July net new orders posted under the U.S.Machine Tool Consumption statistics program amounted to 250.l-million dollars, down slightly from June but 22 percent higher than the number reported for July 2004. Year-to-date, 2005 orders total 1,713.2-million dollars, up 15 percent compared with 2004. Expectations for capital-equipment investment will continue, although at a more moderate pace, according to Ralph Nappi, outgoing president of the American Machine Tool Distributors' Assn., one of two trade groups that compile 'lie monthly database. By region, orders in he Northeast Slumped in July, dropping 26 percent Gross New Orders for U.S. Consumption from June and coming in at 15 percent less than last July. In contrast, the South posted orders that were up 38 percent from the previous month and 22 percent higher than the year-prior level.
展开▼
