McLEAN, VIRGINIA – August US manufacturing technology orders totaled $371.97 million, down 18.1% year-over-year, says AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology.

This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was up 4.9% sequentially.

 With a year-to-date total of $3.1 billion, 2013 is down 8% compared with 2012, AMT says.

“…the latest Purchasing Managers Index was at 56.2, its highest reading in more than two years,” said Douglas K. Woods, AMT president. “Because of manufacturing’s international connectivity, we also welcome the improvements seen in the global markets in Europe and Asia. These gains are expected to continue for US manufacturing as we head toward 2014, but all of this hinges on avoiding a government-induced economic derailment.”

Northeast Region manufacturing technology orders in August totaled $61.46 million, down 18.2% sequentially. With a year-to-date total of $522.43 million, 2013 is up 6.3% compared to the year-ago period.

North Central-East Region manufacturing technology orders for the month stood at $95.67 million, up 16.9% compared to July, but down 10.8% compared to August 2012. The $800.29 million year-to-date total is 7.4% less than the comparable figure for 2012.

Manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-West Region in August totaled $70.33 million, up 20.2% sequentially, but down 22.4% year-over-year. At $575.06 million, 2013 year-to-date is 6.9% less than the total for 2012 at the same time.     

South Central Region manufacturing technology orders totaled $50.05 million in August, down 15.3% sequentially.