Manufacturing Technology Orders up 3.1 Percent in 2014

U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $506.89 million in December, according to AMT–The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was up 32.7 percent from November and up 4.7 percent compared with the $484.08-million total reported for December 2013. With a year-to-date total of $5,079.05 million, 2014 orders were up 3.1 percent compared with 2013.

“The momentum we saw in manufacturing toward the end of 2014 is fueling optimism for 2015, with many major manufacturers saying they plan to hire more and invest more throughout the coming months,” says AMT President Douglas K. Woods. “The 3.1-percent gain in orders for the year was in line with our yearly forecast. While there are reasons for caution—a rising dollar, falling oil prices, and a shortage of skilled workers—overall, we feel that the U.S. economy will continue to improve its fortunes through the first half of 2015 and manufacturing will see a measure of restrained growth.”