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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tracking the Costs of MRO Goods

Commonly Purchased Maintenance, Repair, and Operating Goods Cost More

(TEMPE, Arizona) August 16, 2010 — Based on the results of the 2010 CAPS Research survey that measures the cost of a Market Basket of commonly purchased MRO Goods, the total market basket costs are about 5 percent more this year than last. Costs associated with purchasing maintenance, repair and operating goods, commonly referred to as MRO goods, can account for a large percent of a company's annual spend. The recently released the 2010 market basket report looks at the average and median costs of 45 items, each of which is identified by a commonly referenced part number. Although the costs are up for most of the items listed, more than 80 percent of the survey participants reported they purchased the items identified on the survey by name and unique part number rather than equivalent items. This is the third year in a row that has shown an increase in market basket's total cost.

The market basket report reveals price differences and also identifies potential opportunities for cost savings. CAPS Research developed the MRO Market Basket of Goods based on input from a group of Fortune 500-size companies who recommended the market basket content.

The 2010 MRO Market Basket Report is available on the CAPS Research public website www.capsresearch.org. First time visitors will be prompted to register to access the benchmarking reports.

For more information about the MRO Market Basket of goods, or other market basket reports, contact CAPS Research at research@capsresearch.org.

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CAPS Research is a nonprofit research organization founded in 1986 to provide leading research to our strategic-minded corporate sponsors and to the public. Our mission is to work in partnership with a global network of executives and academics for the discovery and dissemination of strategic supply management knowledge and best practices. CAPS Research is jointly sponsored by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, the Institute for Supply Management™, and Global 1000/Fortune 500-size organizations.

Media Contact:
Debbie Maciejewski
Marketing Manager
CAPS Research
800-888-6276 extension 3046
Email: dmaciejewski@capsresearch.org

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