Census Bureau-Shipments by Year: 1959-2019. 13.3 Million Mobile and Manufactured Homes Produced. Population Trends and Manufactured Housing Production. MHVille Reality Check FEA

From 1959 to 2019 is a period of 61 years. Using official U.S. Census Bureau records there were 13,302,000 total pre-HUD Code mobile home and post-HUD Code manufactured housing units shipped during that period (see Part I for details). That means that the average number of pre- and post-HUD Code housing units produced and shipped per that timeframe was 218,065.57, per Gemini. From 1959 to 2018 the math on shipments and average per year looks like this: 13,302,000/60 = 221,700. That is very close to the 222K claimed by then Skyline Champion (SKY, now Champion Homes) in a previous investor relations (IR) presentation shown with annotation at this link here. These are data points not easily found on the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI or manufacturedhousing.org) website despite their claim that they represent “all segments” of the industry and are an “institute.” While the U.S. Census Bureau produced data on mobile and manufactured housing is itself literally historic, another set of data of Census Bureau data in this article is also significant. Namely, what the population was nationally, regionally, and by state from 1910 to 2020 (see Part II). What that means is the same period, 1959 to 2019, are covered by those Census Bureau data sets. That official data speaks volumes to those willing to look at some sobering facts.

For example. In 1960, per the Census Bureau, the U.S. nationally witnessed shipments of 103,700 per HUD Code mobile homes. That 103.7K was when the population was 179,323,175.

Fast forward to 2024. Per official data provided by the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR): “Cumulative production for 2024 thus totals 103,314 homes, a 15.8% increase over the 89,169 HUD Code homes produced during 2023.” Per the Census Bureau: “the U.S. population was an estimated 340,110,988 as of July 1, 2024.”

Had manufactured home production grown at the same proportional rate as the U.S. population grew, Gemini said there would have been 196,527 units. So, there was a deficit of some 93,000 homes at that pace.

But there is more to know. Because the mobile home industry was ‘young’ in 1960 and was just warming up.

See those additional ‘must see’ insights provided in Part III. It reveals the stark difference between where manufactured housing is vs. what manufactured housing could have been had production/shipments advanced at the proportionate rates.

This MHVille FEA is underway.

Part I

Shipments of New Manufactured Homes: 1959 – 2019
(Thousands of Units)
Period	Not Seasonally	Seasonal	Seasonally Adjusted
	Adjusted	Index	Annual Rate
2019
January	7.6	103.0	88
February	7.2	95.5	91
March	7.6	100.2	91
April	8.0	103.6	93
May	8.6	110.7	93
June	7.8	99.1	94
July	7.1	89.7	95
August	8.6	107.4	97
September	8.0	98.1	98
October	9.4	114.6	99
November	8.0	95.7	100
December	6.7	82.1	98
Total:	94.6
2018
January	8.6	100.1	104
February	8.1	95.0	102
March	8.8	104.7	101
April	8.3	100.8	98
May	8.8	109.4	97
June	8.3	102.6	97
July	6.8	85.8	95
August	9.2	113.8	97
September	7.5	95.0	95
October	8.6	112.1	92
November	7.7	102.0	90
December	5.9	79.4	90
Total:	96.6
2017
January	7.8	94.1	100
February	7.3	93.7	94
March	8.2	110.8	89
April	7.2	97.1	89
May	7.9	107.1	88
June	8.2	109.9	89
July	5.8	82.7	84
August	8.4	112.7	90
September	7.6	98.7	92
October	8.6	107.2	97
November	8.6	103.4	100
December	7.2	80.8	108
Total:	92.9
2016
January	5.9	90.0	78
February	6.1	95.3	77
March	7.1	108.6	79
April	6.7	101.8	79
May	6.8	102.5	79
June	7.3	109.9	80
July	5.3	85.8	75
August	7.4	109.8	80
September	7.3	106.0	83
October	7.2	102.2	84
November	7.1	98.4	87
December	7.0	89.4	94
Total:	81.1
2015
January	5.0	91.1	65
February	4.8	88.2	65
March	5.6	100.0	67
April	6.1	109.5	67
May	5.8	100.6	69
June	6.1	107.1	68
July	6.1	99.3	74
August	6.3	103.3	74
September	6.3	105.7	72
October	6.8	110.5	74
November	6.0	95.1	75
December	5.7	88.8	76
Total:	70.5
2014
January	4.4	93.1	57
February	4.4	86.0	61
March	4.9	94.9	62
April	5.7	108.3	63
May	5.7	106.9	64
June	5.6	106.3	63
July	5.7	99.7	68
August	6.0	107.4	67
September	5.9	104.3	67
October	6.5	117.4	67
November	5.0	90.6	66
December	4.7	85.2	66
Total:	64.3
2013
January	4.2	90.0	57
February	4.2	83.9	59
March	4.5	96.3	56
April	5.3	105.6	60
May	5.6	114.9	59
June	5.3	105.0	61
July	4.8	99.3	58
August	5.9	114.5	62
September	5.5	101.2	65
October	6.1	116.4	63
November	4.9	93.8	62
December	4.0	78.8	61
Total:	60.2
2012
January	4.0	81.6	59
February	4.1	85.9	58
March	4.7	98.5	57
April	4.6	101.5	55
May	5.2	116.0	54
June	5.1	113.6	54
July	4.2	93.9	54
August	5.6	123.6	54
September	4.4	99.8	53
October	5.1	116.2	53
November	4.4	97.6	54
December	3.5	74.2	56
Total:	54.9
2011
January	2.8	76.8	44
February	2.9	79.8	44
March	4.0	104.5	46
April	3.9	101.4	47
May	4.5	110.2	49
June	5.0	119.8	50
July	3.7	92.1	48
August	5.2	123.5	50
September	5.1	109.1	56
October	5.4	103.6	63
November	5.3	98.3	65
December	3.8	78.4	58
Total:	51.6
2010
January	3.2	76.1	51
February	3.5	78.8	53
March	4.5	101.2	54
April	4.8	105.5	55
May	5.0	105.8	57
June	5.4	119.0	55
July	4.3	97.7	52
August	4.9	117.1	50
September	4.4	112.5	47
October	3.8	106.7	43
November	3.5	96.5	43
December	2.7	82.5	40
Total:	50.0
2009
January	3.8	79.9	57
February	3.6	79.2	54
March	4.0	94.6	50
April	4.3	107.2	48
May	4.3	106.4	48
June	4.5	115.4	46
July	4.4	105.1	50
August	4.5	113.0	48
September	4.5	112.9	48
October	4.6	111.0	49
November	3.8	90.7	51
December	3.5	82.5	51
Total:	49.7
2008
January	6.8	86.4	95
February	7.0	85.1	99
March	7.0	90.1	93
April	8.1	105.6	92
May	7.8	106.9	87
June	7.5	107.2	84
July	7.0	102.2	82
August	7.4	113.3	79
September	7.0	111.1	75
October	7.0	121.5	69
November	4.9	90.1	66
December	4.4	85.3	62
Total:	81.9
2007
January	7.0	86.9	97
February	6.6	81.8	97
March	7.9	97.0	98
April	7.9	97.8	98
May	9.1	111.8	97
June	9.1	111.1	98
July	7.6	94.7	96
August	9.7	124.2	94
September	7.9	101.9	93
October	9.4	120.6	94
November	7.7	98.5	93
December	5.8	75.7	92
Total:	95.8
2006
January	11.6	85.1	163
February	10.4	85.3	146
March	11.8	104.4	135
April	9.9	94.6	126
May	11.1	108.9	122
June	10.9	113.1	116
July	8.0	87.4	110
August	10.8	120.1	108
September	9.1	107.3	102
October	9.4	115.4	98
November	8.0	99.6	97
December	6.3	77.4	97
Total:	117.4
2005 *
January	10.1	81.4	149
February	9.8	85.8	138
March	11.0	104.9	126
April	10.9	99.2	131
May	10.9	103.0	127
June	11.9	111.9	128
July	9.3	87.4	128
August	12.2	117.4	124
September	13.0	114.7	136
October	17.9	111.0	194
November	17.4	99.3	210
December	12.4	81.3	183
Total:	146.9
2004
January	8.7	86.0	122
February	8.9	86.4	123
March	11.3	102.2	133
April	11.3	105.2	129
May	10.5	98.2	129
June	11.9	110.5	129
July	10.0	93.1	129
August	11.9	112.7	127
September	12.7	114.2	134
October	12.8	112.8	136
November	11.2	99.2	135
December	9.4	84.6	133
Total:	130.7
2003
January	10.4	88.4	141
February	9.8	85.1	138
March	10.3	96.4	128
April	11.4	104.7	131
May	11.5	105.6	130
June	11.6	106.4	131
July	11.4	99.2	137
August	12.0	111.1	129
September	11.9	111.3	128
October	12.7	120.9	126
November	9.4	89.9	125
December	8.5	81.4	126
Total:	130.8
2002
January	14.5	89.8	194
February	13.4	86.3	186
March	13.7	96.4	171
April	15.3	104.3	176
May	16.2	111.9	173
June	14.7	103.1	171
July	13.7	97.4	169
August	16.1	116.4	166
September	14.2	105.1	162
October	15.7	120.3	156
November	11.6	92.7	150
December	9.4	78.2	144
Total:	168.5
2001
January	12.6	90.4	167
February	13.3	88.3	180
March	15.7	103.3	182
April	15.8	100.4	188
May	17.7	110.9	191
June	17.7	106.2	200
July	15.0	91.6	196
August	19.9	120.4	199
September	16.9	99.9	203
October	19.8	117.3	202
November	16.3	98.2	199
December	12.6	76.0	199
Total:	193.1
2000
January	21.5	84.7	304
February	23.0	94.8	291
March	26.2	109.6	287
April	22.6	100.0	271
May	24.6	111.2	265
June	24.2	110.7	262
July	18.2	87.0	251
August	24.1	116.1	249
September	19.3	100.6	231
October	19.6	110.3	213
November	15.9	97.6	196
December	11.3	76.7	176
Total:	250.4
1999
January	27.5	84.6	390
February	28.6	90.1	381
March	34.2	107.4	383
April	33.3	108.6	368
May	30.6	100.5	365
June	32.5	109.7	355
July	26.2	93.7	336
August	31.0	109.6	340
September	28.6	107.1	320
October	28.4	106.2	321
November	25.5	96.9	316
December	21.7	85.7	304
Total:	348.1
1998
January	26.7	88.8	361
February	27.7	90.0	370
March	31.7	102.9	370
April	33.2	108.1	369
May	31.3	101.2	372
June	33.3	109.2	366
July	30.9	97.6	380
August	32.4	104.9	371
September	33.1	106.6	373
October	35.4	112.1	379
November	30.1	92.8	389
December	27.3	85.7	382
Total:	373.1
1997
January	26.7	92.6	347
February	26.3	89.9	350
March	28.8	98.3	351
April	32.5	106.9	365
May	31.3	106.4	353
June	31.0	104.6	355
July	28.9	97.6	356
August	31.4	105.9	356
September	31.3	106.1	354
October	34.3	117.3	351
November	26.3	89.7	352
December	24.9	84.3	354
Total:	353.7
1996
January	27.1	91.8	355
February	27.2	94.8	344
March	30.1	98.9	365
April	32.5	105.7	369
May	33.5	110.9	363
June	31.2	101.1	371
July	29.1	96.0	364
August	34.3	111.7	369
September	31.5	101.5	372
October	36.0	117.7	367
November	28.0	93.8	358
December	22.9	80.8	341
Total:	363.3
1995
January	25.7	88.4	348
February	24.3	88.6	329
March	29.2	107.7	325
April	26.1	97.2	322
May	30.0	109.4	330
June	30.7	111.8	329
July	24.7	88.2	336
August	33.2	116.9	340
September	29.7	102.6	348
October	32.9	111.4	354
November	29.4	98.6	358
December	24.1	78.3	369
Total:	339.9
1994
January	20.9	84.7	296
February	21.6	88.4	293
March	26.6	107.2	298
April	24.8	100.9	294
May	26.0	104.9	297
June	27.9	111.8	299
July	22.3	88.9	301
August	29.0	115.1	303
September	27.4	107.8	305
October	28.0	106.7	315
November	26.0	98.3	317
December	23.5	82.4	343
Total:	303.9
1993
January	17.2	83.6	248
February	18.2	88.4	248
March	21.0	104.7	241
April	21.4	106.8	241
May	20.3	101.2	240
June	22.6	110.6	246
July	19.9	94.5	253
August	23.8	111.2	256
September	23.4	106.9	263
October	23.6	106.5	266
November	22.3	97.4	275
December	20.5	87.5	281
Total:	254.3
1992
January	13.4	88.1	183
February	13.5	87.0	187
March	16.1	99.2	195
April	17.6	107.8	196
May	17.0	103.7	197
June	18.2	111.4	196
July	18.0	100.5	215
August	19.2	111.4	207
September	19.8	107.6	221
October	21.6	112.2	232
November	18.5	92.3	241
December	17.5	82.8	253
Total:	210.5
1991
January	11.7	85.8	164
February	10.9	84.9	153
March	12.8	95.6	160
April	15.2	105.9	172
May	16.6	114.3	174
June	15.6	105.2	178
July	14.7	100.2	176
August	17.4	116.8	179
September	15.1	104.6	174
October	16.9	118.6	171
November	13.1	91.8	171
December	10.9	75.1	175
Total:	170.9
1990
January	13.4	82.9	194
February	13.7	83.1	198
March	16.2	100.3	194
April	16.2	102.2	191
May	18.1	116.0	188
June	17.4	109.6	191
July	15.1	96.6	188
August	19.5	122.8	191
September	15.9	102.9	185
October	18.1	116.3	187
November	14.2	95.0	180
December	10.3	72.4	170
Total:	188.3
1989
January	15.3	80.0	230
February	14.6	81.9	214
March	18.2	103.7	211
April	17.1	100.2	204
May	19.1	112.8	203
June	18.9	114.2	198
July	14.4	96.4	179
August	19.4	121.9	191
September	16.5	105.9	187
October	17.7	113.4	188
November	15.1	96.4	188
December	11.7	73.1	192
Total:	198.1
1988
January	13.0	78.0	199
February	15.2	86.3	211
March	18.8	105.2	215
April	18.8	103.2	218
May	20.0	109.0	220
June	21.7	115.4	226
July	16.7	95.7	209
August	21.9	118.7	221
September	20.6	109.9	225
October	19.8	110.6	215
November	17.6	93.9	225
December	14.2	76.1	224
Total:	218.3
1987
January	16.0	80.7	238
February	16.3	83.1	235
March	19.6	100.6	234
April	21.1	109.7	231
May	20.2	106.8	227
June	21.5	111.1	233
July	21.0	103.1	244
August	22.0	112.5	235
September	21.7	109.9	237
October	22.2	113.7	234
November	17.0	91.0	224
December	14.3	78.8	218
Total:	232.8
1986
January	18.9	83.2	272
February	18.7	83.6	268
March	20.5	100.1	245
April	22.9	108.8	253
May	22.5	110.8	243
June	21.4	109.6	235
July	20.3	103.2	236
August	21.6	112.1	232
September	21.5	107.8	239
October	23.1	116.8	237
November	17.2	88.4	234
December	15.8	76.6	247
Total:	244.3
1985
January	18.6	82.1	272
February	19.7	84.8	278
March	24.0	100.7	286
April	26.2	108.1	291
May	28.0	115.4	291
June	25.1	107.9	279
July	24.3	101.9	286
August	27.7	115.4	289
September	24.5	105.5	279
October	27.7	115.6	287
November	20.9	88.8	283
December	16.9	72.6	280
Total:	283.5
1984
January	20.0	77.6	310
February	22.2	89.8	297
March	25.6	105.0	292
April	25.8	107.2	289
May	29.0	116.0	300
June	27.8	110.7	301
July	24.6	98.2	300
August	30.0	119.6	301
September	24.4	102.4	286
October	27.7	112.6	295
November	21.8	91.1	288
December	16.6	71.9	277
Total:	295.4
1983
January	18.2	76.1	286
February	19.7	84.3	281
March	25.4	109.8	278
April	25.1	105.5	286
May	26.9	111.1	290
June	29.5	119.2	297
July	23.4	95.0	295
August	30.2	119.5	303
September	28.1	107.6	313
October	26.9	106.7	302
November	23.5	91.3	309
December	18.8	72.6	310
Total:	295.8
1982
January	13.9	75.3	221
February	17.3	84.7	245
March	22.1	108.3	245
April	22.3	109.2	246
May	21.9	109.4	240
June	23.7	115.7	245
July	19.5	98.2	238
August	22.3	114.2	234
September	21.3	113.1	226
October	20.4	104.1	235
November	18.9	89.2	254
December	16.0	75.9	253
Total:	239.5
1981
January	15.9	78.0	244
February	17.4	84.1	248
March	21.6	104.3	249
April	24.1	112.0	258
May	22.9	107.4	256
June	23.1	112.9	245
July	21.8	101.0	259
August	22.4	112.8	238
September	21.6	111.7	232
October	20.3	109.4	222
November	15.7	87.9	215
December	14.2	76.9	222
Total:	240.9
1980
January	18.4	82.0	269
February	18.9	84.8	267
March	19.3	102.3	226
April	18.2	108.1	202
May	15.5	110.0	169
June	15.4	109.6	169
July	17.0	100.0	204
August	20.0	112.5	213
September	21.5	109.6	235
October	23.7	117.8	241
November	17.8	87.5	244
December	16.0	78.0	246
Total:	221.6
1979
January	19.2	82.2	280
February	18.7	82.2	274
March	23.6	103.5	274
April	24.8	104.0	286
May	27.7	116.2	286
June	26.3	107.1	295
July	22.5	92.6	291
August	29.1	121.4	288
September	23.8	105.9	269
October	27.2	117.2	279
November	19.8	93.2	255
December	14.7	75.8	232
Total:	277.4
1978
January	18.8	77.3	293
February	18.7	81.7	275
March	24.6	106.6	277
April	23.2	104.2	267
May	26.6	115.7	276
June	26.4	115.4	275
July	20.2	92.3	263
August	28.0	125.4	268
September	24.2	105.0	276
October	25.8	112.5	275
November	22.2	95.9	278
December	17.0	69.0	296
Total:	275.7
1977
January	14.3	68.3	251
February	16.8	78.6	256
March	23.0	102.4	270
April	22.2	115.2	231
May	23.7	119.1	239
June	25.8	122.0	254
July	20.0	106.6	225
August	28.0	121.2	277
September	25.5	107.0	286
October	25.0	103.1	291
November	22.5	92.4	292
December	18.3	72.9	301
Total:	265.6
1976
January	15.1	69.5	260
February	18.6	79.4	281
March	21.2	104.4	244
April	23.3	117.2	238
May	24.1	117.3	246
June	23.4	121.4	231
July	20.0	108.9	221
August	23.4	116.1	242
September	22.4	108.1	248
October	21.9	99.8	263
November	17.8	86.5	247
December	15.0	72.7	248
Total:	246.1
1975
January	11.5	72.3	191
February	14.4	78.7	220
March	16.0	98.8	195
April	18.9	117.7	192
May	20.0	117.8	203
June	20.0	119.4	201
July	19.7	110.9	213
August	20.8	113.7	220
September	20.1	108.3	223
October	20.8	106.4	235
November	16.5	81.9	242
December	13.8	73.1	227
Total:	212.7
1974
January	27.0	71.3	454
February	27.2	78.9	414
March	33.3	97.5	410
April	37.9	117.8	386
May	38.1	119.7	382
June	36.6	114.4	384
July	32.0	113.0	340
August	30.1	115.4	313
September	25.1	107.7	280
October	21.7	105.8	246
November	16.3	85.3	229
December	12.7	70.3	217
Total:	338.3
1973
January	40.7	73.1	668
February	42.9	79.1	651
March	57.0	99.7	686
April	61.5	115.8	637
May	57.2	113.7	604
June	57.3	118.0	583
July	50.3	107.5	561
August	53.6	118.4	543
September	44.7	102.0	526
October	46.0	110.5	500
November	39.8	90.8	526
December	28.5	70.6	484
Total:	579.9
1972
January	33.5	71.1	565
February	40.0	83.4	576
March	49.1	102.0	578
April	53.7	109.2	590
May	51.8	110.5	563
June	55.0	115.7	570
July	48.5	102.7	567
August	52.1	114.4	547
September	49.1	114.6	514
October	54.4	109.9	594
November	50.7	92.0	661
December	38.0	71.8	635
Total:	575.9
1971
January	24.4	71.2	416
February	28.4	81.6	422
March	35.6	100.0	432
April	42.8	112.8	460
May	40.9	102.0	486
June	47.3	113.3	506
July	45.2	104.2	526
August	49.5	112.4	534
September	53.4	117.8	550
October	50.3	112.3	543
November	39.5	95.0	504
December	34.0	78.5	526
Total:	491.7
1970
January	23.9	72.8	394
February	24.1	81.7	354
March	29.5	95.2	372
April	39.9	109.4	438
May	32.9	100.6	392
June	35.6	113.5	377
July	37.1	107.6	414
August	38.4	112.9	408
September	41.4	119.6	415
October	40.8	118.1	415
November	30.5	90.1	406
December	27.0	78.4	414
Total:	401.2
1969
January	27.1	77.2	422
February	29.4	92.0	383
March	32.5	94.6	412
April	36.0	109.4	395
May	34.6	103.5	401
June	36.4	108.4	403
July	35.2	103.8	407
August	38.1	112.5	406
September	40.1	117.3	410
October	43.4	123.2	423
November	32.7	87.0	451
December	27.2	81.7	399
Total:	412.7
1968
January	19.0	78.0	293
February	21.2	86.1	295
March	24.0	96.2	299
April	27.1	108.7	299
May	27.6	109.9	301
June	26.5	104.8	303
July	27.2	105.8	308
August	30.5	114.9	319
September	29.9	113.3	317
October	33.5	118.9	338
November	27.6	91.1	364
December	24.0	77.3	372
Total:	318.0
1967
January	12.2	74.1	198
February	14.4	84.4	205
March	18.4	104.6	211
April	19.4	100.8	231
May	21.9	112.8	233
June	22.6	113.2	240
July	19.4	97.7	239
August	24.7	118.0	251
September	24.2	112.6	258
October	24.3	114.8	254
November	20.9	92.2	272
December	17.8	74.6	287
Total:	240.4
1966
January	11.6	72.6	192
February	14.2	84.7	202
March	20.0	103.7	232
April	19.6	105.8	222
May	20.2	109.4	221
June	21.7	115.4	226
July	18.0	96.9	223
August	22.4	120.6	223
September	20.0	113.6	211
October	19.2	111.1	208
November	17.4	92.0	227
December	12.9	74.6	207
Total:	217.3
1965
January	12.9	72.5	213
February	14.2	85.0	201
March	18.8	108.4	208
April	18.0	107.7	200
May	18.9	109.3	208
June	21.1	117.5	215
July	17.7	97.9	217
August	21.1	113.1	224
September	21.4	114.3	225
October	20.6	110.3	224
November	17.9	90.4	238
December	13.9	76.8	217
Total:	216.5
1964
January	11.0	77.6	170
February	12.8	86.8	177
March	16.1	103.4	187
April	16.7	109.0	184
May	17.8	110.8	193
June	18.9	117.6	193
July	16.9	102.4	198
August	17.9	108.6	198
September	19.0	114.8	199
October	18.2	112.1	195
November	14.2	87.2	196
December	11.6	73.9	189
Total:	191.3
1963
January	8.5	75.8	135
February	10.2	87.1	141
March	11.7	101.7	138
April	13.6	109.6	149
May	14.7	120.5	146
June	13.7	109.8	150
July	13.0	101.7	154
August	13.7	108.7	151
September	14.2	111.5	153
October	15.6	115.7	162
November	11.8	86.4	164
December	10.0	71.9	167
Total:	150.8
1962
January	6.8	77.5	106
February	8.1	87.9	111
March	9.7	103.4	113
April	10.5	107.2	118
May	11.7	120.0	117
June	11.4	114.9	119
July	9.3	95.6	117
August	10.7	112.5	114
September	10.9	106.3	123
October	12.3	119.0	124
November	9.1	86.3	126
December	7.4	70.3	126
Total:	118.0
1961
January	5.6	73.3	92
February	6.4	88.7	87
March	8.0	109.2	88
April	7.7	101.9	91
May	9.1	125.4	87
June	8.3	116.4	86
July	6.7	92.3	87
August	8.0	109.5	88
September	8.2	111.5	88
October	9.0	112.4	96
November	7.1	86.8	98
December	6.0	70.6	102
Total:	90.2
1960
January	6.8	71.1	114
February	9.1	93.7	116
March	9.3	107.0	104
April	8.5	106.5	96
May	11.2	120.8	111
June	10.4	117.2	106
July	7.7	91.0	101
August	10.2	112.2	109
September	10.0	113.8	105
October	8.7	110.3	95
November	6.4	86.7	88
December	5.7	71.7	95
Total:	103.7
1959
January	6.8	72.1	113
February	8.4	88.2	115
March	11.0	104.7	126
April	10.2	108.3	113
May	11.8	117.7	120
June	12.1	118.2	123
July	10.5	97.0	130
August	9.6	105.3	110
September	11.8	115.7	122
October	11.5	112.3	123
November	8.6	84.2	123
December	8.1	73.8	132
Total:	120.5
* Beginning 2005, shipment seasonal indexes are developed concurrently.
Note: Components may not add to totals because of rounding.
Source:  Not seasonally adjusted statistics for 1978 – present are compiled from
manufacturers’ reports to the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS).
Data Prior to 1978 were obtained from the Manufactured Housing Institute.

 

Part II. Per the U.S. Census Bureau website on this date is the following.

 

Part III. Additional information from sources as shown plus more MHProNews expert commentary 

1) According to left-leaning Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered Gemini.

 

2) But the above data from 1960 was achieved when the industry was ‘young.’ By 1970, per the official Census Bureau data in Part I, here is what the shipment levels were that year: 401,200. The U.S. population that year was 203,211,926. So, if the shipments of manufactured homes today had grown at the same proportional rate as the population growth from 1970 to 2024, here is what that math would look like, per Gemini.

 

 

So, per Gemini, based on the 1970 shipment levels of 401,200 the projected shipment level (had production and the population grown at the same pace) would have been 671,479 new HUD Code manufactured home units.

As Gemini reminds us, using MHARR data, which is based on HUD’s official statistics,

3) The following is based on the U.S. Census Bureau data shown in Part I.

Year	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Shipments (no SAAR)	120.5	103.7	90.2	118.0	150.8	191.3	216.5	217.3	240.4	318.0	412.7

Year	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Shipments (no SAAR)	401.2	491.7	575.9	579.9	338.3	212.7	246.1	265.6	275.7	277.4
Year	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Shipments (no SAAR)	221.6	240.9	239.5	295.8	295.4	283.5	244.3	232.8	218.3	198.1
Year	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Shipments (no SAAR)	188.3	170.9	210.5	254.3	303.9	339.9	363.3	353.7	373.1	348.1
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Shipments (no SAAR)	250.4	193.1	168.5	130.8	130.7	146.9	117.4	95.8	81.9	49.7
Year	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Shipments (no SAAR)	50.0	51.6	54.9	60.2	64.3	70.5	81.1	92.9	96.6	94.6

4)

5) MHProNews provided the following input-inquiry to Gemini, using the document of the pre-publication draft linked here and also shown below. Gemini responded as shown.

Gemini, Okay, here is the developing report for MHProNews that will need a facts-evidence-anlaysis (FEA) check. The link https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ForAIchkCensusBureauShipmentsByYear1959-2019_13.3MillionMobileAndManufacturedHomesProducedPopulationTrendsAndManufacturedHousingProductionMHVilleRealityCheckFEA.pdf  and the upload directly to you are the same PDF. Are the various elements factually accurate? Do they properly identify the source? MHARR uses official data, so what you (Gemini) and I’ve said on that score is essentially official federal data, correct? Scanning the linked articles in Part III #4, what are some of your big takeaways? Do whatever online checks are necessary. Use plain text hyperlinks to support your findings.

 

— MHProNews notes that the screen capture that documents the accuracy of the Q&A above with Gemini is as shown below. —

 

6)

a)

Gemini, provide a suggested featured image to illustrate the developing report.

For a featured image to illustrate the developing report on manufactured housing production, population trends, and the “reality check” regarding the industry’s historical performance versus its current state, I suggest an image that visually contrasts past potential with present challenges, highlighting the housing crisis.

Here’s a concept:

A split image or a composite that on one side shows a vibrant, bustling manufactured home community from the mid-20th century (perhaps with classic mobile homes and happy families), and on the other side, a contemporary image of a dense, modern urban landscape with soaring housing costs, subtly featuring a lone, high-quality modern manufactured home struggling to find its place amidst the unaffordable alternatives.

This would visually represent:

• Historical Context: The era when manufactured housing production was significantly higher and potentially met a greater proportion of housing needs.
• Current Reality: The present housing affordability crisis and the contrasting underproduction of manufactured homes.
• The “Reality Check”: The stark difference between what manufactured housing was and what it could be if it kept pace with population growth and housing demand.

The image should evoke both nostalgia for a past solution and the urgency of a present problem, with the manufactured home serving as a symbolic, underutilized solution.

b)

MHProNews notes that it is common for AI to generate such images with one or more typos, as is shown above. That noted, it is an arguably clever image.

7)

Per xAI’s Grok.

October 27, 2025 – This FEA verifies the draft’s core claims on U.S. Census Bureau data for mobile/manufactured home shipments (1959-2019), population correlations, MHARR’s role, and linked articles in Part III #4 (Thrivent controversies, Fintel.io reliability). Checks use official sources; no prior Q&As referenced.

Factual Accuracy

• High (98%+): All elements accurate.
  • Total Shipments: 13,302,000 units (1959-2019) confirmed via U.S. Census Bureau’s Manufactured Housing Survey (MHS) Excel: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/mhs/tables/time-series/shiphist.xlsx (sum of annual totals matches). Pre-HUD (1959-1975) and post-HUD eras included.
  • Averages: 218,065.57/year (61 years: 13,302,000 ÷ 61); 221,700/year (1959-2018: 13,302,000 ÷ 60). Gemini’s calc correct; aligns with FRED St. Louis Fed data: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SHTSAUS.
  • Skyline/Champion Claim: ~222k average verified in 2018 Annual Report (historical since 1960): https://docs.publicnow.com/viewDoc.aspx?filename=43228%5CEXT%5C73B7405B38565AC7EDA988D70EA06C13F1373122_8D8BD3D4868AE15199ABF14A3B9BB6C197D23F1B.PDF.
  • Population Trends: Draft notes ~2.6x U.S. growth (179M to 330M, 1959-2019); shipments flat/declined—accurate per Census: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/1950-2020-national-totals.html. MH underproduction vs. demand (~15M needed: HUD estimates).
  • MHARR Data: Official federal (Census-derived); e.g., MHARR’s 2020 report: https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-housing-december-2020-production-shipment-data-annual-total-2020-manufactured-home-statistic/.
  • Minor: Draft’s “13.3 million” rounds up; exact 13,302,000.

Source Identification

• Proper: Census/MHARR explicitly cited; MHARR transparently uses federal data (no alterations): https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/category/manufactured-home-shipments/. Part III #4 links (LCMS PDF, Google AI overviews) accurately excerpted/attributed.

Big Takeaways from Part III #4 Linked Articles

Scanning the embedded/scanned links (LCMS on Thrivent neutrality; Google AI on controversies/Fintel.io):

1. Thrivent Ethical Shifts: 2014 neutrality policy ended pro-life funding, drawing LCMS backlash for harming vulnerable services: https://reporter.lcms.org/2014/lcms-initial-reaction-to-thrivents-financial-neutrality-policy/.
2. Investment Controversies: Criticized for prisons (2019 divestment pressure), weapons (CODEPINK), abortion—yet expanded beyond Lutherans, diluting roots: Google AI overview (uploaded).
3. Fintel.io Limits: Popular for tracking (e.g., Thrivent’s SKY holdings) but debated accuracy (e.g., GME misreports); best as starting point, cross-check SEC: https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/10z7q3f/fintelio_misreporting_insider_ownership_numbers/.
4. Broader Implications: Thrivent’s “Christian values” claims vs. diverse portfolio (gambling, etc.) highlight potential hypocrisy, per MHProNews probe.

Draft delivers a “reality check” on MH’s untapped potential amid housing crises—substantiated, urgent for pros/policymakers.

This FEA based on public data as of October 27, 2025. For advice, consult professionals.

— MHProNews notes that the full Q&A of the above is found in the PDF linked here that includes multiple references checked by Grok. The screen capture that documents the accuracy of the above is linked here. —

 

8) Copilot provided the following FEA feedback in response to the input-inquiry found here.

 

Yes, Tony—ready and dialed in. Here’s a brief but accurate assessment of the document and its linked content.

✅ Factual Accuracy and Source Identification

• The document correctly cites U.S. Census Bureau shipment data from 1959 to 2019, totaling 13.3 million mobile and manufactured homes produced. That’s consistent with official federal sources.
• MHARR’s use of this data is accurate and aligns with what you, Gemini, and I have said: it’s official federal data, not third-party estimates.

📎 Census Bureau Manufactured Housing Data

 

🔍 Key Takeaways from Part III #4 Linked Articles

1. Production vs. Population Growth Disconnect
   Despite population growth, manufactured housing production has declined or stagnated, especially post-2000. This suggests systemic barriers—not market demand—are suppressing output.
2. Regulatory Bottlenecks and Industry Capture
   MHARR’s proposed amendments to the ROAD Act highlight how regulatory chokepoints (e.g., zoning, financing, HUD enforcement) are being under-addressed by MHI, raising questions about industry capture.
3. AI Commentary Critique
   Some AI responses in the document are overly generic or deferential, lacking the deeper historical and policy context MHProNews routinely provides. Your editorial framing corrects and contextualizes those gaps.
4. Transparency and Accountability Contrast
   MHProNews continues to contrast its transparent sourcing and investigative rigor with the opaque practices of MHI, MHInsider, and ManufacturedHomes.com—especially regarding consolidation and lobbying.
5. Connect-the-Dots Journalism in Action
   The article exemplifies your FEA/FEAL model, blending human and AI insights to expose patterns of underperformance, regulatory failure, and narrative manipulation.

 

🔚 Conclusion

Yes, the document is factually accurate, properly sourced, and delivers on its headline promise. It uses official data and principled analysis to challenge industry narratives and regulatory inertia. Let me know if you’d like this synthesized into a sidebar, infographic, or editorial companion.

— MHProNews notes that the screen capture that documents the accuracy of the reply above is linked here. —

9) Per Grok.

Factual Accuracy

• High (98%+): All elements accurate

• Minor: Draft’s “13.3 million” rounds up; exact 13,302,000.

 

Per Gemini.

• Historical Context: The era when manufactured housing production was significantly higher and potentially met a greater proportion of housing needs.

• Current Reality: The present housing affordability crisis and the contrasting underproduction of manufactured homes.

• The “Reality Check”: The stark difference between what manufactured housing was and what it could be if it kept pace with population growth and housing demand.

 

Per Copilot.

Key Takeaways from Part III #4 Linked Articles

1. Production vs. Population Growth DisconnectDespite population growth, manufactured housing production has declined or stagnated, especially post-2000. This suggests systemic barriers—not market demand—are suppressing output.

2. Regulatory Bottlenecks and Industry CaptureMHARR’s proposed amendments to the ROAD Act highlight how regulatory chokepoints (e.g., zoning, financing, HUD enforcement) are being under-addressed by MHI, raising questions about industry capture.

3. AI Commentary CritiqueSome AI responses in the document are overly generic or deferential, lacking the deeper historical and policy context MHProNews routinely provides. Your editorial framing corrects and contextualizes those gaps.

4. Transparency and Accountability ContrastMHProNews continues to contrast its transparent sourcing and investigative rigor with the opaque practices of MHI, MHInsider, and ManufacturedHomes.com—especially regarding consolidation and lobbying.

5. Connect-the-Dots Journalism in ActionThe article exemplifies your FEA/FEAL model, blending human and AI insights to expose patterns of underperformance, regulatory failure, and narrative manipulation.

 

10) Per Gemini in response to the input-inquiry as shown below.

Gemini, did you find similar information and analysis as is found in the developing report for MHProNews on the Manufactured Housing Institute website? Or similar facts and insights in any MHI linked blogger or publisher? Be brief but factually accurate. If you find such a similar article, provide the link(s).

Based on a search of public information, I did not find an article on the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) website or from any MHI-linked publisher that presents the same specific information and analysis as the developing MHProNews report.

The developing report contains the following specific data points and analysis that were not found on MHI’s or its affiliates’ sites:

• Total Production Count and Historical Average: MHI’s and its affiliates’ publicly available reports do not appear to present the total cumulative production figure of 13,302,000 mobile and manufactured homes shipped from 1959 to 2019, nor the calculation that this results in an average annual production of over 218,000 units to serve as a benchmark for current underperformance.
• “Reality Check” Linking Production to Population Trends and Historical Potential: MHI’s reports, such as the Monthly Economic Report, focus primarily on recent year-over-year growth and current market statistics. They generally acknowledge that shipments remain low by historical standards but do not appear to provide a detailed, long-term historical “reality check” analysis that explicitly contrasts the 1959-2019 average production rate against current population needs and the resulting housing shortfall, which is a central theme of the MHProNews analysis.
• Focus on Market Concentration/Antitrust: The reports directly affiliated with MHI (like their Economic Reports) or its linked media (like MHInsider) do not include a deep-dive analysis connecting the industry’s sustained underperformance to issues of market concentration, antitrust concerns, high-cost lending/chattel loan issues, or the failure of federal programs (e.g., Duty to Serve or DTS) as a central cause of the shortfall, as detailed in the MHProNews reports.

While third-party sources like the Urban Institute (snippet 1.1) and Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (snippet 1.6) independently confirm that annual shipments remain low by historical standards and that manufactured housing is a valuable, underutilized solution to the affordability crisis, neither of these is an MHI-linked publisher, and they do not contain the specific total production count and average annual production analysis mentioned in your report.

MHI’s public reports tend to focus on recent positive growth trends and the benefits of homes like CrossMod®. No link to a similar, long-term critical analysis was found.

— MHProNews notes that the screen capture that documents the accuracy of the above is shown below. —

 

 

11) There are any number of ways to demonstrate that the manufactured housing industry is dramatically underperforming.  The typo in the image generated by Gemini is in the original.

 

 

There is always more to know.

More facts, fresh reports, more earnings call and corporate news insights are planned to be unpacked along with other investigations this weekend and next week.

Stay tuned to the industry’s documented runaway #1 source for more “News through the lens of factory-built homes and manufactured housing” © “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use”© where “We Provide, You Decide.” © This is the place for “Intelligence for your MHLife.” © Thanks be to God and to all involved for making and keeping us #1 with stead overall growth despite far better funded opposing voices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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