MCLEAN, VA -- US manufacturing technology orders slid 12.2% from a year ago to $370.62 million in January according to AMT -- The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

The total down 26.5% from December and down 12.2% from January 2012.

Year-to-date, orders are down 12.2% to $370.62 million.

The data are based on reports from companies participating in the USMTO program.

“The drop-off between December and January is typical for technology orders, and it’s important to keep in mind that orders were exceptionally strong at the end of 2012, outperforming much of the broader economy,” said Douglas K. Woods, AMT President. “While the manufacturing economy continues to be strong, we may see its growth undercut by fiscal uncertainty due to the impact from sequestration.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report, compiled by the trade association representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national US orders data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology orders provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

Manufacturing technology orders in the Northeast Region in January totaled $50 million, down 34.1% from December and down 17% compared with January 2012.

Southeast Region orders totaled $35.53 million in January, down 47.6%  from December and 34.4% higher than January 2012. North Central-East Region At $98.54 million, January manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-East Region were down 15.1% sequentially and down 13.1% from January a year ago. Orders in the North Central-West Region totaled $72.41 million, 34.1% lower sequentially and down 4% when compared with January 2012. Orders in the South Central Region totaled $72.44 million, 8.1% higher than December and down 25.8% when compared with a year ago. West Region orders in January stood at $41.69 million, down 38.6% from December and 15.3% lower than last year.