MCLEAN, VA-June U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $322.68 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 down 0.4% from May but up 26.7% from the total of $254.74 million reported for June 2005. With a year-to-date total of $1,774.48 million, 2006 was up 23.9% 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.

"Since the recovery began in November 2003, orders have grown steadily, punctuated by June's 27% increase over June 2005," says John B. Byrd III, AMT president. "Counter to concerns that the 32-month expansion is ready to turn, the market is still 35% lower than its 1997 peak. There is still a lot of room to grow."

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.