Core Majap Categories Rebound In February: AHAM

By Alan Wolf On Mar 22 2013 - 3:01pm

Washington — Factory unit shipments of key major appliance categories rose 8 percent in February after falling 9 percent one year prior.

The Presidents Day-period pickup followed a nearly 2 percent uptick in total majap volume in January, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) reported.

However, a nearly 46 percent decline in dehumidifier shipments, and a 21 percent drop in room air volume, limited total  February wholesale sales to a 0.7 percent gain, AHAM’s monthly shipment data show.

But the AHAM 6, a composite of the core washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, range and oven categories, rose 8 percent year over year for the Jan. 27 to Feb. 23 period on shipments of nearly 2.7 million units.

Leading the charge was laundry, up 12.9 percent on an 11 percent gain in washer volume and a 24 percent spike in shipments of gas dryers, AHAM said.