October U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $250 million, according to the latest Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR) published by the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).

That total increased 12.7% from September and 14.7% year-over-year. The report showed that October’s year-to-date shipments trended positively for the first time this year and totaled $2.13 billion, up 0.6% from the same point in 2024.

“The latest three-month trend is looking more promising, but our industry is still flat to down over the past year,” said Mike Stokey, president of USCTI. “I believe our industry is cautiously optimistic that 2026 will be slightly better than 2025. Obviously, that could change quickly based on any changes to economic policies.”

“The very strong October 2025 results are likely the result of several one-time factors driving demand rather than a new baseline,” added Costikyan Jarvis, President of Jarvis Cutting Tools. “However, the overall picture continues to show a slow rise in industrial output, with the promise of more growth in 2026. The year-to-date 2025 data versus 2024 data show a strengthening trend consistent with other economic indicators. This suggests that industrial manufacturing is looking at a much better 2026 than 2025.”

The Cutting Tool Market Report is jointly compiled by AMT and USCTI, two trade associations representing the development, production and distribution of cutting tool technology and products. It provides a monthly statement on U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of the primary consumable in the manufacturing process — the cutting tool. Analysis of cutting tool consumption is a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity, as it is a true measure of actual production levels.

The graph below includes the 12-month moving average for the durable goods shipments and cutting tool orders. These values are calculated by taking the average of the most recent 12 months and plotting them over time. Click on the chart for a larger version.