UH-OH: Industrial Bellwether Caterpillar Just Posted Some Ugly Sales Stats

Caterpillar, the industrial behemoth that makes earthmovers, regularly publishes its rolling 3-month dealer sales statistics.

This gives us a sense of capital equipment sales in various global regions, which in turn serves as a proxy for economic activity.

And the latest numbers aren't good. Worldwide dealer sales accelerated in the three months ending in January. The North America and Asia/Pacific regions posted double-digit declines.

From the SEC Filing:

Reported in constant dollars and based on unit sales as reported primarily by dealers.

*EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East)
**ROW (rest of the world - everything except North America)