November PTDA Market Outlook Report

In November, U.S. distributors' year-to-date sales of PT/MC products decreased 1.3 percent as compared to sales for January through November in 2001 and sales were down 8.3 percent over the previous month but increased 1.6 percent as compared to November 2001, according to The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) November trend data for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) products.

Days sales in accounts receivables grew 0.5 percent over October 2002 and declined 1.6 percent as compared to the same month last year. Annualized inventory turnover in November was 3.8 turns, compared to 3.8 turns in 2001. For November, the confidence level of U.S. distributors rose to 5.1 on a 10-point scale.

Canadian distributors' year-to-date sales of PT/MC products fell 0.8 percent as compared to sales for January through November in 2001. Sales remained flat over the previous month and went up 9.0 percent as compared to November 2001.

Days sales in accounts receivables gained 3.4 percent over October 2002 and declined 2.1 percent as compared to the same month last year. Annualized inventory turnover in November was 6.1 turns, compared to 6.0 turns in 2001. For November, the confidence level of Canadian distributors increased to 5.2 on a 10-point scale.

In November, U.S. manufacturers' year-to-date sales of PT/MC products dropped 2.8 percent as compared to sales for January through November in 2001. Sales shrunk 2.3 percent over the previous month and decreased 0.9 percent as compared to November 2001. As compared to October, sales of unmounted bearings, positioning systems/linear motion products and shaft couplings increased. Sales of mounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, gear products, mechanical drives systems and other PT products, and clutches and brakes decreased.

Year-to-date orders of PT/MC products from U.S. manufacturers declined 1.7 percent as compared to 2001. November orders were down 3.9 percent over October and fell 3.5 percent as compared to November 2001. Annualized inventory turnover in November was 6.7 turns, compared to 5.9 turns in 2001. For November, the confidence level of U.S. manufacturers held constant at 5.0 on a 10-point scale.

Canadian manufacturers' year-to-date sales of PT/MC products rose 2.3 percent as compared to sales for January through November in 2001.

Sales dropped 2.9 percent over the previous month but gained 8.9 percent as compared to November 2001. As compared to October, sales of variable speed drives. clutches and brakes, and shaft couplings were up. Sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, gear products, and mechanical drive systems and other PT products went down. For November, the confidence level of Canadian manufacturers held fell to a 4.7 on a 10-point scale.

The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the Power Transmission Distributors Association. The full report includes month-to-month and year-to-year changes in sales, inventory and accounts receivables data for U.S. and Canadian distributors, as well as a general confidence index. U.S. and Canadian manufacturer data includes a confidence index, as well as trends for mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products, mechanical drive systems and other PT products, clutches and brakes and shaft couplings.

The report is available by annual subscription via e-mail or mail by contacting 1.312.876.9461 or may be ordered online at www.ptda.org/catalog; PTDA members may download the report at no charge at the PTDA web site, at www.ptda.org.