The monthly U.S. Manufacturing Technology Consumption report indicates that sales of machine tools and related technologies totaled $129.16 million during August, a decline of -14.8% from the July figure and -63.3% from August 2008.
Year-to-date U.S. manufacturing technology sales now total $1,041.57 million, indicating that 2009 is down -67.7% versus the first eight months of 2008.
The monthly report is compiled by AMT – the Association For Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Assn. The report is based on actual data reported by participating companies.
In recent issues of the USMTC report, sales of U.S. machine tools and components had risen for three consecutive months prior to August.
“We are cautiously optimistic that manufacturing has hit bottom and will begin to move forward,” said Douglas K. Woods, AMT President. “But it’s going to take time before technology providers feel the impact in their backlogs.”
In the USMTC’s regional reports, August manufacturing technology consumption rose 12.3% to $24.25 million in the Northeast, compared with $21.60 million in July, but down -52.1% hen compared to August 2008. Northeastern year-to-date sales now total $200.63 million, -56.3% off the 2008 eight-month total.
In the South, manufacturing technology consumption is up 8.1% against July, to $23.59 million, but it is -32.5% off the pace of August 2008. Through the first eight months of 2009, sales are down -68.9% versus the August 2008 total.
August manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest totaled $33.33 million, -15.3% off the July total and -75.4% compared with August 2009. Midwestern sales total $288.70 million through August, with -73.5% off the 2008 pace.
Machine tool sales in Central region were down -39.9% from July to August 2009, to $30.58 million, but -65.2% off the August 2008 total. Regional sales total $257.62 million, -67.7% off the 2008 eight-month volume.
In the Western state, August manufacturing technology consumption totaled $17.41 million, -2.6% below the July amount and -59.2% less the total August 2008 total. Regional, year-to-date sales amount to $142.36 million, -63.1% off the eight-month total for 2008.
