With a 27% bump in unit sales in May vs. a year earlier, it appears that the prospects for compact tractors are improving significantly following 5 years of relatively flat sales. After skyrocketing from 94,000 units sold in 2001 to nearly 140,000 units in 2004, North American sales of tractors less than 40 horsepower began contracting with the overall economy in 2008. That year, sales slipped to less than 117,000 units. Starting in 2009, sales barely got by the 90,000 mark, and only surpassed 95,000 units in 2011.