Equipment orders strong during first half of 2000

摘要

The exclusive Modern Materials Handling Macxazine index of orders showed a 13.9% increase during the first half of 2000 on a year-to-year basis. In other words, the materials handling industry continues to show signs of healthy growth even after a strong 1999. However, there are signs that the rate of growth may moderate somewhat for the balance of 2000 and into the first half of 2001. For instance, the overall index for the first 3 mo of 2000 was 18.8% stronger than during the first quarter of 1999. But this year's second quarter index of orders beat the 1999 reading by just 8.9% - showing the slowest over-the-year growth of the past year. It is worth noting that some of this drop off in growth rate can be attributed to normal seasonal trends.