A quick look around the just opened Flatbush, Brooklyn location of
Factory shipments of major appliances came in just shy of the 5-million-unit mark in January, representing a 3.6 percent increase over the prior-year period.
Leading the gains were room air conditioners, which surged 73.6 percent year-over-year to about 367,600 units (compared to 211,700 ACs last year), as dealers began laying in inventory for the coming season.
Also showing significant spikes in wholesale sales were refrigeration, up 15.2 percent, and washers, up 13.1 percent.
The increases helped offset a 5.6 percent decline in gas ranges, and a 13.8 percent drop in disposer shipments. Demand for dishwashers was flat (down 0.5 percent).
Industry Shipments of Major Appliances*| Product | 2006 JAN | 2005 JAN | Chg. | Year to Date | ||
| 2006 | 2005 | Chg. | ||||
| All Major Appliances | 4,967.1 | 4,795.6 | 3.6 | 4,967.1 | 4,795.6 | 3.6 |
| Cooking-Total | 1,604.5 | 1,645.8 | -2.5 | 1,604.5 | 1,645.8 | -2.5 |
| Electric Ranges - Total | 409.1 | 400.9 | 2.0 | 409.1 | 400.9 | 2.0 |
| Freestanding | 301.2 | 299.1 | 0.7 | 301.2 | 299.1 | 0.7 |
| Built-In | 68.4 | 64.5 | 6.1 | 68.4 | 64.5 | 6.1 |
| Surface Cooking Units | 39.5 | 37.3 | 6.1 | 39.5 | 37.3 | 6.1 |
| Gas Ranges - Total | 240.9 | 255.3 | -5.6 | 240.9 | 255.3 | -5.6 |
| Freestanding | 198.1 | 214.6 | -7.7 | 198.1 | 214.6 | -7.7 |
| Built-In | 4.2 | 4.9 | -14.2 | 4.2 | 4.9 | -14.2 |
| Surface Cooking Units | 38.7 | 35.8 | 8.1 | 38.7 | 35.8 | 8.1 |
| Microwave Ovens | 954.4 | 989.6 | -3.6 | 954.4 | 989.6 | -3.6 |
| Home Laundry - Total | 1,192.0 | 1,078.4 | 10.5 | 1,192.0 | 1,078.4 | 10.5 |
| Automatic Washers | 644.9 | 570.1 | 13.1 | 644.9 | 570.1 | 13.1 |
| Dryers - Total | 547.2 | 508.3 | 7.6 | 547.2 | 508.3 | 7.6 |
| Electric | 434.2 | 400.7 | 8.4 | 434.2 | 400.7 | 8.4 |
| Gas | 113.0 | 107.6 | 5.0 | 113.0 | 107.6 | 5.0 |
| Kitchen Clean Up - Total | 969.6 | 1,049.1 | -7.6 | 969.6 | 1,049.1 | -7.6 |
| Disposers | 487.7 | 565.6 | -13.8 | 487.7 | 565.6 | -13.8 |
| Dishwashers - Total | 473.1 | 475.4 | 0.5 | 473.1 | 475.4 | -0.5 |
| Built-In | 463.3 | 464.3 | 0.2 | 463.3 | 464.3 | -0.2 |
| Portable | 9.8 | 11.1 | -11.4 | 9.8 | 11.1 | -11.4 |
| Compactors | 8.8 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.1 | 9.0 |
| Food Preservation - Total | 799.0 | 705.5 | 13.2 | 799.0 | 705.5 | 13.2 |
| Refrigerators | 656.3 | 569.9 | 15.2 | 656.3 | 569.9 | 15.2 |
| Freezers - Total | 142.7 | 135.6 | 5.2 | 142.7 | 135.6 | 5.2 |
| Chest | 102.7 | 86.4 | 19.0 | 102.7 | 86.4 | 19.0 |
| Upright | 40.0 | 49.3 | -18.8 | 40.0 | 49.3 | -18.8 |
| Home Comfort - Total | 402.0 | 316.8 | 26.9 | 402.0 | 316.8 | 26.9 |
| Room Air Conditioners | 367.6 | 211.7 | 73.6 | 367.6 | 211.7 | 73.6 |
| Dehumidifiers | 34.4 | 105.1 | -67.3 | 34.4 | 105.1 | -67.3 |
| AHAM 6*** | 3,036.0 | 2,842.5 | 6.8 | 3,036.0 | 2,842.5 | 6.8 |
| *Domestic shipments only. Includes U.S. produced and imported products. **For period of four weeks between Jan 01, 2006-Jan 28, 2006 vs Jan 01, 2005-Jan 29, 2005 *** AHAM 6 includes: washer, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerator, freezers, and freestanding and built-in ranges. Source: AHAM ©TWICE 2006 | ||||||