PHILADELPHIA, PA (BRAIN)—In the Bicycle Products Supplier Association (BPSA) December report bicycle shipments to dealers fell 9 percent last year. Sales fell a relatively mild 4 percent as the average unit price climbed $18 to $356.
BPSA reported a 6 percent drop in 2008 as well. Since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, BPSA members have shipped 200,541 fewer bikes over the last two years to bike dealers.
As a category, 26-inch bikes, cruiser, comfort, rigid, front-suspension and full-suspension were hardest hit, suppliers shipped 159,817 fewer units in those categories last year. The only categories showing unit growth were 24-inch and road bikes, both up 5 percent.
Inventory remains an issue moving into 2010 with suppliers reporting about four months of hybrid, front-suspension and road bikes on hand, about the same situation they were in last December when inventory ballooned to 778,102 total units in warehouses.
December 2009 inventory was down to 667,821 total units, but most inventory adjustment was in juvenile categories. Cruiser, hybrid and road bike inventory was even higher in December 2009 than it was in 2008, showing that supplier forecasting is still missing the market.
—Matt Wiebe
