MCLEAN, VA-August U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $300.15 million, according to The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) program, was up 3.4% from July and up 2.1% from the total of $294.1 million reported for August 2005. With a year-to-date total of $2,381.37 million, 2006 was up 22.3% compared with 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.

“August consumption was unusually high, but not surprising when you consider that some industries, such as construction equipment, are working at 100% of capacity,” says John B. Byrd III, AMT president. “Buyers for many industries were very active at the recent International Manufacturing Technology Show, looking for both increased productivity and for capacity advances. Clearly, the year will end on a high note as orders taken at IMTS are realized.”

The 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 manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.