On Tuesday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its data for the 2020 outdoor recreation economy. Most sectors bore the brunt of the pandemic. On the other hand, boating, cycling, and RV’ing thrived.
The 2020 U.S. outdoor recreation economy may not have been as lucrative overall as it was in previous years. But that didn’t stop people from going outside, especially on boats, bikes, and RVs.
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, a Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report showed a 19% drop in the outdoor recreation economy between 2019 and 2020. In terms of dollars, the sector was worth $459.8 billion in GDP in 2019; in 2020, that number dropped to $373.4 billion.
Notably, the BEA’s “outdoor recreation” includes products like camping gear and off-road vehicles, as well as supporting infrastructure like lodging, restaurants, etc. Concerts and festivals, which took a massive hit, also fall under this category.
Nevertheless, the pandemic hit the outdoor recreation economy harder than the economy at large. The BEA measured a 3.4% overall economic downturn during the same period.
Associated employment also took a big hit, as 17.1% fewer outdoor recreation jobs were available nationwide. Job availability decreased steeply in every state.
Boating, Bike, and RV Economy Grows
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