US Manufacturing Technology Orders See July Dip Amid Strong Annual Growth

New orders for U.S. manufacturing technology experienced a monthly decrease in July 2025 but continued to show substantial growth compared to the previous year. Data indicates that while July 2025 orders totaled $387.3 million, marking a 9.5% drop from June 2025, they represent a 20.1% increase over July 2024.

Year-to-date figures through July 2025 reached $2.91 billion, a 14.4% rise compared to the same period in 2024. Despite the monthly dip, July 2025 orders were nearly 20% above the average for July. However, the number of units ordered was over 13% below the July average, a trend that underscores the increasing role of automation in current purchasing patterns.

Sector-Specific Performance:

Contract machine shops observed a nearly 14% decrease in orders from June 2025, yet still reported a nearly 10% increase from July 2024. In the agricultural equipment sector, a declining trend in orders has been noted since April 2025. This could potentially shift following recent investment announcements from companies like John Deere, which may spur renewed machinery investment.

Economic Outlook:

Anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate reductions in the latter half of 2025 may not be enough to prevent a general slowdown in industrial activity. Industry professionals will convene at AMT’s 2025 MTForecast conference to discuss these potential downturns and identify opportunities across various industries for 2026.