Last reviewed: August 2026 · By the HVAC Brief Editorial Team · Our sourcing and editorial standards
Producer prices for HVAC equipment reached their highest level on record in July 2026, at an index of 324.0. That is up 0.94% on June and 4.1% on July 2025, on revised figures.
Against the 2019 annual average the series is up 60.0%. Consumer prices rose about 31% over the same period, so equipment continues to inflate at roughly twice the general rate.
Correction, September 2026: BLS revised the July 2026 index to 323.984 from the first published 324.903, which cuts the monthly gain to 0.94% from 1.23%. July remained a series high at the time. August 2026, at 324.82, is now the highest reading. See our August report.
The series is BLS producer price index PCU333415333415, covering air conditioning, warm air heating and commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment manufacturing. It measures what manufacturers charge, not installed prices.
The reading in context
| Comparison | Index | Change |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 324.0 | series high at the time |
| June 2026 | 321.0 | +0.94% |
| July 2025 | 311.3 | +4.1% |
| 2019 annual average | 203.0 | +59.6% |
The revised month-over-month move of 0.94% is the largest since February 2026. Prices have risen in 20 of the 30 month-over-month comparisons since January 2024, so the direction has been persistent rather than a single spike.
Equipment is the largest input a contractor cannot control, and it set a record in the month heading into the autumn replacement season. Anyone holding quoted prices for extended periods is absorbing the difference. Our price index analysis traces what drove the increase and shows the refrigerant transition is not the main factor.
Frequently asked questions
How much did HVAC equipment prices rise in July 2026?
The BLS producer price index for HVAC equipment manufacturing rose 0.94% from June to a revised 323.98 in July 2026, the highest reading in the series at the time. Year over year the increase was 4.4%, and against the 2019 annual average the series is up 60.0%.
Is this the highest HVAC equipment prices have been?
Yes, in this series. July 2026, at a revised 323.98, was the highest monthly reading of BLS PCU333415333415 since 2019 until August 2026 set a new high. Prices have risen in 20 of the 30 month-over-month comparisons since January 2024.
Does the producer price index tell me what a system costs?
No. It measures what manufacturers charge at the factory gate. Installed prices add distributor margin, labour, ductwork and permits, none of which this series captures. The direction is reliable but the pass-through to a specific quote is not.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index by Industry, series PCU333415333415, monthly through July 2026, via the BLS Public Data API v2.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, series CUUR0000SA0.
The HVAC Brief is an independent trade publication. We do not sell equipment, take manufacturer advertising, or accept payment for placement in our research. Corrections welcome.
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