WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—Suppliers brought in 17 percent fewer bikes, a shortfall of 1.5 million units, through June compared to the same period last year. The 30 percent drop in kid’s imports, off 1.4 million units, explains most of the overall shortfall.
Last year saw record numbers of kid’s imports, so the drop in imports this year, while dramatic, is still above 2009 levels.
Unit imports are down, but not average bike cost. Bikes imported this year are 29 percent pricier than last year’s bikes. This jump in average value has more to do with the higher percent of more expensive adult bikes in the import mix than anything else. But the average bike value in all but one category was up.
The most dramatic rise in average value were 26-inch bikes up to $111, a 29 percent jump over their $93 average value last year. Road bikes were up 11 percent to $303.
—Matt Wiebe
mwiebe@bicycleretailer.com
