Powersports Business April 2026 | Page 10

10 • April 2026 • Powersports Business

FINANCE www. PowersportsBusiness. com

Federal data shows powersports play vital role in outdoor recreation economy

A recent Ride Report by the Motorcycle Industry Council highlighted new data from the U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis that showed outdoor recreation continued to play a significant role in the U. S. economy in 2024, with powersports ranking among the sector’ s largest activities.
According to the bureau’ s latest Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, outdoor recreation generated $ 1.3 trillion in economic output in 2024, supporting 5.2 million American jobs and accounting for 2.4 % of U. S. gross domestic product. The sector grew 2.7 % in real terms( inflation-adjusted) over 2023, proving the demand for outdoor experiences throughout the country.
The motorcycling / ATVing category— which includes recreational OHVs like side-by-sides— ranked fourth among conventional outdoor recreation activities by current-dollar value added.
“ Motorcycling / ATVing posted a slight increase from 2023 to 2024 in current-dollar values,” says Buckner Nesheim, director of research and statistics for the MIC’ s, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association( ROHVA), and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.“ Even when accounting for inflation, the industry held steady, reflecting the continued strength and enthusiasm for powersports recreation.”
States such as Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois recorded the largest increases in motorcycling / ATVing value added as a share of state GDP, while California, Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Georgia saw the largest overall economic contributions from motorcycling and ATV activity.
The data is part of BEA’ s ongoing effort to measure the economic impact of outdoor recreation across the United States through its Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account.
“ This data illustrates the importance that powersports plays in the broader outdoor recreation economy,” Nesheim says.“ Our industry
DEALER FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT supports millions of jobs, fuels local businesses, and provides millions of Americans opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors.”

NORTHWEST-3.4 % Parts Department 6.4 % Service Department 11.4 % Major Units 8.9 % Overall

WEST 0 % Parts Department 1.5 % Service Department 7.6 % Major Units 6 % Overall

UNITED STATES

0.8 % Parts Department 6.4 % Service Department 9.9 % Major Units 8.7 % Overall

MIDWEST-1.1 % Parts Department 13.6 % Service Department 12.7 % Major Units 11.6 % Overall

SOUTH

5 % Parts Department 5.4 % Service Department 9.6 % Major Units 8.8 % Overall

NORTHEAST

0.4 % Parts Department 5.9 % Service Department 8.9 % Major Units 7.7 % Overall
FEBRUARY 2026 VS. FEBRUARY 2025
In February, dealers nationwide saw a combined 8.7 % increase in sales compared to the same month last year, according to composite data from more than 1,800 U. S. dealers that use Lightspeed DMS. In major unit sales, the Midwest, 12.7 %, and the Northwest, 11.4 %, both saw double-digit increases for the month, while the South, 9.6 %, and the Northeast, 8.9 %, also had strong gains. The West increased its unit sales by 7.6 %. In services, the Midwest
rose 13.6 %, followed by the Northwest, which gained 6.4 %. The Northeast and South were up 5.9 % and 5.4 %, respectively, while the West was up 1.5 %. For parts sales, the South had the largest increase at 5 %, followed by the Northeast, which gained just. 4 %. The West remained fl at, while decreases hit the Northwest( 3.4 %) and the Midwest( 1.1 %). For combined revenue, the Midwest gained 11.6 %, the Northwest 8.9 %, and the South 8.8 %. Also fi nishing in the black were the Northeast, increasing 7.7 %, and the West, gaining 6 %.
PARTS SALES Parts revenue was up at 965 dealerships and down at 879.
SERVICE SALES Service revenue was up at 1,068 dealerships and down at 773.
MAJOR UNIT SALES Major unit revenue was up at 1,000 dealerships and down at 666.
FOR MORE ON THE SAME STORE SALES DATA
For more information on this report and other industry data, contact: lightspeeddms. com