U.S. HVACR average distributor sales growth of 2.2 percent in August, after the encouraging 13.3 percent in July 2012, according to Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International.

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Four of the seven regions that comprise HARDI’s Monthly Targeted and Regional Economic News for Distribution Strategies (TRENDS) Report contracted during August, after healthy growth from each sector in July.

\”Sales over the past 12 months are up 3.8 percent,\” said Andrew Duguay, HARDI economist. \”The improving results on a 12-month basis since the recent low point of 2.7 percent in February show a modest, stable growth trend this year that is consistent with the macroeconomic trends we are witnessing in U.S. Industrial Production and Retail Sales so far in 2012.\”

The modest economic improvement or stability is also evident in the Days Sales Outstanding (a measure of how quickly customers pay their bills) experienced by HARDI members. The DSO was more than 50 days in the spring, but has consistently improved to less than 45 days according to the August survey.

The steady overall performance of sales per employee masks the impressive improvement in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, versus flat results or modest declines of sales per employee from other regions.

\”The stability that has been supporting consumer confidence could be threatened in the months ahead,\” said Duguay. \”It seems the positive momentum could be offset by the economic and political uncertainty emanating from Europe and China, and the prospects for surviving our own fiscal cliff that is due to arrive in January.\”