MISSISSAUGA, ON, Canada — The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) announced that its annual statistics forecast for the year 2003 projects that residential air conditioning shipments and residential furnace shipments will decrease by 6% and 3% respectively compared to the projected 2002 figures. Commercial air conditioning shipments are predicted to remain the same as those in 2002.

The 2001 actual, projected 2002, and forecasted 2003 figures are as follows:

Commercial air conditioning: Actual shipments in 2001 were 40,462. The projected year-end figure for 2002 shows a 12% drop to 35,700. The forecast for 2003 predicts that shipments will remain the same as this year, totalling 35,700.

Residential air conditioning: Compared to the actual 2001 shipments of 183,771, the projected 2002 figures point to an increase of 18% to 216,700. However, the forecast indicates shipments will decrease by 6% in 2003 to 204,000.

Residential furnaces: Actual 2001 shipments were 259,850. At year-end 2002, shipments are expected to decrease by 3% to 252,300. The forecast for 2003 points to a decrease of 3% compared to 2002, with shipments expected to reach 244,000.

For more information, visit www.hrai.ca (website).

Publication date: 10/21/2002