model year 2001, is from Sept. 1, 2000, through Aug. 31, 2001. OPEI’s Economic Forecast is prepared by Association Research Inc. and is compiled and released on a quarterly basis.

OPEI is a trade association whose membership is primarily composed of U.S. manufacturers of powered lawn and garden maintenance products, components and attachment supplies, as well as industry related services. OPEI’s domestic members manufacture in excess of 95 percent of the U.S. consumer retail market for gas and electric powered lawn and garden maintenance products.