ARLINGTON, VA — According to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), air-source heat pump shipments jumped 8% in 2001 to set a new single-year record of 1,442,355 units. However, total shipments of 6,281,443 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in 2001 were down 6% from the totals in 2000.

Combined shipments in December of 338,025 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps were up 4% from December 2000.

Factory stocks for December 2001 were down 87,036 units from November 2001 and down 178,755 units from December 2000. Also, December 2001 distributor inventories were down 8,181 units from November 2001 and down 189,176 units from December 2000. December 2001 distributor shipments were up 3% compared to the same month last year, with year-to-date shipments down 3%.

For more information, go to www.ari.org (website).

Publication date: 02/11/2002