SEMA’s Consumer Demand Index for the month of May is up 25% over the same month last year. With a value of 40 for May, the index experienced a decrease of 8 points or 17% from April.

The last time we saw the 2011 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew in Brenda Priddy's spy photos, it was covered in camo top to bottom, back to front. But these latest shots show it looking resplendent in a showroom-ready silver, which Priddy says is a new color for the Raptor lineup. A badge on the front door references what lies forward of the firewall: a 6.2L V8, which Priddy notes is likely to be the only engine offered on the SuperCrew.

Convincing your colleagues that the rewards of selling to overseas market are worth the risks can be tough. But it paid off for SEMA member SCT LLC. SCT aims to add a new international market to its list when it attends the SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September.

Through the efforts of Select Committee members, SEMA councils help deliver a variety of new programs and benefits to different market segments.

Brand strength, committed workforce and growth potential draws investor interest. 

Nearly half of retailers that responded to a SEMA survey think this will be a pretty good summer for specialty-equipment sales.