The National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) September Recreational Boating Industry Monthly Data Report includes several economic indicators, such as the U.S. Manufacturing PMI Index—which varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase—was down 6.2% to 48.5 month-over-month, a sign of cautious optimism in what has been a down cycle coming out of the pandemic era boom for boating and outdoor recreation. While current recreational boating data shows all new boat segments are experiencing sales decreases year-over-year (YOY), the freshwater fishing boat segment saw an increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, consumer confidence dipped slightly in June to 100.4, maintaining a level of caution as an economic indicator for the industry.  

NMMA’s Recreational Boating Industry Monthly Data Report includes performance indicators on wholesale and retail sales of new powerboats and outboard engines, economic metrics, and interactive graphs illustrating historical trends. The reports from January to September 2024 are now available for download. For more information, visit nmma.org.