US, Gluskin Questions How Much Longer U.S. Bike Dealers Can Raise Prices

Since 2000 the average FOB value of a bicycle imported into the U.S. has increased by over 96 percent from an average of $44.58 in 2000 to $87.54 in 2013, according to research released by the consulting firm Gluskin Townley Group.

This amount of increase is amazing when you consider the combined rate of inflation during this period was about 27 percent, notes Elliot Guskin, managing partner for Gluskin Townley Group.

“The turbulence of this past year, with the substantial decrease in annual volume and value has us concerned about the ability of the U.S. bicycle business to continue to pass these increases along to consumers,” Gluskin said.

The firm's just released December and 12 Months YTD 2013 U.S. Bicycle Import & Export Report shows that while U.S. bicycle imports declined 13 percent in units and dropped by more than 8 percent in total FOB value last year, the average unit value of a bicycle imported into the U.S. in 2013 still increased by almost 4 percent. 

The report shows that all five of the primary bicycle-import categories contributed to the increase in the average value of an imported bicycle. 

The report is based on U.S. Bicycle Import and Export data from the Department of Commerce that Gluskin Townley have been tracking and analyzing since 2000. 

Full US Bicycle trends report : Here