US ac shipments continue to improve

USA: Sales of US central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps continued to improve in March, albeit at a lower rate.

Latest figures from the US Air-conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) reveal that following an average increase of 24.5% in January and February of this year, shipments were up a more modest 5.9% in March, compared to March 2014.

Total shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps to the end of March reached 1,631,420 units. This was up from 1,406,017 units shipped during the same period in 2014. Year-to-date shipments are now 16% up on last year.

Year-to-date shipments of central air conditioners increased 17.1% to 1,021,179 units, up from 871,826 units shipped during the same period in 2014. The year-to-date total for heat pump shipments increased 14.2% to 610,241 units, up from 534,191 units shipped during the same period in 2014.