Gun sales up
Industry Sales Up 36 Percent in Second Quarter
EXCISE TAX CONTRIBUTIONS TOP $3 BILLION . . . The latest report of Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collections released by the Department of the Treasury indicates that firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $76.6 million in the second calendar quarter, up 36 percent over the same time period in 2006, and bringing the 15-year cumulative industry excise tax contribution to more than $3 billion. The second-quarter increase was driven by strong handgun sales, up 44.8 percent, long-gun sales, up 37 percent, and ammo sales, up 29.2 percent. It is projected that $715.5 million in sales was generated in the quarter, not including retail markup or final retail sales. NSSF continues to campaign on behalf of the industry, however, for a more equitable, pro-growth, pro-conservation excise tax payment schedule. Excise taxes are calculated as a percentage of wholesale receipts, paid quarterly by firearm and ammunition manufacturers, and earmarked for state wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs.
Bitter has some reservations about the numbers though. Material prices have gone up and the increase in the taxes would coincide with that. But, generally, I’ve only noticed ammo prices going up while firearm prices seem to have remained constant or increased at a level that is immaterial.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Ammo is more expensive… but is it 36% more expensive? I don’t think so. Jadetroll will be along to tell us that the firearms industry is dying any minute now.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Well, I just spent $95 on 200 rounds of 5.56. I bought 500 for $110 last year. You tell me.
No, he won’t. Remember, I banned him? or so he says. I never did.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I thought Kevin banned him here. At least that’s what Jadetroll kept saying. Anywhoo, if you look at the numbers, ammo sales were up 29%, I can see that for inflation of prices but I haven’t seen handgun prices up 44% or long gun prices up 37%.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
The NSSF growth rates for gun sales (derived from excise tax collections) look pretty high compared to these other government figures:
http://www.ttb.gov/statistics/3rdqtr07.pdf
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/histab21.xls
The TTB and IRS figures suggest an overall yearly growth rate more in the 15-20% range, which seems a little more consistent with trends in ammo prices and the available gun production/import figures.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
[…] price since the prices are climbing, particularly on ammunition. One of Uncle’s commenters adds: The NSSF growth rates for gun sales (derived from excise tax collections) look pretty high […]