Cat North American retail sales rise 12% in November

Marcia Doyle Headshot
Updated Dec 19, 2017
Body and swing sensors on the 320 and 323 excavators enable the operator to create virtual E-fences and E-ceilings to prevent the boom or bucket from striking surrounding objects or swinging out into traffic.Body and swing sensors on the 320 and 323 excavators enable the operator to create virtual E-fences and E-ceilings to prevent the boom or bucket from striking surrounding objects or swinging out into traffic.

Total retail sales by Caterpillar dealers to end users rose 12 percent in North America in November, while construction industries machine sales rose by 14 percent.

Screen Shot 2017 12 14 At 8 31 33 AmThis represents the seventh straight month of total North American retail sales gains, an upward trend that was modest until October, when these sales shot up 7 percent from September.

Throughout the entire year, Caterpillar’s North American construction industries retail sales have recorded better results than the company’s total North American retail sales. During the first four months of the year, when both the total and construction industries sales were showing significant decreases, the four-month average for construction industries was a decrease of 8 percent, compared to the total retail sales decline of almost 11 percent.

The turnaround happened in May for both total and construction industries sales in North America. Since then, while total North American retail sales have risen an average of 7.5 percent, construction industries retail sales have risen an average of 11.5 percent.


2017 Caterpillar North American Retail Sales
Month Total  Construction Industries 
January Down 13% Down 13%
February Down 10% Down 9%
March Down 13% Down 6%
April Down 7% Down 4%
May Up 2% Up 4%
June Up 2% Up 5%
July Up 4% Up 6%
August Up 1% Up 3%
September Up 2% Up 4%
October Up 7% Up 10%
November Up 12% Up 14%

Caterpillar says the information presented “based on unaudited reports that are voluntarily provided to Caterpillar by its independent dealers and which are not subject to Caterpillar’s internal controls over financial reporting,” and therefore “may not be accurate and/or complete.”

Cat says the information provides “an approximate indication of the the trends, direction and magnitude of retail sales,” although it is separate from the company’s audited financial statements.