Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL, reported 11.4% growth to $4.139 billion in the first quarter 2008. The increase was due to a 6.3% contribution from acquisitions and a 4.8% contribution from currency translation.
 
Organic growth was 0.4%, with international base revenues growing 4.6% and North American revenues falling 2.5%.
 
Overall profit of $303.6 million was down 24.6% from the year-ago period.

We are very pleased with our operating performance in the 2008 first quarter, especially in light of difficult end market conditions in North America and the modest slowing but still positive growth in international end markets,” said David B. Speer, CEO. “We believe end markets will continue to be challenging in North America over the foreseeable …