ARLINGTON, Va. — United States factory shipments of residential cooling and heating equipment declined in February, compared with the same month a year ago, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for February totaled 335,897, a 13 percent drop compared with February 2007 total shipments. For the year-to-date, combined shipments totaled 658,968, an 8 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Heat pump shipments for February totaled 123,122, a 10 percent drop from the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, heat pump shipments totaled 248,611, a 2 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

U.S. factory shipments of gas warm air furnaces dropped 22 percent to 153,812, compared with February 2007 totals. Oil warm air furnaces for the same month fell 39 percent to 3,680, compared with February 2007 shipments of this equipment.

Publication date: 04/07/2008