First -half machine tool consumption up 31.9%

June U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $236.93 million, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 19.5% from May and up 0.9% from the total of $234.79 million reported for June 2003. With a first-half total of $1,249.68 million, 2004 is up 31.9% compared with 2003.

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

"June's machine tool orders capped a strong first half as manufacturers scrambled to get equipment in place before the 50% Expensing Allowance expires on December 31st," said John B. Byrd III, AMT President. "Next month's International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago may be their last shot at ordering machines to beat that deadline, unless Congress acts this fall to assure that the manufacturing recovery continues by extending the provision."

The United States Machine Tool 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 machine tool consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. machine tool consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic break-downs of the United States.

Northeast Region - At $36.60 million, Northeast Region machine tool consumption in June was up 25.8% compared to May's $29.10 million and up 33.5% when compared to June a year ago. The first-half total of $182.89 million is 57.0% higher than the comparable figure for 2003.

Southern Region - The region's machine tool consumption in June totaled $47.41 million, up 91.9% from May's $24.71 million, but 43.3% lower than the total for June 2003. With a first-half total of $189.64 million, 2004 lags 15.9% behind 2003 at the same time.

Midwestern Region - June machine tool consumption in the Midwestern Region totaled $85.80 million, 2.1% higher than May's $84.05 million and 7.7% higher than the total for the previous June. At $500.12 million the first-half consumption total is 36.6% higher than the total at the same time in 2003.

Central Region - Reaching $40.93 million, June machine tool consumption in the Central Region was up 5.5% compared to May's $38.80 million and up 52.9% when compared to June a year ago. The $228.32 million first-half total is 52.5% above the comparable figure for 2003.

Western Region - With a total of $26.18 million, Western Region machine tool consumption in June was up 20.9% compared to the $21.67 million tallied in May and 51.4% higher than last June's total. At $148.71 million, first-half 2004 is running 65.5% ahead of 2003 at the same time.

SOURCE: AMTDA - American Machine Tools Distributors' Association. For further information on the association's activities such as the AMTDA Directory and/or Distributor Opportunities click here.

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