General Electric (GE) reported they will reach a record high for room air conditioner sales this year. With record breaking temperatures being felt over most parts of the United States in the first half of the year, GE broke records for room air conditioner sales in record May, June and July.
Room air conditioners sales were up 30% in June due to the demand for relief from the heat. June was the second warmest on record for the United States. With customers clamoring for new room air conditioners, appliance dealers were hard pressed to keep enough in stock to meet demand. GE was able keep up with the demand from retailers, and filled the orders needed for dealers and sales outlets to keep air conditioning units in stock.
With such high temperatures, the efficiency of air conditioners has become increasingly important to consumers. Sales of GE’s ENERGY STAR®-qualified room air conditioning units will reach a record high in 2010.
“We have had the greatest air conditioner sales year in our history,” said Randy Johnson, senior vice president of merchandising, BrandsMart USA, a major appliance and consumer electronics retailer with 10 stores in Florida and Georgia. “We broke a record May, June and July. We normally have one great month out of those three. GE kept us stocked, so we could meet our customers’ needs. They really came through for me.”
“The air conditioner business for us has been phenomenal this year,” said Gregg Richard, president, P.C. Richard & Son, a major appliance retailer with 63 stores in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. “In the New York City area, we experienced the second hottest July on record, with 16 days above 90 degrees – compared to zero days above 90 degrees in July 2009. This has led to an increase in both AC and refrigeration sales. GE, being our most important supplier, has been able to keep appliance deliveries on time, helping us to increase our orders by always keeping us stocked. They’ve really helped us, and our customers, beat the heat.”
GE (NYSE:GE) is the leading room air conditioner brand in the United States.