Machine tools first quarter: the Italian market restarts

In the first quarter of 2014, the index of orders for machine tools, developed by the Centre for Studies & Culture of Ucimu-Sistemi per Produrre, is marking an increase of 15.2 percent compared to the January-March period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index stood at 152.9, above the average for the period, considered 2010 as the new base year.
The result was due either to the positive feedback collected from builders abroad, or to the awakening of the Italian market.
On the foreign front, the orders index recorded an increase of 5.7 percent compared to the same period last year, confirming the positive trend observed since the last quarter of 2013. The absolute value of the index, in the period January and March, reaches 166.5.
On the domestic front, the index of Italian manufacturers marks a sharp increase, growing by 79.3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013, with an absolute value equal to 127.1.
The turnaround in domestic demand should also find benefit in implementing the New Law Sabatini, operational since March 31, which has collected more applications for funding in 2010 for a value of investments in assets instrumental amounted to 655 million euro.