ARLINGTON, VA — Combined U.S. factory shipments of 705,605 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for April 2002 were up 23% from April 2001, according to the Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute (ARI). Heat pump shipments of 156,488 units also rose 29% from April 2001. Combined shipments for the first four months are up 4% from those of last year.

Also according to ARI, factory stocks for April 2002 were up 8,729 units from March 2002 and down 177,812 units from April 2001. Distributor inventories for April 2002 were up 21,036 units from the previous month and down 218,116 units from the same month last year.

Distributor shipments for April 2002 were up 3% from April 2001, with year-to-date shipments up 6%.

Publication date: 06/10/2002