The running 12-month sales improved for the fourth consecutive month nearing the top end of HARDI’s projections for 2010 growth of 5 percent to 10 percent. Canada maintains its top spot for the highest level of running 12-month growth among all HARDI regions, while three U.S. regions moved into double digits, it stated in the report.
Average distributor sales per employee barely skirted consecutive down months by showing the most modest of increases from last month, stated the association.
“The latest numbers from HARDI distributors is very encouraging, however a word of caution is worthwhile given the outlook for housing, end of the tax credit, and the outlook for the commercial industry,” said HARDI Chief Economist, Alan Beaulieu of the Institute for Trend Research. “Banks are beginning to lend more commercially, but housing will be an ongoing lending issue.”
MANUFACTURER DATA
According to shipment data released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), manufacturer shipment numbers for some equipment also rose in November 2010.U.S. shipments of gas warm-air furnaces for November 2010 increased 11 percent, to 257,414, up from 231,108 units shipped in November 2009. U.S. shipments of air-source heat pumps increased 7 percent, to 108,029 units, up from a revised total of 100,816 units shipped in November 2009.
Commercial gas water heater shipments increased 5 percent in November 2010, to 5,992 units, up from 5,691 units shipped in November 2009. Commercial electric water heater shipments increased 16 percent in November 2010, to 4,468 units, up from 3,864 units shipped in November 2009.
Residential gas water heaters, residential electric water heaters, oil warm-air furnaces, and air conditioner shipments for November 2010 did decline, compared to November 2009, according to AHRI’s shipment data. U.S. shipments of residential gas water heaters decreased 6 percent, to 295,029 units, down from 313,524 units shipped in November 2009. Residential electric water heater shipments decreased 3 percent in November 2010, to 281,702 units, down from 290,691 units shipped in November 2009.
U.S. oil warm-air furnace shipments decreased 2 percent, to 7,590 units in November 2010, down from 7,704 units shipped in November 2009.
U.S. shipments of air conditioners decreased 2 percent, to 179, 655 units, down from a revised total of 182,544 units shipped in November 2009.
AHRI’s November 2010 shipment numbers indicate that year-to-date U.S. shipments of residential gas water heaters, commercial gas water heaters, commercial electric water heaters, gas warm-air furnaces, oil warm-air furnaces, and heat pumps increased compared to the same period in 2009, while year-to-date residential electric water heater shipments and central air conditioners decreased compared to the same period in 2009.
Publication date:01/31/2011
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