March 10, 2008 – Chicago IL: The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) released January 2008 month-end trend data for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) products.

After a two-month decline in U.S. distributors’ sales of PT/MC products, January sales were up 7.6% compared to December 2007.  When matched up against sales in January 2007, sales in January 2008 gained 4.5%. Accounts receivable collection days were down 2.8% in January 2008 after an increase in December 2007. For January 2008, the confidence index of U.S. distributors remained flat at 5.8 (on a 10-point scale).

Canadian distributors posted positive gains in PT/MC sales, rising 7.7% in January 2008. Sales growth over the same period last year was down 0.7%. Days sales in account receivables dropped 12.5% as compared to December 2007. For January 2008, the confidence level of Canadian distributors rose to 5.5 (on a 10-point scale), slightly higher than the December 2007 level of 5.

U.S. manufacturers’ sales were up for the first time in two months. Sales in January 2008 increased 7.6% compared to December 2007. Sales growth over the same period last year also was positive with a 5.9% increase. The confidence level of U.S. manufacturers dropped to 5.5 (on a 10-point) scale from December 2007 to January 2008.

Canadian manufacturer’s sales broke its two-month stretch of declining sales, with a 14.5% gain over December 2007. Sales were down 7.3% when compared to the same period last year.  For January, the confidence level of Canadian manufacturers continues to fluctuate between 5.1 and 5.5, with a 0.1 increase to 5.2 (on a 10-point scale) from December 2007 to January 2008.

Product-by-product sales between December 2007 and January 2008 reflect the overall growth in sales experienced by both U.S. and Canadian manufacturers. All product categories for U.S. manufacturers, except mounted bearings, experienced a positive change in sales. For Canadian manufacturers, all product categories, except standard industrial motors, experienced a positive change in sales.

U.S. Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (December 2007 vs. January 2008) 

Canadian Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (December 2007 vs. January 2008) 

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 for the current and the previous year in sales, inventory and accounts receivables for U.S. and Canadian distributors as well as a general confidence index. U.S. and Canadian manufacturer data includes a confidence index, as well as 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. 

Year-end data for 2006 and 2007 is available in a complete report. The monthly data is available by subscription via email or mail. To purchase the year-end data or to begin a subscription to the monthly data, order online or call PTDA at (312) 516-2100. PTDA members may download the report at no charge through the PTDA website.