Orders were up 34.8 percent compared to February, and up 3.3 percent compared to March 2016.

While all regions reported growth, the Northeast grew by 41 percent led by the small arms and aerospace industries.

In total for the year, orders were down 5.1 percent compared to the same point in 2015.

Although orders were down, January average unit values hit their highest level since January 2015 suggesting manufacturers are buying more sophisticated manufacturing technology to ramp up productivity rather that expand operations which would show a broader increase in orders and lower unit values.

Orders for manufacturing technology in October 2015 were down 0.3 percent from September.

 May U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $336.98 million.