ARLINGTON, Va. — Combined U.S. factory shipments of 454,683 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for February were up 2 percent compared to shipments from the same month last year, according to Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) statistics. Combined shipments for the first two months of 2003 total 837,228, up 3 percent compared to last year.

Heat pump shipments in February were 122,541 units, up 11 percent compared to a year ago. The year-to-date total of 235,150 is up 12 percent from January-February 2002.

February distributor shipments were down 12 percent from February 2002, with year-to-date shipments down 3 percent.

Publication date: 03/31/2003