The Power Transmission Distributors Association released the July trend data for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control products.

In July, U.S. distributors’ year-to-date sales of PT/MC products rose 10.8 percent as compared to sales for January through July 2005. Sales dropped 12.8 percent over the previous month and were up 9.6 percent as compared to July 2005.

Days sales in accounts receivables climbed 11.7 percent as compared to June 2006 and decreased 0.3 percent as compared to the same month last year.  Annualized sales to inventory ratio in July was 8.6, compared to 8.3 in 2005.

For July, the confidence level of U.S. distributors fell to 6.3 from 7.7 in June on a 10-point scale.

Canadian distributors’ year-to-date sales of PT/MC products grew 9.5 percent as compared to sales for January through July 2005. Sales dropped 15.2 percent over the previous month and rose 7.0 percent as compared to July 2005. 

Days sales in accounts receivables climbed 14.7 percent from June 2006 and gained 2.1 percent as compared to the same month last year. Annualized sales to inventory ratio in July held constant at 6.9 as compared to July 2005.

For July, the confidence level of Canadian distributors fell to 6.0 from 7.5 on a 10-point scale.

In July, U.S. manufacturers’ year-to-date sales of PT/MC products were up 9.2 percent as compared to sales for January through July 2005. Sales were down 12.3 percent over the previous month and rose 13.4 percent as compared to July 2005. As compared to June, sales of standard industrial motors increased.  Sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, variable speed drives, positioning system/linear motion products, gear products, mechanical drive systems and other PT products, clutches and brakes, and shaft couplings decreased. 

Year-to-date orders of PT/MC products from U.S. manufacturers grew 7.6 percent as compared to the same period in 2005. July orders fell 14.7 percent from June, and were down 0.6 percent as compared to July 2005. Annualized sales to inventory ratio in July was 8.7, compared to 8.1 in 2005.

For July, the confidence level of U.S. manufacturers held steady at 5.6 on a 10-point scale.

Canadian manufacturers’ year-to-date sales of PT/MC products gained 2.0 percent as compared to sales for January through July in 2005. Sales declined 11.5 percent over the previous month and decreased 0.6 percent as compared to July 2005. As compared to June, sales of clutches and brakes, and shaft couplings increased.  Sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, positioning system/linear motion products, gear products, and mechanical drive systems and other PT products decreased. 

Annualized sales to inventory ratio in July was 6.6, compared to 7.7 in 2005.

For July, the confidence level of Canadian manufacturers rose to 5.4 from 5.2 in June on a 10-point scale.

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 in sales, inventory and accounts receivables data 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, mechanical drive systems and other PT products, clutches and breaks, and shaft couplings.