Although commercial vehicle orders slipped month over month in June, there was still good news to be had. Class 8 net orders fell below 20,000 units for the first time since last September at 18,830 units. Classes 5-7 net orders also retreated, totaling just under 15,500 units. This updated status of the North America commercial vehicle market was included in the State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Classes 5 through 8 vehicles for the North American market.
"Positively, Class 8 retail sales, when seasonally adjusted, were at a nine-month high of 22,000 units. Through year-to-date June, sales have occurred at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 249,000 units," said Kenny Vieth, ACT's president and senior analyst. "Inventories were down 12,000 units from last June, and the inventory-retail sales ratio dropped to its lowest level, excluding the last two Decembers, since November 2011 at 47 days of supply at June's sales pace," he added.
