T/MC manufacturers’ sales experienced slight boost, says PTDA’s September Report

Chicago, IL — U.S. and Canadian manufacturers posted an increase in sales in September 2009 according to sales data released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) in its Market Outlook Report.  Confidence in the U.S. market (as measured on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being most optimistic) is holding at a current negative position of 4.7 for the third consecutive month.  Canadian confidence rose slightly by 0.1 from last month to 4.2.

U.S. manufacturers’ sales rose for the second consecutive month, posting a 5.3 percent increase in September 2009 when compared to August 2009.  Sales in September 2009 are down 29.6 percent compared to the same period last year.  Orders in September 2009 increased by 9.1 percent over August 2009 orders.

Canadian manufacturers’ sales rose by 14.0 percent compared to August 2009.  Sales were down 29.1 percent when compared to the same period last year.

Product-by-product sales between August 2009 and September 2009 reflect the change in sales experienced by U.S. and Canadian manufacturers.  Seven of nine product categories for U.S. manufacturers posted sales gains.  For Canadian manufacturers, eight product categories posted sales gains.

U.S. Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (August 2009 vs. September 2009)

Product                                                               Percent Change

Variable Speed Drives                                             -20.2%
Positioning Systems/Linear Motion Products            -3.5%
Mounted Bearings                                                      1.7%
Mechanical Drive Systems and Other PT Products   4.4%
Shaft Couplings                                                          5.5%
Standard Industrial Motors                                         6.0%
Unmounted Bearings                                                 6.3%
Gear Products                                                            9.0%
Clutches & Brakes                                                     10.3%

Canadian Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales  (August 2009 vs. September 2009)

Product                                                             Percent Change

Clutches & Brakes                                                    -26.7%
Mechanical Drive Systems and Other PT Products    5.9%
Standard Industrial Motors                                          8.2%
Positioning Systems/Linear Motion Products            11.6%
Mounted Bearings                                                     13.4%
Unmounted Bearings                                                 14.2%
Variable Speed Drives                                               14.9%
Gear Products                                                           20.1%
Shaft Couplings                                                         37.4%

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 and order trends for mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products, clutches and brakes, shaft couplings and mechanical drive systems and other PT products for U.S. and Canadian manufacturers.

For more information, visit www.ptda.org.