Economic Signals Driving Manufacturing in 2026
See the economic signals shaping manufacturing now and prepare for a deeper look at what’s next at MTForecast.
2026 Manufacturing Technology Orders Set Half-Year Record
New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $672.7 million in June 2026, increasing 15.6% from May 2026 and 56.8% from June 2025. In the first half of 2026, orders totaled $3.44 billion, the strongest half-year since USMTO began collecting data in 1998.
AMT NOW: $583.4M in New Machinery Orders
The Newest USMTO Report; Federal Financing; The Summer Economic Forum; and More.
$583.4M in New Machinery Orders Highlight US Economic Strengths
New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $583.4 million in May 2026, a 1.8% decline from April 2026, but a 47.8% increase over May 2025. Over the first five months of 2026, manufacturing technology orders totaled $2.77 billion, 31.9% over 2025.
AMT NOW: AMT's 2026 Automation Report Release
Industrial AI at IMTS; Rebuilding Manufacturing Capacity, and More.
AMT NOW: The IMTS 2026 Expanded Conference Lineup
AMT's Summer Economic Update; The IMTS 2026 Expanded Conference Lineup; and more.
Automation Fuels Strong Start to 2026 Manufacturing Technology Orders
New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $593.6 million in April 2026, a 12.5% decline from March 2026, but a 33.2% increase from April 2025. So far this year, manufacturing technology orders have totaled $2.19 billion, a 28.9% increase over 2025.
AMT NOW: A Production-Floor Perspective On What Works
What's working in manufacturing; Production data wins; Escalating challenges for tariffs; and more.
AMT NOW: Timely Economic Insights; Meaningful Connections
Our summer economic webinar; sustained demand for manufacturing technology; AI-driven business value; and more.
Machinery Orders Continue Rally in Q1 2026 Despite Uncertainty From Iran War
New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $681.3 million in March 2026, increasing 40.3% from February 2026 and 31.5% from March 2025. Manufacturing technology orders totaled $1.61 billion for the first quarter of 2026, up 27.8% year over year.