July U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $266.08 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 up 10.1% from June and up 72.6% from the total of $154.13 million reported for July 2009. With a year-to-date total of $1,473.79 million, 2010 is up 58.9% compared with 2009.

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 are pleased that July sales have exceeded expectations and that we’re not seeing the normal summer doldrums for machine tool purchases,” said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. “IMTS 2010 will be a key indicator of the ongoing strength of the manufacturing recovery that we have seen gaining momentum since January.”

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

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region

At $52.54 million, July manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region was up 2.7% from June’s $51.15 million and up 139.4% when compared with last July. The $262.84 million year-to-date total was 45.9% more than the 2009 total at the same time.

Southern Region

With a total of $26.37 million, July Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption was down 23.6% when compared with June’s $34.50 million but up 20.7% when compared with July a year ago. At $215.35 million, 2010 year-to-date was 65.9% higher than the comparable figure a year ago.

Midwest Region

Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in July stood at $95.07 million, 30.3% higher than the $72.96 million total for June and 132.7% higher than the July 2009 total. With a year-to-date total of $430.34 million, 2010 was up 64.1% when compared with 2009 at the same time.

Central Region

At $62.72 million, Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in July rose 9.0% when compared with June’s $57.54 million and was 22.9% higher than last July’s total. The year-to-date total of $392.34 million was 71.5% more than the comparable figure for 2009.

Western Region

July manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region totaled $29.37 million, up 14.8% when compared with the $25.58 million total for June and up 59.1% when compared with July a year ago. The $172.93 million 2010 year-to-date total was 36.6% higher than the total for the same period last year.