Machine tool consumption down 33% through Q3

September U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $191.26 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 9.1% from August and down 52.3% from the total of $400.76 million reported for September 2000. With a year-to-date total of $2,076.24 million, 2001 is down 33.2% compared to the same period in 2000.


These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program. 'Our economy has lost half a million jobs in the past six months and spending on new productive manufacturing technology is down 33% through September,' said Don F. Carlson, AMT president. 'Reviving our crumbling economy depends on recreating these half a million incomes and improving the capital investment environment. We need leadership in Washington to enact a revitalization package that not only creates jobs but provides for long-term, sustained productivity growth as well.'


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.


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



Northeast Region


September machine tool consumption in the Northeast Region rose to $33.96 million, 36.1% ahead of August's $24.95 million, but down 51.8% compared to September 2000. Year-to-date orders totaled $356.82 million, off 30.9% compared to 2000 at the same time.


Southern Region


Totaling $23.38 million, Southern Region machine tool consumption in September was off 51.1% compared to August's $47.79 million, and off 49.9% compared to September a year ago. At $304.38 million, year-to-date orders were down 33.0% from the comparable period a year ago.



Midwestern Region


At $80.65 million, September machine tool consumption in the Midwestern Region was up 23.1% compared to the $65.52 million tallied in August, but 46.5% behind the September 2000 total. Year-to-date orders of $741.84 million fell 33.6% below the comparable figure for 2000.



Central Region


Central Region machine tool consumption in September totaled $33.78 million, down 30.6% compared to the August total of $48.66 million, and down 55.6% when compared to September 2000. With a year-to-date total of $401.82 million, 2001 lags 24.0% behind 2000 at the same time.



Western Region


Western Region machine tool consumption in September totaled $19.48 million, down 16.8% compared to the $23.42 million total for August, and off 65.7% compared to last September. At $271.37 million, 2001 year-to-date consumption fell 44.5% below 2000 at the same time.