(AMT: McLean, VA) -- The U.S. manufacturing technology consumption during March totaled $258 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) and The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT). This total, as reported by companies participating in the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) program, was up 58.1 percent from February 2010, and up 49.5 percent from the total of $172.59 million reported for March 2009. With a year-to-date total of $548.53 million, 2010 is up 33.7 percent compared with the same period in 2009.

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

“The March increase in manufacturing technology orders is further proof that the recovery is accelerating,” says Peter Borden, AMTDA president. “The number is encouraging, considering that bank lending is still anemic and that Congress has done little to help manufacturing, such as repassing the bonus depreciation tax bill or research and development credits. We still expect some ebb and flow for the rest of the year because of the uncertainties in the world economy.”

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