U.S. distributors’overall sales of PT/MC products fell 1.1 percent in July 2008 compared to June 2008. When matched up against sales in the same month last year, sales in July 2008 were up 10.2 percent. Accounts receivable collection days increased 2.6 percent since June 2008. The confidence index of U.S. distributors for July dropped 0.2 points to 5.4 (on a 10-point scale).
 
Canadian distributors were the only category reporting a gain in sales in July 2008, posting a 2.0 increase over June 2008. Sales over the same period last year were up 6.4 percent. Accounts receivable collection days dropped dramatically, by 19.3 percent compared to June 2008. In July 2008, the confidence level of Canadian distributors was held constant for the sixth consecutive month at 5.7 (on a 10-point scale).
 
U.S. manufacturers’sales dropped 3.9 percent in July 2008 when compared to June 2008. Sales in July 2008 climbed 14.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Orders in July 2008 were down 2.7 percent over June 2008. The confidence level of U.S. manufacturers rose 0.1 points to 5.4 (on a 10-point scale).
 
Canadian manufacturer’s sales decreased 3.5 percent in July 2008 compared to June 2008. Sales were down 0.9 percent when compared to the same period last year. The confidence level of Canadian manufacturers increased 0.1 to 5.0 (on a 10-point scale) from June to July 2008.
 
Product-by-product sales between June 2008 and July 2008 reflect the overall decline in sales experienced by U.S. and Canadian manufacturers. Only three of nine product categories for U.S. manufacturers—shaft couplings, variable speed drives and gear products—posted increases in sales. For Canadian manufacturers, four product categories posted double-digit gains—mounted bearings, clutches &brakes, shaft couplings and gear products.
  
The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the Power Transmission Distributors Association. The full report includes month-to-month and year-to-year changes for the current and the previous year in sales, inventory and accounts receivables for U.S. and Canadian distributors as well as a general confidence index. U.S. and Canadian manufacturer data includes a confidence index as well as sales and order trends for mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products, clutches and brakes, shaft couplings and mechanical drive systems and other PT products.
 
Order monthly data online at www.ptda.org/store. PTDA members receive this data free.