Orders down against July data, but increased sharply over previous year reports

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August U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $246.42 million, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 5.7% from July but up 88.0% when compared with the total of $131.06 million reported for August 2009. With a year-to-date total of $1,697.27 million, 2010 is up 62.4% compared with 2009.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

“Despite the normal summer slowdown, the first eight months of 2010 saw an order rate that was up 60% over the same time period in 2009,” said AMT president Douglas K. Woods. “We expect orders to be strong through the remainder of the year due in part to Congress extending the bonus depreciation allowance, which will remain in effect through December.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region

August manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region totaled $39.16 million, down 24.0% when compared with the $51.56 million total for July but up 63.7% when compared with August a year ago. The $298.77 million 2010 year-to-date total was 49.3% higher than the total for the same period last year.

Southern Region

At $30.71 million, August manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region was up 20.3% from July’s $25.52 million and up 32.7% when compared with last August. The $242.10 million year-to-date total was 59.3% more than the 2009 total at the same time.

Midwest Region

With a total of $82.59 million, August Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption was down 12.2% when compared with July’s $94.02 million but up 133.0% when compared with August a year ago. At $509.21 million, 2010 year-to-date was 73.2% higher than the comparable figure a year ago.

Central Region

Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in August stood at $69.13 million, 13.4% higher than the $60.96 million total for July and 120.2% higher than the figure for last August. With a year-to-date total of $450.21 million, 2010 was up 76.4% when compared with 2009 at the same time.

Western Region

Manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region in August stood at $24.84 million, 15.4% less than July’s $29.37 million but 44.7% more than the August 2009 total. The year-to-date total of $196.98 million was 37.1% more than the comparable figure for 2009.