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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ECONOMY CONTRIBUTES TO DECLINE OF OPE SHIPMENTS IN 2001

Alexandria, VA, APRIL 2001 -- The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) Economic Forecast for consumer equipment and commercial turf products, revised in April 2001, show a decline in shipments for the 2001 model year. Factors contributing to this decline include stock market activity, higher energy prices and high tech job lay-offs. The resulting climate has diminished the consumers' desire to spend.

Walk-behind mowers are forecast to fall 1.5% for model year 2001, and all riding units (rear engine, front engine and garden tractors) are estimated to decline by 3.8%. It is expected that most products will rebound in the 2002 model year.

This summary information is extracted from the Outdoor Power Equipment InstituteÕs (OPEI) Economic Forecast for the Outdoor Power Equipment Industry, updated in April 2001 to reflect OPEI's estimates of total shipments for model years 2001 and 2002. The complete forecast, based on an economic model developed by Association Research, Inc. (ARI), provides shipments data, by quarter, for each of the following OPE segments:

• Walk-Behind Power Mowers
• Rear-Engine Riding Mowers
• Front Engine Lawn Tractors
• Intermediate Size Commercial Walk-Behind Mowers
• Tillers
• Commercial Riding Turf Mowers

Additionally, information provided to the OPEI membership includes a comprehensive discussion of assumptions about the U.S. economy and their relationship to the outdoor power equipment industry. The table provided shows the forecast for OPEI model years 2001 (September 2000-August 2001) and 2002 (September 2001-August 2002). For example, the shipments of front engine lawn tractors for the 2002 model year are expected to be 2.8% higher than 2001.

Download the OPEI's Economic Forecast For Estimated Total Shipments For Model Years 2001 & 2002. Available as an Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf):

• Download Now (88k)

OPEI is a trade association whose membership is primarily composed of U.S. manufacturers of powered lawn and garden maintenance products, components and attachment supplies, as well as industry related services. OPEI's domestic members manufacture in excess of 95% of the U.S. consumer retail market for gas and electric powered lawn and garden maintenance products.

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