Nov. Machine Tool Units Up 8.5%

In November, machine tool orders were 1,953 units and $320,641,000. Outside of September, which was affected because of IMTS, November was the second best month in 2016 for machine tool orders. This data combined with the future business expectations index from the GBI shows that Trump's being elected may have gotten some companies to make a decision to purchase capital equipment. 

Compared with one year ago, unit orders were up 8.5 percent, which was the third time in four months that machine tool unit orders grew. While the annual rate of change contracted for the 15th month in a row, November was the slowest rate of contraction since the annual rate of change began contracting in September 2015. This month unit orders grew significantly faster than the industry average in the West and South Central regions.

However, real dollar sales were down 1.4 percent compared with October 2015, which was the second month in a row of contraction in 1/12 rate of change. The annual rate of change contracted for the 18th month in a row, but the rate of change decelerated for the fourth consecutive month. Also, this was the slowest rate of contraction since August 2015. This month dollar orders grew significantly faster in the West and North Central-West. In the North Central-West, dollar orders were up almost 67 percent in November.