ARLINGTON, Va. — United States shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totaled 461,835 units in December 2014, up 50.9 percent from 306,141 units shipped in December 2013, according to the latest statistics from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). U.S. shipments of central air conditioners increased 49.3 percent, to 278,369 units, up from 186,484 units shipped in December 2013. U.S. shipments of air-source heat pumps increased 53.3 percent, to 183,466 units, up from 119,657 units shipped in December 2013.

Year-to-date total combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for 2014 increased 11.1 percent, to 6,853,650 units, up from 6,169,700 units shipped through December 2013. Year-to-date total shipments of central air conditioners increased 7.1 percent, to 4,499,660 units, up from 4,201,068 units shipped during 2013. The year-to-date total for heat pump shipments increased 19.6 percent, to 2,353,990 units, up from 1,968,632 units shipped during 2013.