Machine Tool Consumption Up 5.3% YTD

July U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $271.37 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 22.0% from June, and down 9.5% from the total of $300.01 million reported for July 2006. With a year-to-date total of $2,254.79 million, 2007 was up 5.3% compared with 2006.
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These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.
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Typically July and August produce fewer orders relative to other months during the year as a result of the reduction of hours worked and partial plant closings," said John B. Byrd III, AMT president.  ; However, the strength observed in the aerospace and job shop industries'demand for manufacturing technology will continue to trend upwards.
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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.  ;
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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.
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U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the U.S.
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Northeast Region
Manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region in July stood at $35.21 million, down 48.3%from June's $68.05 million and 17.9% less than the July 2006 total. At $366.72 million, the 2007 year-to-date total was 15.2% higher than the comparable fi gure for 2006.


Southern Region
At $43.70 million, Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption in July was down 9.2% when compared with June's $48.10 million, but 19.7% higher than the July 2006 total. Th e $303.03 million year-to-date total was 4.2% higher than the 2006 total at the same time.

Midwestern Region
Midwestern Region manufacturing technology consumption in July totaled $86.97 million, down 12.5% from June's $99.40 million and down 25.6% when compared with last July. The year-to-date total of $646.03 million was 4.3% less than the comparable figure in 2006.

Central Region
At $69.96 million, Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in July was 9.7% less than June's $77.47 million, and down 0.2% when compared with July a year ago. Compared with 2006 at the same time, the year-to-date total of $601.66 million was up 11.8%.
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Western Region   ;
July manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region totaled $35.53 million, 35.4% less than June's $55.01 million, but up 5.5% when compared with July 2006. The year-to-date total of $337.35 million, puts 2007 ahead of 2006 at the same time by 6.1%.