Heating and cooling equipment shipments weakened through September

US shipments of heating and cooling equipment fell 7% in September from August to the lowest monthly rate of the year, according to the latest data released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

September shipments are typically slightly above average, but this September came in much softer than usual. Shipments totaled 1.57 million units, 17% less than the same month last year (Figure 1, left). And shipments of warm-air furnaces and air conditioners/heat pumps both declined month over month (m/m), while water heater shipments increased.