On 15 Jan 2006 19:59:08 GMT, D Murphy wrote:

Cliff wrote in
:

On 14 Jan 2006 02:51:45 GMT, D Murphy wrote:

Cliff wrote in
news:thfes151mni4sjen5ivrcgh62lgo49n6h5@ 4ax.com:

On 13 Jan 2006 05:42:24 GMT, D Murphy wrote:

Sales were down slightly over the last quarter. But
they are still way better than earlier in the decade.

Sales in units or in inflated dollars?

Inflated dollars? You can't be serious. It's listed in U.S. Dollars
and it is given in units.

You said "sales" and that's usually in dollars.
Then you compared it with "earlier in the decade" ...
after inflation?

You don't understand inflation do you?

Prices went up for the same goods?

If you are a subscriber you recieve a more detailed
breakdown by region, machine types, etc...

http://www.amtda.org/usmtc/

Perhaps you can subscribe and provide us with an in depth monthly
analysis. You know explain how the seemingly good news is really bad.
That sort of thing. At the very least, it would be refreshing if you
were to use actual real life data.

Seemed like the "real world data" some posted were *projections*
for 2005 made in 2004 or for periods *before* the fourth quarter of
2005, which is what I commented on (from a news report) .....

G

Wrong. 2005 sales are up 8.3% over 2004's total through November.

But down for October, November & December compared to prior
months ....

So it's
not going to be possible for 2005 sales to be less than 2004 as they are
already higher.

But down for October, November & December compared to prior
months ....

[FOR RELEASE: January 9, 2006

2005 Machine Tool Consumption tops 2004 through November

November U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $245.04 million, according
to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association, and AMT -
The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by
companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 2.5% from October

IOW "down".

and down 6.9%

IOW "down".

from the total of $263.17 million reported for November 2004.
With a year-to-date total of $2,766.59 million, 2005 was up 8.3% compared
with 2004.]

http://www.amtda.org/usmtc/

If you want a good indicator of what 2006 sales are likely to be keep an
eye on capacity utilization for durable goods.

You don't think that sales are a good indicator of sales?

When that figure goes above
80% machine tool sales take off into record breaking levels. Right now
utilization stands at 78.5%. Which follows a four plus year trend of
increases.

So why did sales drop?
--
Cliff