Machine Tool Consumption Declines in August

August U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $129.16 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 down 14.8% from July and down 63.3% from the total of $351.66 million reported for August 2008. With a year-to-date total of $1,041.57 million, 2009 is down 67.7% 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.

"We are cautiously optimistic that manufacturing has hit bottom and will begin to move forward," said Douglas K. Woods, AMT president. "But it's going to take time before technology providers feel the impact in their backlogs."

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption 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
At $24.25 million, August manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region was up 12.3% compared with July's $21.60 million, but down 52.1% when compared with August a year ago. The year-to-date total of $200.63 million is 56.3% less than the 2008 total at the same time.

Southern Region
Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption in August rose to $23.59 million, 8.1% higher than July's $21.82 million but down 32.5% when compared with August 2008. With a year-to-date total of $152.26 million, 2009 is down 68.9% when compared with 2008 at the same time.

Midwest Region
August manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest Region totaled $33.33 million, 15.3% less than the $39.35 million tally for July and off 75.4% when compared with August a year ago. The $288.70 million year-to-date total is down 73.5% when compared with the same period in 2008.

Central Region
With a total of $30.58 million, Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in August was down 39.9% from July's $50.87 million, and 65.2% below the August 2008 total. At $257.62 million, 2009 year-to-date is off 67.7% when compared with last year at the same time.

Western Region
At $17.41 million, August manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region was 2.6% less than July's $17.87 million and 59.2% less than the total for August a year ago. The $142.36 million year-to-date total is 63.1% below the 2008 total at the same time.