Manufacturing technology consumption up 58.9 percent in 2010

July U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $266.08 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 USMTC program, was up 10.1 percent from June and up 72.6 percent from the total of $154.13 million reported for July 2009. With a year-to-date total of $1,473.79 million, 2010 is up 58.9 percent compared with 2009.

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

"We are pleased that July sales have exceeded expectations and that we're not seeing the normal summer doldrums for machine tool purchases," said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. "IMTS 2010, opening today (Sept. 13) in Chicago, will be a key indicator of the ongoing strength of the manufacturing recovery that we have seen gaining momentum since January."

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 — At $52.54 million, July manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region was up 2.7 percent from June's $51.15 million and up 139.4 percent when compared with last July. The $262.84 million year-to-date total was 45.9 percent more than the 2009 total at the same time.

Southern Region — With a total of $26.37 million, July Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption was down 23.6 percent when compared with June's $34.50 million but up 20.7 percent when compared with July a year ago. At $215.35 million, 2010 year-to-date was 65.9 percent higher than the comparable figure a year ago.

Midwest Region — Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in July stood at $95.07 million, 30.3 percent higher than the $72.96 million total for June and 132.7 percent higher than the July 2009 total. With a year-to-date total of $430.34 million, 2010 was up 64.1 percent when compared with 2009 at the same time.

Central Region — At $62.72 million, Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in July rose 9.0 percent when compared with June's $57.54 million and was 22.9 percent higher than last July's total. The year-to-date total of $392.34 million was 71.5 percent more than the comparable figure for 2009.

Western Region — July manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region totaled $29.37 million, up 14.8 percent when compared with the $25.58 million total for June and up 59.1 percent when compared with July a year ago. The $172.93 million 2010 year-to-date total was 36.6 percent higher than the total for the same period last year.