HVACR distributors that are members of Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) reported a dip sales in August due to a decline in cooling degree days.

HARDI members logged a 0.5% decline during August, following a 6.8% increase in July and a 6.9% increase in June.

The annual sales growth for the 12 months through August 2025 is an increase of 4.2%.

“We attribute the sales decline to cooling degree days being off by 10% and August 2025 had one less billing day than last year,” said Brian Loftus, Macroeconomic and Residential Market Analyst at HARDI. “We estimate the sales growth was more than 4% with the same number of billing days.”

The monthly sales survey also calculates distributor’s Days Sales Outstanding, which is a measure of how quickly customers pay their bills.

“The DSO for August was near 40 days during the first few years post COVID,” Loftus said. “This year and last the DSO has been a bit quicker at 37 days.  We hope this means the customers are financially fit so paying their bills promptly instead of just having extra time on their hands.”

The chart illustrates the annual sales growth this year has remained near 4%.

“Sales growth has been steady this year despite big declines of cooling degree days in many regions and economic headwinds in all, while navigating the A2L transition,” he added. “The next challenge of the year is working off the excess inventory during the next few months.  After these challenges, next year will be so much easier.”