ARLINGTON, VA — Shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps jumped 6% in 1999 to a record 6,647,071 units, according to Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) statistics.

Heat pump shipments of 1,293,395 units also set a new single-year record with a 3% increase over 1998.

Combined unitary and heat pump shipments for December stood at 413,461 units shipped, up 22% compared to December 1998. Heat pump shipments for December totaled 92,275 units, up 18% from December 1998.

December factory stocks were down 68,500 units from November 1999, but were up 121,854 units from December 98.

Distributor inventories for December expanded by 9,839 units over November 99, and were up 42,094 units from December 98. Distributor shipments for December were up 8% from December 98, while year-to-date shipments grew by 6%.