An article in the Wall Street Journal in January 2019 about Thor Industries, manufacturer of Airstream and other recreational vehicles (RVs), stated that in the previous year, “inventory ballooned, so while retail sales remained stable to slightly down, according to Thor, the company’s shipments are down significantly.”

a. If retail sales of RVs were stable, why would RV dealers’ inventories have risen? 

b. What “shipments” is the article referring to? Why would shipments have been down significantly? 

c. What are the likely consequences of the development described in the article for employment in Elkhart, Indiana? What additional information would you need to give you more confidence in your answer?