ARLINGTON, Va. - Combined U.S. factory shipments of 765,362 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in April increased 19 percent compared to shipments from the same month last year, according to Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) statistics. Total shipments for the year of 2,353,907 units are up 9 percent compared to the first four months of 2003.

Heat pump shipments of 173,156 in April were up 27 percent compared to April 2003. The year-to-date total of 592,658 is up 14 percent from January-April 2003.

April distributor shipments were up 16 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date shipments up 9 percent.

Publication date: 05/31/2004