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Fact #437: August 14, 2006
Motorcycle Sales Are Up

In 2005, motorcycle sales were at their highest level since the early 1970's. One of the reasons for the sales boom is the price of gasoline. The graph below compares motorcycle sales (which includes scooter sales, too) to the price of a gallon of gasoline.

Supporting Information

Motorcycle Sales Compared to the Price of a Gallon of Gasoline, 1970-2005

Year	Motorcycle Sales	Gasoline Prices (constant 2005 dollars per gallon)
1970	1,010	1.80
1971	1,240	1.76
1972	1,360	1.69
1973	1,520	1.70
1974	1,200	2.08
1975	940	2.06
1976	1,050	2.11
1977	1,080	2.11
1978	975	2.01
1979	1,085	2.43
1980	1,070	2.95
1981	1,065	2.96
1982	740	2.62
1983	760	2.43
1984	755	2.28
1985	710	2.18
1986	595	1.65
1987	565	1.63
1988	420	1.56
1989	315	1.61
1990	303	1.74
1991	280	1.63
1992	278	1.57
1993	293	1.50
1994	306	1.47
1995	309	1.47
1996	330	1.53
1997	356	1.50
1998	432	1.27
1999	546	1.37
2000	710	1.71
2001	850	1.61
2002	936	1.47
2003	1,001	1.69
2004	1,063	1.94
2005	1,116	2.30
Note: Motorcycle sales include scooter sales. Source: Motorcycle Industry Council. Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review, April 2006, Table 9.4. Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was used to calculate constant dollars.

 

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