ARLINGTON, Va. - Factory shipments of 388,553 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps were up 9 percent in November, compared to shipments from the same month the previous year, according to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.

Heat-pump shipments of 116,964 were also up 26 percent. Total annual shipments of 6.4 million units were up 1 percent from the previous year, and are on pace to meet or exceed the 2002 total, the ARI said.