Manufacturing technology takes big dip in new year.(INDUSTRY NEWS)

January U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $94.95 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association--AMTDA--and The Association For Manufacturing Technology--AMT. The total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption--USMTC--program, was down 59.2 percent from December and down 71.9 percent from the total of $338 million reported for January 2008.

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

"There's no way or reason to try to sugar coat these numbers--they are the lowest since the program began in 1996," Peter Borden, AMTDA president, said. "While a few small pockets of activity have continued, most everyone will be on the sidelines until there is some confidence and positive direction for the rest of the economy. No one knows at this point where the bottom is and if a recovery will occur this year. The optimism that we had hoped would follow the inauguration thus far has not materialized."

The 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 is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region

Manufacturing technology consumption in January stood at $16.28 million, 68.6 percent less than the $51.91 million total for December and down 70.9 percent when compared with last January.

Southern Region

January manufacturing technology consumption totaled $13.63 million, down 62.2 percent when compared with December's $36.04 million, and 73.3 percent less than the total for January a year ago.

Midwest Region

At $27.40 million, January manufacturing technology consumption was down 49.7 percent from the $54.46 million tallied in December and 75.9 percent below the January 2008 total.

Central Region

Manufacturing technology consumption in January totaled $22.35 million, 60.3 percent lower than December's $56.28 million and 73.9 percent less than the total for January a year ago.

Western Region

January manufacturing technology consumption totaled $15.29 million, 54.9 percent less than the $33.9 million total for December and down 51.9 percent when compared with last January.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates