March U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $492.78 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was up 38.5% from February and up 2.9% when compared with the total of $479.04 million reported for March 2013. With a year-to-date total of $1,228.60 million, 2014 is up 0.9% compared with 2013.

 These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTO program.

“As these figures indicate, along with strong readings for the PMI, durable goods orders, and motor vehicle sales, manufacturing continues to be a leader in economic growth,” said Douglas K. Woods, AMT President. “It’s noteworthy that this was the strongest month for orders since September 2012, an IMTS month, though order delays caused by a harsh winter certainly interrupted the flow of business at the start of the year. As we head toward IMTS 2014, we expect continued expansion through the rest of this year and likely into 2015.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report, compiled by the trade association representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. orders data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology orders provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology orders are also reported on a regional basis:

Northeast Region

At $67.49 million, manufacturing technology orders in the Northeast Region in March were up 5.5% when compared with February’s $63.96 million.

Southeast Region

Year-to-date 2014 manufacturing technology orders in the Southeast Region through March totaled $106.13 million.

North Central-East Region

March manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-East Region totaled $200.33 million, up 145.1% from February’s $81.75 million and up 42.2% when compared with last March. At $370.20 million, year-to-date 2014 was up 4.8% from the comparable figure for 2013.

South Central Region

Year-to-date 2014, manufacturing technology orders in the South Central Region through March totaled $179.07 million.

To read the full USMTO news release featuring additional data, click here.