Machine tools orders: stable 4Q 2016

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the index of machine tool orders, processed by the Studies & Culture Centre of Ucimu-Sistemi per produrre is stable, an increase of 0.3 percent over the same period last year. In absolute terms, the index stood at 133.3, thus well above the average of 100 set in 2010.
The overall result was determined by the feedback of orders received in the overseas market, rose by 3.4 percent compared with the period from October to December 2015. The absolute value of the index stood at 130.3.
Different the index trend of orders received by Italian manufacturers in the domestic market which, after thirteen consecutive quarters of growth, reverses a decrease of 12.1 percent. The absolute value, however, remains very high, at 153.3.
On an annual basis, the index recorded an average increase, compared to 2015, by 1.6 percent (absolute value of 130.8). Faced with a not  brilliant trend in foreign orders, which declined by 2.6 percent (absolute index 130.1), grew domestic orders, which rose by 7.4 percent (absolute index 131.6) confirming the vitality of the Italian market.
The comparison of the absolute indices calculated on an annual basis, it appears that 2016 was the best year for the collection orders with 130.8. The figure shows that has not yet been recovered all the ground lost during the crisis but it’s pretty close to the level recorded in 2008, when the absolute index marked 140.