January 16, 2008–Chicago IL: The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) released November 2007 month-end trend data for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) products.

U.S. distributors’ sales of PT/MC products continue to fluctuate, dropping 5.9% from October to November after a 5.2% increase in sales the prior month. Year-to-year comparisons have been positive all year; sales in November 2007 came in 6.8% higher than in November 2006. Accounts receivable collection days also continue to fluctuate, increasing 2.5% in November 2007 after dropping 6.8% last month. The November 2007 confidence index for U.S. distributors remained flat at 6.2 (on a 10-point scale).

Canadian distributors’ sales in PT/MC products increased slightly, gaining 0.3% from October to November 2007. Compared to November 2006, sales in November 2007 dropped 1.7%. After a decrease in October, account receivables collection days were up 1% in November. The confidence level of Canadian distributors in November 2007 remained flat at 5.3 (on a 10-point scale).

After a spike in sales last month, U.S. manufacturers’ month-to-month sales dropped 9.9% from October to November 2007. Sales growth over the same period last year continued to grow, increasing 4.2%. The confidence level of U.S. manufacturers’ remained flat for the fifth consecutive month at 5.5 (on a 10-point scale).

Mirroring their U.S. counterparts, Canadian manufacturers’ month-to-month sales decreased 3.6% in November after an increase in sales the month before. Year-to-year sales continued to decrease, falling 1% over November 2006. The confidence level of Canadian manufacturers also remained flat at 5.2 on a 10-point scale, a level it has maintained since June.

Between October and November 2007, U.S. manufacturers experienced a decrease in sales of all product categories, while their Canadian counterparts experienced growth in five out of nine product categories — standard industrial motors, gear products, mounted bearings, positioning systems/linear motion products and shaft couplings.

U.S. Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (October 2007 vs. November 2007) 

Canadian Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (October 2007 vs. November 2007)

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 years in sales, inventory and accounts receivables data 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 breaks, shaft couplings and mechanical drive systems and other PT products. 

The report is available by annual subscription via e-mail or mail by contacting (312) 516-2100 or may be ordered online; PTDA members may download the report at no charge through PTDA website.