ARLINGTON, Va. - Combined U.S. factory shipments of 413,699 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in October were up 9 percent from October 2003, according to Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) statistics. Total shipments of 6,619,867 units for the first 10 months of 2004 are up 9 percent compared to the same period of 2003.

Heat pump shipments for the month of 129,512 units were up 17 percent compared to October 2003. The year-to-date total of 1,639,669 is up 17 percent from January-October 2003.

October distributor shipments were down 11 percent from October 2003, with year-to-date shipments up 5 percent.

Publication date: 11/29/2004