June Machine Tool Consumption Up 22% from May

June U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $135.85 million, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total was up 22.0% from May but down 69.2% from the total of $440.55 million reported for June 2008. With a year-to-date total of $759.03 million, 2009 is down 70.1% compared with 2008.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

Despite the lack of government programs designed to specifically stimulate smaller manufacturers, the bottom to this business cycle may be in sight," according to Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT. "With total manufacturing technology orders showing positive growth for the second month in a row, we are hopeful that the end is near to the worst single year decline in our industry's history."

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. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region
June manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region totaled $26.78 million, 6.0% less than the $28.48 million tally for May and off 56.3% when compared with June a year ago. The $154.78 million year-to-date total is down 56.7% when compared with the same period in 2008.

Southern Region
Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption in June rose to $25.16 million, 85.6% higher than May's $13.56 million, but 67.9% lower than the total for June 2008. At $106.78 million, 2009 year-to-date is off 74.1% when compared with last year at the same time.

Midwest Region
With a $36.07 million total, June manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest Region was up 29.0% when compared with the $27.96 million total for May, but down 74.7% when compared with June 2008. The year-to-date total of $216.13 million represents a 74.9% drop from the comparable figure for 2008.

Central Region
Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in June rose to $28.70 million, up 39.3% when compared with May's $20.60 million but 72.8% less than the June 2008 total. With a year-to-date total of $175.60 million, 2009 is down 70.7% when compared with 2008 at the same time.

Western Region
At $19.13 million, June manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region was down 7.9% from the $20.77 million total for May and down 63.8% when compared with June 2008. The $105.74 million year-to-date total is 65.5% less than the comparable figure for 2008.