May U.S. machine tool consumption totaled an estimated $446 million, according to AMT, The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This was up 8% compared to the revised estimate of $432 million for April, but down 8.5% compared to the estimated $510 million for May 1999. With the year-to-date total computed at $2.3 billion, 2000 is up 4% compared to the same period in 1999.
"While the last couple of months have seen a modest slowdown in machine tool investments by U.S. manufacturers, certain parts of the country are still strong,” stated Ralph J. Nappi, AMTDA President. “The West and Northeast are 42% and 14% better than the same year-to-date period in 1999. Business appears more sporadic than in the recent past with specific territories of the U.S. being more consistent than given industries.”
The monthly USMTC report, which provides consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment, is computed from reports submitted by participating companies.
National machine tool consumption (in millions):
| NATIONAL | May '00 | Previous Month | YTD '00 | YTD '99 | Change |
| Metal Cutting | 263.23 | 241.83 | 1,378.37 | 1,279.33 | 7.7% |
| Metal Forming | 48.20 | 39.22 | 198.83 | 198.01 | 0.4% |
| Other | 43.10 | 47.04 | 187.60 | 219.73 | -14.6% |
| Total | $354.53 | $328.09 | $1,764.80 | $1,697.07 | 4.0% |
Domestic
Machine tool consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakouts within the United States. March order value and percent total by region as follows:
- Northeast Region
Northeast Region machine tool consumption totaled $56.34 million in May, up 9.3% compared to April's $51.56 million, but down 12.4% compared to May 1999. Year-to-date machine tool consumption rose to $83.21 million, 14.5% ahead of the same time last year. - Southern Region
At $48.54 million, May machine tool consumption in the Southern Region was up 18.4% from April's $41 million, and down 7.6% compared to last May. The year-to-date total of $259.44 million is up 3.5% from the comparable figure for 1999. - Midwestern Region
Midwestern Region machine tool consumption in May rose to $137.37 million, up 10% from April’s $124.87 million, but down 28.9% compared to a year ago. At $696.71 million, year-to-date consumption is down 7.2% compared to the same period in 1999. - Central Region
Central Region machine tool consumption in May fell 21.7% compared to April’s $71.71 million, but up 25.9% compared to May 1999. Year-to-date totals of $294.31 million are 3.1% ahead of the same period for 1999. - Western Region
At $56.10 million, May machine tool consumption in the Western Region was up 44% compared to April's $38.95 million, and up 39.8% compared to May a year