January manufacturing technology consumption off 4.0 percent from 2007

January U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $308.73 million, according to, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA), and The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT) (www.amtonline.org). This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 26.1 percent from December, and down 4.0 percent from the total of $321.50 million reported for January 2007.

“Despite the publicized concerns about the U.S. economy, we anticipate that first quarter machine tool consumption numbers will improve as manufacturers start to implement 2008 capital budgets and use the potential savings available from the new economic stimulus package enacted last month,” Peter Borden, AMTDA president said.

The United States Manufacturing Technology 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 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

With a January total of $52.47 million, Northeast Region manufacturing technology consumption was down 7.5 percent from December’s $56.72 million, and down 5.7 percent when compared with last January’s figure.

Southern Region

Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption stood at $48.53 million in January, 17.2 percent less than December’s $58.61 million, but 47.0 percent higher than the January 2007 total.

Midwestern Region

At $102.28 million, January manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwestern Region was off 36.9 percent when compared with December’s $162.05 million, but up 17.6 percent when compared with January a year ago.

Central Region

Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in January totalled $72.91 million, 13.6 percent less than December’s $84.39 million and 13.2 percent lower than the tally for January a year ago.

Western Region

January manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region stood at $32.54 million, down 41.8 percent when compared with December’s $55.91 million and 47.4 percent less than the comparable figure a year ago.