Economic pressures remain a key concern in the US, reflected in the latest National Marine Manufacturer’s Association’s (NMMA) latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary.
The latest report from the NMMA showing boat sales and shipments for the last 12 months ( June 2024 through May 2025), reflects these economic pressures.
New powerboat retail unit sales declined 9.2% on a rolling 12-month basis, with 223,580 units sold compared to 246,203 for the same period 12-months prior.
Wholesale shipments declined by nearly 12%.
Stern drive boats
For the year-to-date – January to May 2025 – new retail unit sales decreased by -10.2%, reaching 98,065 units compared to the same period in 2024.
For the rolling 12-month period, the largest drop in powerboat retail sales by engine type was seen in stern drive boats which declined 19.2% closely followed by jet boats which were down nearly 18%. Outboard powered boats saw a decline of 8.2%.
In terms of powerboat segment, pontoon boat retail unit sales were down nearly 15% for the rolling 12-month period, with new wake sport boat retail unit sales declining 12% in the 12 months from June 2024 through May 2025.
Macroeconomic indicators
Retail sales of yachts (-1.2%) and freshwater fishing boats (-0.8%) were stable compared to the previous 12 month period. Yachts represent the smallest market segment with less than 1% of sales in the year-to-date.
The NMMA points out that macroeconomic indicators in May painted a mixed picture with inflation remaining at 2.4% and gas prices averaging $3.15 per gallon.
Interest rates, both for mortgages (6.8%) and the Federal Funds Rate, continued to challenge consumer financing.
The NMMA report highlights that these dynamics continue to weigh on big-ticket discretionary purchases with durable goods such as boats seeing softened demand due to a combination of high borrowing costs, rising housing expenses and persistent economic uncertainty.
