Metalworking Industry Grows in March
March’s metalworking business index (MBI) showed the fastest rate of growth for the industry since September 2011.
![](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/uploadedFiles/mbi_lg(2).jpg;maxWidth=600)
![](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/uploadedFiles/mbi(1).jpg;maxWidth=600)
Future business expectations remained strong. The index showed metalworking facilities were slightly more optimistic about their business than they were the previous month. This continued the trend of improving business expectations that began in October 2011. Finally, the average spending on metalworking equipment for the next 12 months has improved since September 2011. This indicates that machine tool sales should remain strong for at least the next quarter or two.
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