March U.S. manufacturing technology orders were up 34.8 percent compared to February, and up 3.3 percent compared to March 2016 according to The Association for Manufacturing Technology. Orders for March 2017 totaled $407.5 million, up from $302.2 million in February. Year-to-date orders total $961.1 million, down 1.4 percent from the same point in 2016.

“An increase for the month was expected, since it marked the end of the fiscal year for many companies, but it’s encouraging to see the last two months outpacing their 2016 levels – the possible start of an upward market trend,” said AMT president Douglas K. Woods. “When manufacturers make investments to boost their capacity and productivity, it’s a good sign for a strengthening manufacturing economy.”