Recession has gripped the bar consuming industries for the past two years. Statistics compiled by the Precision Machined Products Association for all bar segments-carbon and stainless steel, aluminum and brass-show a drop of 16.4 percent for 2001. with annual industry sales of 5.6 billion dollars compared to a seven-year high 6.7 billion dollars in 2000. Losses were less in 2002: Sales for that year totaled 4.9 billion, dollars, a 12.5-percent decline.
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