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    Manufacturing technology orders slow in July, continue positive for the year

    Oct. 1, 2012
    US manufacturing technology orders in July 2012 totaled $449.69 million according to AMT The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as

    US manufacturing technology orders in July 2012 totaled $449.69 million according to AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

    This total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) program, was down 2.3% from June and down 10.5% compared with the total of $502.33 million reported for July 2011. With a year-to-date total of $3,132.23 million, 2012 is up 5.4% compared with 2011.

    The USMTO report, compiled by the trade association representing production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national US orders data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology orders provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

    US manufacturing technology orders are also reported for five geographic regions:

    • Northeast — July manufacturing technology orders totaled $64.01 million, 1.2% more than June's $63.23 million and up 9.2% compared with the July 2011 figure. At $441.46 million, the 2012 year-to-date total was 1.3% more than the comparable figure for 2011.

    • Southern — Manufacturing technology orders in July stood at $63.87 million, 27.1% less than June's $87.59 million and down 20.1% versus July 2011. At $450.89 million year-to-date, the 2012 total is up 12.0% compared with 2011 at the same time.

    • Midwest — Manufacturing technology orders in July totaled $138.64 million, up 2.7% from June's $135.06 million but down 7.8% from the July 2011 figure. The year-to-date total of $1,006.66 million is 1.1% more than the comparable figure for 2011.

    • Central — Manufacturing technology orders totaled $113.43 million in July, down 16.1% from the $135.12 million total for June but up 6.8% versus the total for July 2011. At $906.26 million, 2012 year-to-date is up 15.8% compared with 2011 at the same time.

    • Western — At $69.74 million, July manufacturing technology orders were up 77.4% from the $39.31 million total for June but down 34.9% compared with July 2011. With a year-to-date total of $326.97 million, 2012 is down 7.9% from 2011 at the same time.