U.S. suppliers shipped roughly the same number of bikes to retailers in July as last year, resulting in some improvement in year-to-date sales.
Sales to IBDs were up 0.1 percent in units and up 1.1 percent in dollars in July compared to last year, according to the BPSA Topline for Cycling RetailTRAK from Leisure Trends Group.
"If sales continue to be on pace ... the industry could finish the year only down 3.5%" —?Michael Forte
July sales boosted supplier sales year-to-date, though they still trail behind last year. Through July, suppliers sold 11.5 percent fewer bikes worth 5.8 percent less in dollars compared to last year.
"It is encouraging that the numbers show stabilization in the performance over last year. The last three months have been flat in dollars over the same period last year. As a result, the YTD dollars are down 5.8 percent in July as compared to being down 6.8 percent in June. If sales continue to be on pace with last year for the remainder of the year, the industry could finish the year only down 3.5 percent," said Michael Forte, director of operations for Felt Bicycles and chairman of the BPSA statistics committee.
"The other piece of good news is that we as an industry are managing our inventory," he added. "We have reduced our inventory levels to 32.5 percent over the same time last year in July compared to 50 percent over the same time last year in June."
Mountain bike sales continue the trend set earlier this season, with 29-inch mountain bikes taking share from 26-inch wheeled bikes, and then some. Front suspension 29-inch mountain bike unit sales were up 23.5 percent and dual-suspension 29-inch mountain bikes unit sales were up more than 102.5 percent through July. In dollars, that resulted in an increase of 20.5 percent and 53.8 percent, respectively. All 29er categories now account for 22 percent of overall market share in dollars.
Suppliers also have ample inventory on hand to continue to support 29er sales for the rest of the season. Compared to last July, front-suspension 29er inventory is up 156 percent in units and 116 percent in dollars, while dual-suspension 29er inventory is up 363 percent in units and dollars for the month of July.
The full Leisure Trends Group sell-in data is supported by dues from BPSA members and distributed to those members monthly.
