ARLIGNTON, VA — According to the Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute (ARI), combined U.S. factory shipments of 670,358 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for March 2002 were down 5% compared to the same month last year. Heat pump shipments of 136,660 were down 6% compared to March 2001.

Factory stocks March of this year were up 94,908 units from February 2002 and down 136,020 units from March 2001. Also, March 2002 distributor inventories were up 1,972 units from February 2002 and down 329,045 units from March 2001.

Distributor shipments for March 2002 were up 22% over the same month last year, with year-to-date shipments up 8%.

Publication date: 05/20/2002