Orderly liquidation values increased 1.8 percent in November compared to October across the 10 major rental category indices tracked by Los Angeles-based Rouse Asset Services. For the six months ending Nov. 30, average index values increased 1.2 percent.

Three of the four lift categories tracked recorded one-month index increases with articulating booms rising 3.1 percent, scissorlifts 5 percent and high-reach forklifts 2.5 percent. Only two of the top 10 categories showed one-month value index declines with telescopic booms dropping 0.7 percent and skid-steer loaders declining 3.1 percent. However, for the six-month period, the major lift categories declined, with decreases ranging from 4.3 percent to 10.4 percent, while most other categories increased.

In other areas tracked by RAS, the average age of equipment owned by major rental companies increased 14 percent on a year-over-year basis from November 2008 to November 2009. The average age for the companies tracked by Rouse was 41.2 months in November 2008, compared with 46.9 months a year later. Skid-steer loaders led the increase, aging 29.7 percent from 31 months to 40.2 months, while loader backhoes aged 24.3 percent from 36.6 months in November 2008 to 45.5 months a year later. Articulating booms aged 12.3 percent, scissorlifts 16.8 percent, telescopic booms 10 percent, and high-reach forklifts 17.7 percent.

According to RAS, JLG sold the most equipment to the rental industry in November 2009 at 13 percent of sales, followed by Genie at 12 percent, John Deere 9 percent, Bobcat 4 percent, with Case, Grove, Komatsu, Terex, SkyTrak and Gradall all at 3 percent.