MCLEAN, VA, June 9-April U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $396.47 million, according to the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA). This total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) program, was down 27.6% from March, but up 29.2% from the total of $306.86 million reported for April 2007. With a year-to-date total of $1,587.27 million, 2008 is up 19.9% compared with 2007.

These numbers are based on the totals of data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

“The demand for manufacturing equipment continues to be healthy, with year-to-year growth of nearly 30% since April 2007,” says John B. Byrd III, AMT president. “Export demand for U.S. manufactured products and the global boom in infrastructure development continues to fuel the surprising growth in capital equipment investment. The decline from March to April is not surprising, considering the extraordinary results posted in March.”