PT/MC Sales PosT ACross-The board Gains In September
Chicago, IL -- The month-end trend data for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control (PT/ MC) products compiled by Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) for Sep...
December 1, 2008 | By MRO Magazine
Chicago, IL — The month-end trend data for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control (PT/ MC) products compiled by Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) for September 2008 shows across-the-board gains.
Canadian distributors reported a 19.1% jump in sales in September 2008 compared to August 2008. Sales over the same period last year were up 11.2%. Accounts receivable collection days fell 7.1% compared to August 2008. In September 2008, the confidence level of Canadian distributors remained steady at 5.3 (on a 10-point scale).
U. S. distributors’ overall sales of PT/ MC products rose 7.9% in September 2008 compared to August 2008. When matched up against sales in the same month last year, sales in September 2008 were up by 13.0%. Accounts receivable collection days dropped 3.7% since August 2008. Despite these positive numbers, the confidence index of U. S. distributors for September dropped 0.4 to 5.2 (on a 10-point scale).
Canadian manufacturers’ sales increased dramatically by 21.1% in September 2008 compared to August 2008. Sales were up 3.8% when compared to the same period last year. The confidence level of Canadian manufacturers decreased 0.3 to 4.7 (on a 10-point scale) from August to September 2008.
U. S. manufacturers’ sales rose 2.2% in September 2008 when compared to August 2008. Sales in September 2008 increased 12.9% compared to the same period last year. Orders in September 2008 were up 1.8% over August 2008, the first positive growth since May 2008. The confidence level of U. S. manufacturers fell 0.1 to 5.1 (on a 10-point scale).
Product-by-product sales between August 2008 and September 2008 reflect the change in sales experienced by U. S. and Canadian manufacturers. All but four product categories for U. S. manufacturers — clutches & brakes, positioning systems/linear motion products, shaft couplings and variable speed drives — posted increases in sales.
For Canadian manufacturers, only two product categories posted a decrease in sales — positioning systems/linear motion products, and clutches and brakes. Interestingly, sales of mounted bearings rose spectacularly in Canada — 40.0% — but gained only 2.5% in the U. S.
The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the PTDA. The full report can be ordered at www.ptda.org/storeor at 312-516-2100.