January U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $225.94 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 down 31.9% from December but up 11.3% from the total of $202.94 million reported for January 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.

‘We have begun the year on a very positive note with January 2006 metalworking equipment orders up a healthy 11.3% compared to January 2005. This signals another promising year of continued momentum within the U.S. manufacturing economy as companies continue to recognize the benefits of investing in new machine tool technology to improve productivity,’ said John J. Healy, AMTDA President. ‘Although parts of the Midwest continue to experience the struggles of the automotive industry and the South continues to deal with the aftereffects of Katrina, many U.S. regions have shown strong double-digit growth spurred by aerospace, defense, energy and medical manufacturing activity.’

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 breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region
Northeast Region machine tool consumption in January stood at $23.63 million, 48.3% less than December’s $45.69 million but 14.3% ahead of January 2005.

Southern Region
January machine tool consumption in the Southern Region totaled $36.58 million, 18.9% less than December’s $45.09 million and level with last January.

Midwestern Region
At $67.70 million, Midwestern machine tool consumption in January was down 41.1% when compared with December’s $114.99 million and down 19.2% when compared with January a year ago.

Central Region
Machine tool consumption in the Central Region in January totaled $63.0 million, 21.7% less than December’s $80.44 million but 56.0% higher than the total for January 2005.

Western Region
With a January total of $35.02 million, Western Region machine tool consumption was 23.3% less than December’s $45.63 million but up 61.1% when compared with last January.