June Machine Tool Consumption Level with May

June U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $360.43 million, according to the Association For Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was level with May, and up 2% from the total of $353.40 million reported for June 2007. With a year-to-date total of $2,318.34 million, 2008 is up 15.3% compared with 2007.

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

“I think everyone is excited that the underpinning for productivity in our economic growth – manufacturing technology equipment – continues to grow at double-digit rates through the second quarter,” said John B. Byrd III, AMT president.

The U.S. 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 U.S.

Northeast Region
June manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region totaled $53.08 million, slightly higher than May’s $52.68 million, but down 24.0% when compared with the total for June a year ago. The $328.34 million year-to-date total is off 3.5% when compared with 2007 at the same time.

Southern Region
At $61.34 million, June manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region was up 35.1% when compared with May’s $45.41 million and up 23.6% when compared with June a year ago. With a year-to-date total of $378.30 million, 2008 is 43.6% ahead of the comparable figure for 2007.

Midwestern Region
June manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwestern Region stood at $121.06 million, 2.5% less than May’s $124.17 million, but up 21.0% when compared with June 2007. The $787.98 million year-to-date total is 39.5% higher than the 2007 total at the same time.

Central Region
With a June total of $76.55 million, Central Region manufacturing technology consumption was 21% less than May’s $96.89 million and off 5.5% from the total for last June. The $537.22 million year-to-date total is down 0.8% when compared with 2007 at the same time.

Western Region
Western Region manufacturing technology consumption rose to $48.39 million in June, up 17.6% when compared with May’s $41.15 million, but off 8.6% from the June 2007 total. At $286.50 million, the 2008 year-to-date total is 4.7% less than the comparable figure for 2007.