ROCKVILLE, MD-According to the American Machine Tool Distributors Association (AMTDA), July U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $157 million. This total was up 8.2 percent from the total of $145 million reported for July 2002.

"This marks the second consecutive month of year-on-year increases," says Ralph J. Nappi, president of AMTDA. "This activity is consistent with encouraging reports on durable goods orders, consumer confidence and growing activity in the manufacturing sectors that signal continued U.S. recovery."

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

At $19 million, July machine tool consumption in the Northeast was off 30 percent from June's $27 million, and off 20.7 percent when compared to July 2002. Year-to-date consumption totaled $135 million, down 26.6 percent compared to 2002 at the same time.

In the South, machine tool consumption stood at $25 million in July, down 69.4 percent from June's $83 million, but 12.3 percent higher than the total for July 2002. At $248 million, year-to-date consumption was 8.6 percent ahead of the comparable figure for 2002.

July machine tool consumption in the Midwest totaled $70 million, 13.8 percent less than June's $82 million, but 53.9 percent higher than July 2002. With a year-to-date total of $438 million, 2003 is 13.4 percent behind 2002 at the same time.

Totaling $25 million, July machine tool consumption in the Central region was off 3.3 percent compared to June's $26 million and off 31 percent when compared to July 2002. The year-to-date total of $174 million was off 25 percent when compared to the same period in 2002.

In the West, machine tool consumption in July stood at $16 million, 9.1 percent less than June's $17 million, but 6.2 percent higher than the total for July 2002. At $106 million, year-to-date 2003 was down 30.8 percent from the comparable figure for 2002.