November manufacturing technology consumption up 16 percent

November U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $178.83 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 up 16.0 percent from October but down 16.2 percent from the total of $213.50 million reported for November 2008. With a year-to-date total of $1,552.53 million, 2009 is down 63.4 percent compared with 2008.

"The three month upward trend in manufacturing technology order values is great news for the industry and the country, despite unit levels stubbornly hovering around 1,000," said Peter Borden, AMTDA President. "As we turn the calendar and our attention to 2010, we're hopeful that Washington will pass legislation allowing American manufacturing to rebuild not only its employment levels and backlogs, but also to improve our balance of trade and our country's economy."

November manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region totaled $33.32 million, up 27.1 percent when compared with the $26.21 million total for October but off 16.5 percent when compared with November a year ago. The $301.72 million year-to-date total was 51.7 percent less than the total for the same period in 2008.

Totaling $27.48 million, Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption in November rose 26.6 percent above October's $21.71 million but was 12.6 percent less than the total for November 2008. At $215.96 million, 2009 year-to-date was off 66.1 percent when compared with last year at the same time.

With a total of $49.35 million, Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in November was 2.2 percent higher than October's $48.27 million but off 31.5 percent when compared with November a year ago. The year-to-date total of $444.35 million was 68.5 percent less than the comparable figure in 2008.

At $49.26 million, November manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was up 39.3 percent from October's $35.36 million but down 2.2 percent when compared with November a year ago. The $379.36 million year-to-date total was 64.6 percent less than the 2008 total at the same time.

Western Region manufacturing technology consumption in November stood at $19.43 million, 14.1 percent less than October's $22.62 million and down 1.5 percent when compared with November 2008. With a year-to-date total of $211.13 million, 2009 was down 57.2 percent when compared with 2008 at the same time.