Machine Tool Consumption Rises Again in June

June U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $269.00 million, up 6.3% from May and up 0.9% from the total of $266.58 million reported for June 2004, according to the Association for Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. With a year-to-date total of $1,478.55 million, 2005 was up 14.8% compared with 2004.

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

"The rebound of U.S. manufacturing, seen in many positive indicators over the past few weeks, is reflected also in the continued gains this year for business investment in advanced manufacturing technology," said John B. Byrd III, AMT president. "This modern equipment is exactly what is needed to compete in our ever more global economy."

The United States Machine Tool 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 machine tool consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. machine tool consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic break-downs of the United States.

Northeast Region

Machine tool consumption in the Northeast Region in June totaled $38.08 million, up 3.2% compared with May's $36.89 million, but 2.3% lower than the total for June 2004. With a year-to-date total of $216.48 million, machine tool consumption was 14.6% higher than at the same time a year ago.

Southern Region

Totaling $33.01 million, Southern Region machine tool consumption in June was down 13.2% from May's $38.05 million and down 30.0% when compared with June a year ago. The year-to-date total of $243.48 million was 28.0% higher than the comparable figure for 2004.

Midwestern Region

Midwestern Region machine tool consumption in June stood at $93.65 million, roughly level with May's $94.31 million but 14.7% lower than the total for last June. At $523.58 million, the 2005 year-to-date total was down 1.1% compared with 2004 at the same time.

Central Region

June machine tool consumption in the Central Region totaled $59.86 million, up 17.9% from May's $50.79 million and 55.8% higher than the total for June a year ago. Compared with 2004 at the same time, the year-to-date total of $295.05 million was up 32.1%.

Western Region

At $44.39 million, June Western Region machine tool consumption was up 34.5% compared with May's $33.02 million and 37.8% higher than the total for June 2004. The year-to-date total of $199.95 million was up 28.7% compared with the comparable figure for 2004.