Forest City-based Winnebago Industries Inc. announced today that its earnings soared 59 percent during its fiscal fourth quarter as a result of higher sales of its larger motor homes, the Associated Press reported.

Earnings were $14.8 million, or 49 cents per share, for the three months ended Aug. 25, compared with $9.3 million, or 30 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Sales rose 15.7 percent to $237.7 million from $205.4 million a year ago.

For the fiscal year, Winnebago’s earnings were $41.6 million, or $1.32 a share, down from $44.7 million, or $1.37 a share, a year ago. Sales for the year increased 0.7 percent to $870.2 million. For the entire motor home industry, sales were down 4.9 percent year-to-date through August.

The company expects sales to continue to rise as a result of the Federal Reserve’s recent reduction of two key interest rates, but progress may be slow.

“It may take some time for this to translate into sustained growth of the retail motor home market,” said Winnebago President Bob Olson in a press release. “In the meantime, we believe dealers will continue to keep their motor home inventories low or further reduce them as they go into the slower fall and winter seasons.”