According to USMTC, machine tool sales in January were 130.5% (units) and 178.8% (real dollars) more than in January 2010. While actual unit and dollar sales were lower than they have been the past five months, the percentage increases from one year ago are the highest ever. The strong sales of the last five months have the annual rates of change for units and dollars to 69.1% and 107.8%, respectively. Both of these also are historical records.
Looking at the chart below, you can see that the magnitude and speed of the recovery dwarfs anything the metalworking industry has seen in the past. Of course, this means that the delivery times on machines are being pushed out significantly. I expect the growth rates to peak and start moderating in the next couple of months based on the leading indicators.
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