February Machine Tool Consumption up 25.3%

February U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $269.05 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 25.3% from January and up 14.3% from the total of $235.43 million reported for February 2005. With a year-to-date total of $483.83 million, 2006 was up 11.2% compared with 2005.

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

"February's growth marks the start of a third year of expansion in U.S. machine tool consumption," said John B. Byrd III, AMT President. "That is good news for the industry, and even better news for U.S. manufacturers, as this modern, productive equipment will enable them to be increasingly competitive in the global marketplace."

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 - February machine tool consumption in the Northeast Region rose to $39.65 million, up 60.4% from January's $24.72 million and level with February a year ago. At $64.37 million, the year-to-date total was 8.1% higher than the comparable figure in 2005.

Southern Region - Machine tool consumption in the Southern Region in February totaled $39.45 million, 11.8% higher than January's $35.30 million and 18.9% higher than the total for February 2005. The year-to date total of $74.76 million was 12.3% higher than the 2005 total at the same time.

Midwestern Region - Machine tool consumption for the region in February stood at $97.26 million, up 43.5% when compared with January's $67.76 million and 8.3% higher than the February 2005 total. With a year-to-date total of $165.02 million, 2006 was down 5.0% from 2005.

Central Region - At $64.03 million, Central Region machine tool consumption was up 26.8% in February compared with January's $50.48 million and up 43.8% compared with February a year ago. Year-to-date 2006 consumption totaled $114.51 million, a 34.9% improvement over 2005.

Western Region - Western Region machine tool consumption in February stood at $28.66 million, off 21.5% from January's $36.52 million and level with February a year ago. The year-to-date total of $65.18 million leads the 2005 comparable total by 29.6%.

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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