COLUMBUS, Ohio — Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) members’ average sales increased 19.8 percent in May, according to the association’s monthly TRENDS report. The average annualized growth for the 12 months through May 2018 was 6.1 percent.

“Cooling season got off to a slow start with cool temps in March and April,” said Brian Loftus, market research & benchmarking analyst, HARDI. “Cooling degree days were well above normal in much of the country last month and that is reflected in that big gain for the month.”

Connor Lokar, senior economist, HARDI, called this the most interesting and troubling time for the U.S. economy in many years.

“While we are flying high at the moment, there are immense threats to our economy’s growth that are worsening by the month,” Lokar said. “The U.S. Purchasing Manager Index, JP Morgan Global PMI, OECD Leading Indicator for the U.S., U.S. Corporate Profits, and the rates-of-change for the S&P 500, both ITR Leading Indicators, various utilization rates, and the personal savings rate are in agreement regarding our expectation for business cycle decline in 2019.

The Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), a measure of how quickly customers pay their bills, reached its highest level in four years this month, said Loftus.

“Spikes like that happen after a sales surge like we experienced in May,” he said. “A correction over the next couple months is the normal pattern.”

HARDI members do not receive financial compensation in exchange for their monthly sales data and can discontinue their participation without prior notice or penalty. Participation is voluntary, and the depth of market coverage varies from region to region. An independent entity collects and compiles the data that can include products not directly associated with the HVACR industry. For more information, visit www.hardinet.org. 

Publication date: 07/02/18