U.S. PT/MC Sales Grow 9.3% in February

After a four-month decline in U.S. distributors’ sales of Power Transmission/Motion Control products at the end of 2006, this year’s sales continued to show positive growth with a 9.3 percent jump in sales for February, according to the most recent trend data report from the Power Transmission Distributors Association.

When matched up against February 2006 sales, sales in February 2007 were up 8.8 percent. Accounts receivable collection days were up 0.5 percent in February after a steep decline the previous month; accounts receivable collection days were up 1.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Following a drop in December 2006 sales, Canadian distributors’ sales in PT/MC products posted its second consecutive month of gains, rising 8.5 percent in February. Compared to February 2006, sales increased 5.3 percent in February 2007. Days sales in account receivables continued to drop, decreasing 1.0 percent in February, but were up slightly (0.5 percent) as compared to the same month last year.

U.S. manufacturers’ sales continued to increase after a significant jump last month, rising 6.4 percent in February. Sales growth over the same period last year followed this trend, with an increase 7.3 percent. The confidence level of U.S. manufacturers continues to fluctuate between 5.4 and 5.6, with a 0.1 decrease (to 5.5) on a 10-point scale from January 2007 to February 2007.

Canadian manufacturers’ sales showed a decrease in sales across the board in February. After a one-month increase of 17.0 percent in January 2007, sales fell 3.0 percent in February. Year-to-year sales decreased 7.6 percent as compared to February 2006.

The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the Power Transmission Distributors Association. The full report includes month-to-month and year-to-year changes in sales, inventory and accounts receivables data for U.S. and Canadian distributors, as well as a general confidence index. U.S. and Canadian manufacturer data includes a confidence index, as well as sales and order trends for mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products, clutches and breaks, and shaft couplings, and mechanical drive systems and other PT products.

The report is available by annual subscription via e-mail or mail by contacting +1.312.516.2100 or may be ordered online at www.ptda.org/store; PTDA members may download the report at no charge through the PTDA web site, at www.ptda.org/MOR

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