PT/MC distributors reports increased sales in January

U.S. distributors' sales of power transmission/motion control products rose 14.7 percent in January as compared to sales for January 2004; sales increased 5.3 percent over the previous month, according to the latest report by the Power Transmission Distributors Association.

Days sales in accounts receivables dropped 3.5 percent as compared to December 2004 and decreased 1.3 percent as compared to the same month last year. Annualized sales to inventory ratio in January was 8.4, compared to 7.3 in 2004. For January, the confidence level of U.S. distributors fell to 6.5 on a 10-point scale.

Canadian distributors' year-to-date sales of PT/MC products grew 14.5 percent as compared to sales for January 2004 and sales increased 1.5 percent over the previous month.

Days sales in accounts receivables decreased 5.7 percent over December 2004 and fell 7.5 percent as compared to the same month last year. Annualized sales to inventory ratio in January was 7.5, compared to 6.9 in 2004.

For January, the confidence level of Canadian distributors rose to 6.3 on a 10-point scale.

Manufacturer Data for U.S. & Canada
In January, U.S. manufacturers' sales of PT/MC products grew 20.3 percent as compared to sales for January 2004 but sales decreased 2.2 percent over the previous month. As compared to December, sales of positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products and shaft couplings increased. Sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, mechanical drive systems and other PT products, and clutches and brakes decreased.

Year-to-date orders of PT/MC products from U.S. manufacturers rose 21.9 percent as compared to 2004. January orders increased 1.9 percent over December. Annualized sales to inventory ratio in January was 9.7, compared to 8.1 in 2004.

For January, the confidence level of U.S. manufacturers rose to 5.8 on a 10-point scale

Canadian manufacturers' sales of PT/MC products increased 5.1 percent as compared to sales for January 2004 and sales were up 8.1 percent compared to December. As compared to December, sales of unmounted bearings, gear products, and mechanical drives and other PT products increased. Sales of mounted bearings, variable speed drives, clutches and brakes, and shaft couplings decreased.

For January, the confidence level of Canadian manufacturers rose to 5.7 on a 10-point scale.

The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the Power Transmission Distributors Association, www.ptda.org.