The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute reported combined U.S. factory shipments of 493,589 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for February were up 7% compared to the same month last year. Heat pump shipments of 135,125 were also up 7% from February 2004. Total shipments of 887,113 for the first two months of the year are 3% ahead of those from last year.