The first-half tire sales numbers are in, and the results for independent tire dealers are mixed. Unit sale performance for retailers is split; for wholesalers it is much more positive.
And dollar sales are, thanks to all the price increases, higher than the same period last year for both segments.
Let's start with the wholesale distributors. According to Modern Tire Dealer's exclusive "State-of-the-Industry Survey" for the first six months of 2011, more than 50% of the wholesalers in the United States were up in unit sales in the first half compared to 1H 2010. The average increase was 14%. We asked:
"How were your tire sales, in units, for the first half of 2011?"
52% reported unit sales were up by an average of 14% (median 11%).
40% reported unit sales were down by an average of 14% (median 10%).
8% reported unit sales were even.
In dollar sales, 74% of the wholesalers were up by an average of 16%, while 10% were down by an average of 14%.
For independent retailer tire dealers, 40.2% reported their unit sales were up by an average of 12%, while 40.7% reported their sales were down by an average of 13%.
In dollar sales, 57.1% of the retailers were up by an average of 12%, while 27.7% were down by an average of 14%.
We also asked the dealers what their sales projections were for the full year. Retailers were more optimistic than wholesalers when comparing first-half results with second-half expectations.
For previous "State-of-the-Industry Survey" results, click on the following:
