Machine Tool Orders Rise: New orders for...

Machine Tool Orders Rise: New orders for machine tools rose 18.8% last month to $227 million, but were down a steep 33.3% from the same period last year, the National Machine Tool Builders’ Assn. said. Machine tool shipments fell 4.8% last month to $226.35 million, although they were up 47% from August, 1988, levels. Foreign orders rose 1.4% to $36 million in August, while shipments fell to $29 million from $32 million in July. Total foreign shipments were up 42.1% to $29 million from a year ago, but orders were down 58.6% from a year ago.