Motorcoach, Travel Trailer & Camper Manufacturers NAICS 336213, 336214

Mar 25, 2025 - Sales Impact Expected from Tariffs

• According to RV Pro, a proposed 25% tariff by the Trump administration on goods imported from Canada and Mexico could have a chilling effect on RV sales due to expected retaliatory tariffs and create significant supply chain issues. The majority of RVs sold in Canada are made in America, with 29,489 units shipped to Canada in 2024 at an estimated retail value of $1.7 billion, per a statement by the RV Industry Association (RVIA). Per the statement, “Mexico and Canada are major partners for the American RV industry. Canada is the largest international buyer of U.S.-made RVs.” The Canadian government has announced plans to issue retaliatory tariffs. Many components used in RV manufacturing come from Canada, Mexico, and China, which has also seen increased tariffs. The Canadian and Mexico tariffs have been paused until April, with an exemption for goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) free trade agreement.
• RV shipments were up 6% in February 2025 year over year, according to a report from the RV Industry Association (RVIA). The February 2025 shipments totaled 32,871 units shipped through the end of the month. Per RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby, “While the industry has seen modest shipment growth this year, it’s essential to remain cautiously optimistic. The market is showing signs of recovery, but we must stay mindful of potential economic headwinds and the need for sustained consumer confidence.” Year to date, total RV shipments were up 12.7% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 60,500 units. The towables category grew 9.9% in February 2025 year over year while motorhomes saw a decline of 20.1%.

• Motorcoach, travel trailer, and camper manufacturers will have to monitor minimum wage changes in 2025, as 21 states and 50 local jurisdictions increased their minimum wages, according to Chain Store Age. States with the highest minimum wage in the US are Washington ($16.66 per hour), California ($16.50), and New York ($16.50). Nearly 30 cities in California and seven towns in Washington will raise minimum wages in 2025, with Tukwila, Washington, offering the highest minimum hourly wage in the US at $21.10. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the minimum wage change will affect more than $9 million workers and raise pay by a combined $5.7 billion. Unchanged since 2009, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and some 20 states, primarily located in the South and the Midwest, use the federal minimum as their wage floor.
• According to a report in CFO Dive, consumer confidence levels, an indicator of discretionary spending, have fallen due to consumer anxiety about tariff effects and economic uncertainty. The consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan dropped 11% in March 2025, marking the third straight month of declines and hitting the lowest level since November 2022. In addition, the Conference Board index of consumer confidence fell in March 2025. According to Stephanie Guichard, senior economist for global indicators at the Conference Board, “Consumer confidence declined for a fourth consecutive month in March, falling below the relatively narrow range that had prevailed since 2022.”