September U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $153.55 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association and the Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 17.8% from August but down 69.3% from the total of $500.57 million reported for September 2008. 

With a year-to-date total of $1,199.93 million, 2009 is down 67.8% 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.

“The slight improvement in September orders indicates that we are in synch with the increases seen in the other monthly indicators such as durable goods sales, the PMI, and steel production,” said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. “The factory capacity utilization number still remains in the 65-70% range, however, and until this number returns to 75-80%, our rate of growth will be slow and sporadic.”

 

Read MDM's interview with AMT's president, Doug Woods on the impact of automaker bankruptcies.

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.

Northeast Region
With a total of $36.57 million, Northeast Region manufacturing technology consumption in September was 50.8% higher than August’s $24.25 million but down 54.1% when compared with September a year ago. The year-to-date total of $237.20 million was 56.0% less than the comparable figure in 2008.

Southern Region
At $13.50 million, September manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region was down 42.8% compared with August’s $23.61 million and down 83.7% when compared with September a year ago. The $165.84 million year-to-date total was 71.0% less than the 2008 total at the same time.

Midwest Region
Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in September rose to $45.51 million, 33.8% higher than August’s $34.01 million but down 69.3% when compared with September 2008. With a year-to-date total of $334.88 million, 2009 was down 73.0% when compared with 2008 at the same time.

Central Region
September manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region totaled $33.98 million, 8.5% more than the $31.33 million tally for August but off 75.7% when compared with September a year ago. The $293.57 million year-to-date total was down 68.7% when compared with the same period in 2008.

Western Region
Totaling $23.99 million, Western Region manufacturing technology consumption in September was up 39.7% from August’s $17.17 million but 51.8% below the September 2008 total. At $168.43 million, 2009 year-to-date was off 61.4% when compared with last year at the same time.