ARLINGTON, VA — Combined U.S. factory shipments of 445,611 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in February were down 3% from February 2001, according to statistics from the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI).

Heat pump shipments of 110,208 units were even compared to February 2001 shipments. Combined shipments for the first two months are down 1% from those of last year.

February 2002 factory stocks were up 74,337 units from January 2002 and down 217,631 units from February 2001. Distributor inventories for February 2002 were up 43,503 units from January 2002 and down 174,483 units from February 2001.

Also, February 2002 distributor shipments were up 2% compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date shipments are down 3%.

Publication date: 04/15/2002