ARLINGTON, Va. — With the cooling season approaching, shipments of central air conditioners and heat pumps for March jumped 75 percent compared with the previous month, 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 March totaled 590,192, which was a 7 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, combined shipments totaled 1.2 million, a 7 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Heat pump shipments for March totaled 186,720, a 4.5 percent drop from the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, heat pump shipments totaled 435,331, a 3 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Publication date: 05/12/2008