The latest five-year forecast for the equipment rental industry released by the American Rental Association (ARA) remains positive, even as several economic factors point toward more modest increases over the next five years. ARA now projects equipment rental revenue reach $55.5 billion in the United States in 2020. The numbers in the forecast, updated at the end of October, reflect recent changes in the marketplace as the forecast calls for industry revenue to increase by 4.3 percent in 2016 to a record $47.3 billion and to grow another 3.4 percent in 2017 to reach $49.0 billion.

“While we are forecasting a gradual slowing in the growth of rental revenues in this quarterly update compared to our last quarter, we are still showing rental revenue growth in excess of the growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP),” says John McClelland, ARA’s vice president for government affairs and chief economist.

“Our outlook for the equipment rental industry continues to be positive and our scenario analysis suggests that if a mild recession were to hit the U.S in 2017 — of which there is a 20 percent chance — there would not be a significant impact on the equipment rental industry because the likely cause of such a recession would be a weakening in economic activity in Europe,” McClelland says.

The results of the U.S. elections could have an impact, but IHS Markit, the economic forecasting firm that compiles data for the ARA Rental Market Monitor™ as part of a partnership with ARA and RENTAL MANAGEMENT, expects that no matter the outcome, the most likely result will be in the range of the just-released forecast.

Scott Hazelton, managing director, IHS Markit, says political uncertainty, both domestically and abroad, is creating delayed recoveries in oil and commodity markets, which in turn delays investment decisions.

"The result is a somewhat slower pace of economic activity, particularly in capital goods intensive markets, such as construction and energy exploration. However, the U.S. economy remains fundamentally solid and some domestic uncertainty will dissipate after the election. The result is a modest reduction in expected rental revenue growth. However, the outlook continues to be one of growth and growth that will outpace the broader economy,” Hazelton says.

Canada experienced a 0.1 percent decline in equipment rental revenue in 2016, but is expected to rebound with 4.2 percent growth in 2017 to reach $5.1 billion, followed by growth rates of 4.0 percent in 2018, 4.3 percent in 2019 and 4.0 percent in 2020 to total $5.8 billion, according to the ARA Rental Market Monitor.

The American Rental Association, Moline, Ill., is an international trade association for owners of equipment rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool and party/event rental equipment. ARA members, which include more than 10,000 rental businesses and 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers, are located in every U.S. state, every Canadian province and more than 30 countries worldwide. Founded in 1955, ARA is the source for information, advocacy, risk management, business development tools, education and training, networking and marketplace opportunities for the equipment rental industry throughout the world.