January manufacturing technology consumption 188 percent higher than year ago

January U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $371.41 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) program, was down 16.3 percent from December, but up 188.3 percent when compared with the total of $128.82 million reported for January 2010.

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

"Despite the slight decline in orders from December, the January USMTC report confirms that U.S. manufacturers are reinvesting vigorously to improve productivity," said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. "As equipment deliveries grow longer and commodity prices increase, factories may continue to make these investments before inflation and other factors raise prices further."

The United States Manufacturing Technology 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. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

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

Northeast Region — Manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region in January stood at $49.21 million, down 25.6 percent from December's $66.13 million but up 92.4 percent when compared with the January 2010 total.

Southern Region — Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption totaled $53.90 million in January, up 18.7 percent when compared with December's $45.42 million and up 96.5% when compared with the total for January 2010.

Midwest Region — At $124.07 million, January manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest Region was 24.5 percent lower than December's $164.32 million but up 224.6 percent when compared with last January.

Central Region — January manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region totaled $99.66 million, down 13.1 percent from December's $114.68 million but 283.3 percent higher than the January 2010 total.

Western Region — Western Region manufacturing technology consumption in January stood at $44.58 million, 16.4 percent lower than December's $53.30 million but 284.1% higher than the tally for the previous January.