PEORIA, Ill. (AP) Caterpillar reported another strong month of global sales growth in May when sales improved 52 percent over last year, but the results were slightly weaker than the recent months.

Sales in May were strongest in the region of Europe, Africa and the Middle East where sales grew 65 percent.

Caterpillar’s Asian region posted the weakest results, but sales there were still up 38 percent.

Caterpillar’s sales figures are considered an indicator of the health of the economy, so they are watched closely.

Before May, Caterpillar reported annual sales growth of 66 percent in April, 61 percent in March and 59 percent in February.