March Majap Shipments Up 23%.

The article reports on an increase in factory shipments of white goods in the major appliance industry as of April 2006. It was said that the industry experienced some March Madness of its own in relation to soar of shipments. Most of the gains can be attributed to seasonal shipments of room air conditioners and microwave ovens. Laundry, refrigeration, range and dishwasher products showed a 10.1 percent increase year-over-year. By category, cooking led by a surge in microwave oven shipments. Electric range shipments also grew. Gas ranges showed modest gains influenced by a decline in wholesale sales of built-in units. Laundry grew nearly 2.1 million units shipped. Washers and dryers posted the highest growth in shipments in the category. Underperforming its peers was kitchen clean up.