TOKYO -- Orders at Japan's machine tool makers maintained brisk year-on-year growth in January, though mounting parts shortages indicate the industry could be doing too well for its own good.
The total value of orders during the month grew 48.8% on the year to 154.39 billion yen ($1.44 billion), the Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association said Tuesday. Orders have topped their year-earlier levels for 14 months straight, and have exceeded the boom-or-bust mark of 100 billion yen for 15 months in a row.
