AHAM Revises Shipment Forecasts, Wholesale Sales To Reach 78.6M Units

Washington— The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has revised its forecast of factory shipments upward for 2005 and 2006.

The latest data set, based on a median of participating vendors' projections, calls for total wholesale sales of major appliances to approach 78.6 million units this year, up from earlier forecasts of 77.6 million units. Nevertheless, the revised figure still lags last year's total of 79.2 million units shipped.

Similarly, the outlook for 2006 has also improved slightly, with manufacturers now anticipating total wholesale sales of 80.3 million units, up from previous projections of 80.1 million pieces shipped.

On a category by category basis, only food preservation and cooking saw their shipment projections contract. Food preservation sales are now expected to hit 13.3 million units this year, down from prior expectations of 13.5 million units sold, while the outlook for 2006 calls for shipments of 13.6 million units, down from earlier forecasts of 13.8 million units in wholesale sales.

Projections for total cooking shipments in 2006 have also been lowered, from 25.8 million, to 25.7 million, although 2005 tallies have been upped from 25.1 million units to a projected 25.3 million units.

In home laundry, 2005 shipment projections edged up from 17 million units, to 17.1 million units, while shipments in 2006 have been revised upward from 17.4 million units to nearly 17.7 million units.

Projected sales of kitchen cleanup products have also improved for the current year, going from expectations of 14.2 million units shipped to an anticipated 14.4 million units sold to retailers. The changes are less dramatic for 2006, with current projections pegging total category sales at 14.5 million units, compared to previous projections of 14.4 million units.

In the most dramatic revision, expectations for home comfort sales have increased from 7.8 million units in 2005, to 8.5 million units, while projections for 2006 sales have grown from 8.7 million units to nearly 8.9 million room air conditioners and dehumidifiers.