The Power Transmission Distributors Assn.'s Market Outlook Report for August shows that sales were up 20.3 percent from numbers in August of 2003.

The association's trend data, for distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control products, goes on to report that distributors in the United States increased their year-to-date sales by 10.8 percent as compared to sales for January through August 2003. This year's sales also increased 6.7 percent over July '04.

The report also shows that accounts receivable days decreased 6.8 percent over July 2004, and were down 5.6 percent as compared to the same month last year. Annualized sales to inventory ratio in August was 9.0, compared to 8.0 in 2003. The group also showed a confidence level of 6.5, flat compared to the last report, on a 10-point scale.

U.S. manufacturers' sales of PT/MC products increased 9.7 percent, as compared to sales for January through August 2003. Sales were up 10.5 percent over the previous month, and climbed to 17.4 percent compared to August 2003. Year-to-date orders of PT/MC products from U.S. manufacturers increased 12.1 percent from last year, and August orders were up 10.3 percent over July, and climbed 17.9 percent as compared to August 2003.

As compared to July, sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, variable speed drives, gear products and other PT products and shaft couplings increased. Sales of standard industrial motors and clutches and brakes decreased.

As for the U.S.'s neighbors to the north, Canadian distributors' year-to-date sales of PT/MC products increased 8.9 percent as compared to sales from January through August 2003. Sales decreased 5.1 percent over the previous month, and rose to 18.6 percent compared to August 2003. For August, the confidence level of Canadian distributors remained flat at 6.5 on a 10-point scale.

Canadian manufacturers' sales of PT/MC products increased 5.4 percent compared to sales from January through August 2003. Sales were up 5.1 percent over the previous month, and rose 15.1 percent as compared to August 2003. As compared to July, sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings and shaft couplings increased. Sales of variable speed drives, gear products, mechanical drive systems and other PT products, and clutches and brakes decreased.

PTDA's Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the association. For more information, visit www.ptda.org.