Manufacturing Technology Orders Level Off for April

The business of manufacturing was down 26.6 percent from March and down 12.6 percent when compared with the total of $426.44 million reported for April 2012.

April U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $372.50 million according to AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA). This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was down 26.6 percent from March and down 12.6 percent when compared with the total of $426.44 million reported for April 2012.

With a year-to-date total of $1,650.91 million, 2013 is down 7.0 percent compared with 2012. These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTO program.

“Order totals leveled off to the averages we’ve seen so far this year, but they aren’t out of line with analyst predictions,” said Douglas K. Woods, the AMT president. “Likewise, the Purchasing Manager’s Index recently dropped below 50 – indicating contraction within manufacturing – but hiring continued to expand throughout the industry. With auto sales strong, the housing industry showing signs of a true rebound, and consumer confidence on the rise, we expect to continue seeing steady but slower activity.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report, compiled by the trade association representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. 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. U.S. manufacturing technology orders are also reported on a regional basis for six geographic breakdowns of the United States.
Northeast Region
Manufacturing technology orders in the Northeast Region in April totaled $72.29 million, unchanged from March’s $72.27 million but up 4.4 percent when compared with the April 2012 figure. At $251.08 million, 2013 year-to-date is down 4.0 percent when compared with 2012 at the same time.

Southeast Region
Southeast Region manufacturing technology orders totaled $35.16 million in April, down 3.3 percent from the $36.37 million total for March but 1.0 percent higher than the total for April 2012. The year-to-date total of $139.10 million is 16.3 percent lower than the comparable figure for 2012.

North Central-East Region
At $71.30 million, April manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-East Region were down 50.9 percent when compared with the $145.12 million total for March and down 34.6 percent when compared with April a year ago. With a year-to-date total of $434.94 million, 2013 is down 2.8 percent when compared with 2012 at the same time.

North Central-West Region
April manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-West Region totaled $69.88 million, 34.5 percent lower than March’s $106.65 million and down 10.3 percent when compared with the April 2012 figure. At $330.06 million, the 2013 year-to-date total is 2.6 percent higher than the comparable figure for 2012.

South Central Region
April manufacturing technology orders in the South Central Region totaled $59.60 million, 10.8 percent lower than March’s $66.85 million and down 30.7 percent when compared with the April 2012 figure. At $257.42 million, the 2013 year-to-date total is 28.3 percent less than the comparable figure for 2012.

West Region
West Region manufacturing technology orders in April stood at $64.27 million, down 19.6 percent from the March total of $79.95 million but 30.0 percent higher than the figure for April 2012. The $238.30 million year-to-date total is 9.1 percent above the total for the same period in 2012.

AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing technology and its members—those who design, build, sell, and service the continuously evolving technology that lies at the heart of manufacturing.

Founded in 1902 and based in Virginia, the association specializes in providing targeted business assistance, extensive global support, and business intelligence systems and analysis. AMT is the voice that communicates the importance of policies and programs that encourage research and innovation, and the development of educational initiatives to create tomorrow’s Smartforce.

AMT owns and manages IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. The USMTO report is compiled by AMT and all data in the report is based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTO program. www.AMTonline.org