Manufacturing Technology Consumption Rose 16 Percent in November

By DE Editors

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 was up 16 percent from October but down 16.2 percent from the total of $213.50 million reported a year ago. Total consumption through November 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,” says 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.”

Regional indicators are as follows:

In the Northwest region, consumption was up 27.1 percent from October, but off 16.5 percent when compared with November a year ago.
Southern Region consumption was 26.6 percent above October’s, but was 12.6% less than a year ago.
Midwest Region consumption was only 2.2 percent higher than October’s and down but off 31.5 percent when compared with November a year ago.
Consumption in the Central Region was up 39.3 percent over October’s and down just 2.2 percent when compared with November 2008.
Western Region consumption was 14.1 percent less than October’s and down 1.5 percent when compared with the same time last year.

For more information, visit AMTDA and AMT.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.