August U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $286.86 million, up 25.8% from July and up 38.1% from the total of $207.69 million reported for August 2004, according to the Association for Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. With a year-to-date total of $1,974.60 million, 2005 was up 16.2% compared with 2004.

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

"Katrina aside, orders were relatively strong except for the South," said John B. Byrd III, AMT President. "It's clear that, in the storm's wake, we will likely experience an increase in manufacturing capacity needs driven by the reconstruction effort in the South."

The United States Machine Tool 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.

U.S. machine tool consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region: Totaling $33.70 million, August machine tool consumption in the Northeast Region was up 36.5% compared with July's $24.70 million, and 4.7% higher than the total for August 2004. With a year-to-date total of $272.73 million, machine tool consumption was 8.0% higher than at the same time a year ago.

Southern Region: Southern Region machine tool consumption in August stood at $43.35 million, down 1.3% from July's $43.94 million, but up 28.6% when compared with last August. The year-to-date total of $329.09 million was 26.1% higher than the comparable figure for 2004.

Midwestern Region: At $88.85 million, Midwestern Region machine tool consumption in August was up 10.6% when compared with July's $80.33 million and 44.1% higher than the total for August a year ago. The $686.15 million year-to-date total was 3.3% higher than the comparable figure for 2004.

Central Region: August machine tool consumption in the Central Region totaled $77.11 million, 60.3% higher than July's $48.10 million and up 56.9% when compared with August 2004. At $418.06 million, the year-to-date total was 34.5% higher than the 2004 total at the same time.

Western Region: August Western Region machine tool consumption totaled $43.85 million, up 41.8% compared with July's $30.92 million and 41.3% higher than the total for August 2004. The year-to-date total of $268.56 million was up 27.4% compared with the 2004 at the same time.