First Quarter 2006 Manufacturing Technology Consumption up 22.2%

March U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $351.65 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 USMTC program, was up 27.8% from February and up 28.1% from the total of $274.57 million reported for March 2005. With a year-to-date total of $846.09 million, 2006 was up 22.2% 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.

"U.S. manufacturing companies continue to invest in new machine tool technology to further improve their manufacturing productivity to keep pace with economic growth," said John J. Healy, AMTDA President. "The Western and Central regions of the U.S. showed particularly strong growth spurred by aerospace, defense, medical and energy manufacturing activity, while parts of the Midwest continue to experience the struggles of the automotive industry."

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 - Manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region in March totaled $54.45 million, up 32.0% from February's $41.26 million and up 47.3% when compared with March 2005. At $121.76 million, the year-to-date total was 26.1% higher than the comparable figure a year ago.

Southern Region - March manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region stood at $49.97 million, 24.5% higher than February's $40.12 million but down 21.0% when compared with March 2005. With a year-to-date total of $126.67 million, 2006 was running 2.4% behind 2005 at the same time.

Midwestern Region - At $103.85 million, March Midwestern Region manufacturing technology consumption was 13.4% more than February's $91.60 million, and 16.8% higher than the March 2005 total. The year-to-date total of $262.64 million was 7.0% higher than last year's comparable figure.

Central Region - Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in March totaled $88.30 million, up 34.5% from February's $65.64 million, and 73.8% higher than the total for March 2005. Year-to-date 2006 consumption totaled $206.94 million, a 52.5% improvement over 2005.

Western Region - Totaling $55.08 million, March manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region was 51.2% higher than February's $36.43 million, and up 58.9% when compared with last March. At $128.09 million, 2006 year-to-date was up 50.8% compared with 2005 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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