Machine Tool Consumption Improves in July

July U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $149.51 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association, and AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 9.2% from June but down 55.3% from the total of $334.14 million reported for July 2008. With a year-to-date total of $910.42 million, 2009 is down 68.3% 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 pleased to see a third consecutive monthly increase in machine tool sales which indicates that we appear to be past the bottom," said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. "However, we are well aware that the number of units is still far less than half of what it was a year ago. We are hoping the recent uptick will pave the way to a more solid recovery in the fourth quarter and into 2010."

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
Northeast Region manufacturing technology consumption in July stood at $19.61 million, down 26.8% when compared with June's $26.78 million and down 61.4% when compared with July 2008. With a year-to-date total of $174.39 million, 2009 is down 57.3% when compared with 2008 at the same time.

Southern Region
July manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region totaled $21.82 million, 13.5% less than the $25.23 million tally for June and off 49.8% when compared with July a year ago. The $128.67 million year-to-date total is down 71.7% when compared with the same period in 2008.

Midwest Region
Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in July rose to $39.35 million, 9.4% higher than June's $35.96 million, but 57.6% lower than the total for July 2008. At $255.36 million, 2009 year-to-date is off 73.3% when compared with last year at the same time.

Central Region
At $50.87 million, July manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was 76.4% more than June's $28.83 million but 53.5% less than the total for July a year ago. With a year-to-date total of $227.04 million, 2009 is off 68.0% when compared with 2008 at the same time.

Western Region
Totaling $17.87 million, July manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region was down 11.4% from the $20.16 million total for June and down 52.4% when compared with July 2008. The $124.95 million year-to-date total is 63.6% less than the comparable figure for 2008.