Machine tool consumption up in Sept

September U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $177.32 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 up 45.1% from August but down 32.7% from the total of $263.67 million reported for September 2001. With a year-to-date total of $1,524.71 million, 2002 is down 29.4% compared to the same period in 2001.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.
'Although up 45% from August, September's activity signals a delay in an investment-led recovery in this market,' said Don F. Carlson, AMT president. 'America's industrial base has been severely damaged, yet it is vital to our country's economic well-being. We must work with our political leadership to put in place the policies to reinvigorate this country's manufacturers.'

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

At $30.21 million, September machine tool consumption in the Northeast Region was up 90.8% when compared to August's $15.83 million, but down 12.1% compared to September 2001. Year-to-date consumption totaled $226.60 million, off 36.7% from the comparable figure for 2001.

Southern Region

September machine tool consumption in the Southern Region rose to $26.06 million, up 56.1% from August's $16.70 million and up 7.3% when compared to September a year ago. With a year-to-date total of $257.56 million, machine tool consumption was down 16.0% compared to 2001 at the same time.

Midwestern Region

Midwestern Region machine tool consumption in September totaled $56.62 million, up 16.3% from August's $48.69 million, but off 61.0% when compared to last September. At $551.63 million, year-to-date 2002 was off 32.3% from the comparable figure a year ago.

Central Region

Central Region machine tool consumption rose 91.4%, going from $25.78 million in August to $49.33 million in September, and was up 40.5% when compared to the total for September a year ago. With year-to-date consumption standing at $305.19 million, 2002 was off 24.7% when compared to the same time a year ago.

Western Region

With a September total of $15.11 million, Western Region machine tool consumption was off slightly from the $15.20 million for the previous month, and off 39.3% from September a year ago. At $183.73 million, year-to-date 2002 was down 33.5% from the comparable figure a year ago.