April U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $281.54 million, according to The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors’Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 27.2% from March, but up 2.2% from the total of $275.43 million reported for April 2006. With a year-to-date total of $1,259.09 million, 2007 was up 8.7% compared with 2006.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

Strength in the oil field and auto sectors has brought increased demand in the Central region of the country,” said John B. Byrd III. “Through April this region has the greatest increase in …