(Oct. 31, 2008) -- RV Industry News has learned that Fleetwood RV has laid off several staff members this week, including Luc Van Herle, the product marketing manager for the company's towable and motorized products.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- Keith Conard said the policy, created in May, puts RV dealers carrying the Keystone product line at a competitive disadvantage. The policy prohibits dealers from advertising any current model year RV at any price below the manufacturer's minimum advertised price. Conard and his attorney consider that policy to possibly be a violation of federal restraint of trade laws. "The company is threatening RV dealerships with termination if they, out of necessity, cannot adhere to the one-price-throughout-the-country policy," said Conard. "Dealers can only stay in business if they are allowed to set and advertise prices that reflect market conditions in their areas."

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- Marc Cannon, senior vice president of communications at AutoNation, said customers with a credit score of 650 and above had a 90 percent chance of receiving an auto loan a year ago. Now, he said that rate is 60 percent “and dropping," adding, “it’s very tough to get them into a car. It has clearly deteriorated. September we were in a credit crisis. At the end of September we were in a credit panic."

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- The study, conducted by U.S.-based PKF Consulting, a third party independent research firm specializing in travel and tourism, revealed that a family of four taking an RV vacation will generate less CO2 emissions than a family traveling by plane, renting a car and staying in a hotel.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- At a meeting Thursday, FEMA officials indicated they would only grant contracts to purchase travel trailers as THUs in extreme situations and noted that luan, medium density fiberboard (mdf), vinyl gypsum, or sealants and glues with urea formaldehyde could not be used in the manufacturing of the trailers. If travel trailers were needed in an emergency FEMA would most likely purchase the trailers directly from RV dealers, in most cases. Trailers would only be purchased from dealerships by the state's request and would be required to not exceed the maximum formaldehyde level established by that state, if any.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- With the credit crunch adversely affecting the national economy and the RV industry, RVIA is working to help RV dealers and consumers find viable financing options. Leading the way is a joint effort by RVIA and RVDA inviting banks and finance companies that are currently doing business in the automotive industry - but not the RV market - to the National RV Trade Show to learn more about the RV industry.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- Cummins Inc, a U.S. maker of engines and power generators, warned on Friday that it doesn't expect a rebound in the pickup truck and recreational vehicle markets it serves until late 2009. The comments came as the Columbus, Ind.-based company discussed its third-quarter earnings, which fell short of analysts' expectations because of a precipitous drop in sales of engines used in pickups and motor homes in the United States.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- Allison Transmission announced that RV dealers and distributors are embracing the firm's technical assistance call center (TAC) where they can get answers to service questions. The center also allows the company to build a robust database that allows quick, on-target answers as well as early detection of any service issues.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- General Coach, with locations in Hensall, Ontario and Oliver, British Columbia, have formed one company, General Coach Canada, with head offices located in Hensall, Ontario. This consolidation strengthens the company’s position in today’s marketplace and to best serve its long-standing dealer networks and loyal consumer base. Up to the present announcement, General Coach Oliver and General Coach Hensall have shared some brand names, but have operated independently. Tom Snyder (Oliver) and Chris Faulkner (Hensall) are being promoted to vice presidents of sales in their individual areas. Sales staff in both locations will remain intact.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- Canada's economy contracted in August with real GDP falling by 0.3 percent, a more modest dip than market expectations with forecasters looking for a 0.5 percent decline, following July's much stronger-than-expected 0.7 percent surge. In America, Personal consumer expenditure (PCE) fell 0.3 percent in September following unchanged spending in August. Market expectations had been for spending to fall 0.2 percent in the month. The decline occurred despite a 0.2 percent rise in personal income.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- Coast reported net earnings of $1.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, on net sales of $41.2 million for the second quarter of 2008. For the same period of 2007, Coast reported net earnings of $1.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, on net sales of $50.8 million.

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(Oct. 31, 2008) -- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved camping and lodging fee increases that take effect next year. The commission increased the base rate by $1, which means most primitive tent sites at state parks and recreation areas will cost $7 per day. The increase also will apply to sites with electrical and water hookups, generally making the new rates $11 or $12.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- Holders have the right to require Fleetwood to repurchase the debentures at par on December 15, 2008. The exchange offer proposes terms for new senior secured notes due 2011 that are guaranteed by certain Fleetwood subsidiaries, together with the issuance of common stock. Separately, the company announced it has received notification from the New York Stock Exchange of non-compliance with the NYSE's minimum share price standard.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- Back in the 1990s, researchers found that minorities and women were quoted higher prices on new car lots. Is this still the case today? Does a 'color tax' and 'gender tax' still remain for new car shoppers? According to a 2008 study conducted by a visiting professor in Dept. of Economics a group of testers from University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the researcher in AutoBrag.com, the on-line car price search engine, things are not any better. And, with the Internet influence, it may be more relevant today. Do people with Hispanic last names getter quoted higher prices because their last names are Romero or Rodriguez? That's what makes this study even more relevant today.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- Despite current economic conditions and lagging consumer confidence, the forecast shows that leisure travel volume remains stable for 2008 (-0.2 percent) and is expected to decline modestly in 2009 (-1.3 percent). According to the latest travelhorizons survey co-authored by TIA and Ypartnership, seven out of ten (71 percent) respondents intend to take an overnight trip of 50 miles or more from home during the next six months. Fully half (48 percent) of all respondents stated they were not planning any changes to their future travel plans as result of the recent turmoil in the financial markets.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- "With these conditions persisting early in the fourth quarter, a heftier decline in real GDP is likely in the fourth quarter, which will confirm that the U.S. economy is in recession. For policymakers, initial signs that the seized-up funding markets are starting to thaw are encouraging news but, until there is evidence that financial institutions are willing and able to make loans to businesses and households, downside risks to the economy will remain."

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- The economic downturn the country is facing is hitting home and taking its toll on an RV business that's been in Temple, Texas, for 17 years. Ancira RV has closed its doors, and 18 of the store's 21 employees were laid off. The company's stores in Alvarado, north of Hillsboro, and Boerne, in the hill country, will remain open.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- Brian Brawdy designed an RV that harvests energy from natural resources. Sun and wind power the batteries, and while most people are trying to avoid the rain, Brawdy seeks it out--using a special GPS system. A fully charged battery lasts 24 hours while powering everything else in the cabin. and the RV has a diesel engine, so it can use bio-diesel. the costs to fill the 60 gallon tank may cost $200, but Brawdy says the monthly savings are about $400 and he gets pretty far for far less than other forms of transportation.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- Michael Dautel is part of a nomadic class of "full-timers," as insiders call people who live exclusively in their recreational vehicles and travel trailers. About 1-million Americans fall into that category, according to the RV Industry Association. A 2008 annual survey by Workamper News, found a majority of readers within the expected older age groups, including 53 percent between 61 and 70 and 8 percent who are 71 and older. The survey also found 33 percent between 51 and 60 and 5 percent ages 41 to 50.

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(Oct. 30, 2008) -- The government says the economy shrank in the third quarter as consumers cut back on their spending by the biggest amount in 28 years. The broadest barometer of the nation's economic health, gross domestic product, shrank at a 0.3% annual rate in the July-September quarter, the Commerce Department said. Yet, in order to qualify as an "official" recession, gross domestic product must decline in two consecutive quarters.

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