Caterpillar: Global Dealer Sales Down 39% In 3 Months To April
21 May 2009 - 1:10AM
Dow Jones News
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) said Wednesday that global machinery
sales through retailers continued to weaken, down 39% in the three
months to the end of April compared with year-ago data.
North America remained the weakest market, with a 51% fall from
a year ago in the three-month rolling average of sales, compared
with 41% in the period to March 31.
The trend in Asia Pacific was flat at down 21%, but sales to
Europe, Middle East and Africa improved dramatically, according to
a regulatory filing. A 4% decline in the three months to April 30
compared with a 44% fall in the prior period.
Global machinery sales, including its Cat Japan joint venture,
were off 39% in the quarter to April 30 compared with 34% in the
period to March 31 and 28% in the three months to end-February.
Sales of engines to dealers and manufacturers were down 9% in
the April quarter, compared with a 2% decline in the period to
March 31. Truck and bus engines suffered the sharpest fall, down
69%, but the positive trend in sales to the marine and oil and gas
sectors intensified in the period to April 30.
Caterpillar shares were recently up 2.8% at $38.73.
-By Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires; 312-750-4135;
doug.cameron@dowjones.com