Manufacturers' Shipments,

 Inventories, and Orders: September 2004 Issued November 2004

 M3-1(04)-09

 For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. E.S.T., November 3, 2004 Current 

 Industrial

 Reports

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Chris Savage or Patrick Kent, Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders Branch, Manufacturing and 

Construction Divison (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900 or call 301-763-4832.

The advance report on durable goods for October is scheduled for November 24, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on December 2, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 20402 

Our Internet address is : http://www.census.gov/m3

Total Manufacturing Shipments

and Three Month Moving Average

300

320

340

360

380

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

Nov-03

Jan-04

Mar-04

May-04

Jul-04

Sep-04

300

320

340

360

380

 Shipments Average

Billions Of Dollars

Total Manufacturing Inventories

and Three Month Moving Average

420

440

460

480

500

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

Nov-03

Jan-04

Mar-04

May-04

Jul-04

Sep-04

420

440

460

480

500

 Inventories Average

Billions Of Dollars
 2

Figures in text, other than year-to-date, are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data

for semiconductor manufacturing.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in September

decreased $1.3 billion or 0.4 percent to $368.3 billion, the

Department of Commerce, Census Bureau reported today. 

This followed a 0.3 percent August decrease.

Shipments, down following four consecutive increases,

decreased $4.2 billion or 1.1 percent to $371.3 billion. 

This followed a 0.9 percent August increase.

Unfilled orders, up thirteen of the last fourteen months,

increased $4.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $539.3 billion. 

This followed a 0.3 percent August increase. The unfilled

orders-to-shipments ratio was 3.97, up from 3.90 in

August.

Inventories, up ten consecutive months, increased $1.3

billion or 0.3 percent to $463.3 billion. This followed a

0.7 percent August increase. The inventories-toshipments ratio was 1.25, up from 1.23 in August.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in

September increased $0.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $195.9

billion, revised from the previously published $195.7

billion.

Computers and electronic products, had the largest

increase, $3.1 billion or 9.6 percent to $35.7 billion, due

to defense communications equipment, which increased

$3.1 billion. 

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods

decreased $1.8 billion or 1.0 percent to $172.4 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in

September, down following three consecutive increases,

decreased $2.5 billion or 1.2 percent to $198.9 billion,

revised from the previously published $2.3 billion

decrease.

 Computers and electronic products, down following

three consecutive increases, had the largest decrease, $1.4

billion or 3.5 percent to $38.6 billion. Transportation

equipment decreased $0.9 billion or 1.6 percent to $53.8

billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down

two consecutive months following five consecutive

increases, decreased $1.8 billion or 1.0 percent to

$172.4 billion. Food products had the largest decrease,

$0.6 billion or 1.5 percent to $40.5 billion. 

Unfilled Orders

 Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods in

September, up thirteen of the last fourteen months,

increased $4.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $539.3 billion,

revised from the previously published $3.8 billion

increase.

 Computers and electronic products, up seven of the

last eight months, had the largest increase, $4.2 billion

or 3.1 percent to $139.2 billion. This was at the highest

level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis

in 1992 and followed a 0.1 percent August increase.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in

September, up ten consecutive months, increased $1.1

billion or 0.4 percent to $278.2 billion, revised from the

previously published $0.8 billion increase.

Computers and electronic products, up seven

consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.6

billion or 1.3 percent to $49.6 billion. 

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up

nine consecutive months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1

percent to $185.1 billion. This was at the highest level

since the series began in 1992. Plastic and rubber

products, up eleven consecutive months, had the largest

increase, $0.4 billion or 1.9 percent to $22.4 billion. 

This was also at the highest level since the series began

in 1992. 

By stage of fabrication, September materials and

supplies increased 1.1 percent in durable goods and

decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in

process decreased 0.9 percent in durable goods and 0.4

percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased

1.1 percent in durable goods and 0.4 percent in

nondurable goods.

SEE BACK PAGE FOR SURVEY DESCRIPTION

Our internet address is: http://www.census.gov/m3

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Chris Savage or Patrick Kent, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch,

Manufacturing and Construction Division (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900, or call 301-763-4832.

The advance report on durable goods for October is scheduled for November 24, 2004 at 8:30 A.M. EST and the full report on December 2,

2004 at 10:00 A.M. EST. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
 3 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Sept. Aug. July 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

 All manufacturing industries .................. 371,302 375,537 372,105 -1.1 0.9 0.9 392,524 382,018 344,364 357,911 3,288,297 2,963,725 11.0

 Excluding transportation ................... 317,525 320,865 319,872 -1.0 0.3 1.7 334,459 326,581 306,319 300,909 2,801,055 2,505,410 11.8

 Excluding defense .............................. 361,866 365,658 362,407 -1.0 0.9 0.9 382,113 372,561 335,444 347,684 3,201,438 2,884,605 11.0

 With unfilled orders ........................... 135,747 137,288 136,338 -1.1 0.7 1.7 145,604 136,958 121,774 132,609 1,197,100 1,077,817 11.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 198,923 201,398 197,698 -1.2 1.9 0.5 214,687 202,400 173,628 197,413 1,762,608 1,589,674 10.9

 Wood products................................. ...... 9,484 9,749 9,139 -2.7 6.7 -0.3 10,035 10,610 9,370 8,865 83,801 68,485 22.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 7,401 7,559 7,543 -2.1 0.2 1.0 8,040 8,397 7,818 8,049 68,140 66,067 3.1

 Primary metals............................ .......... 14,548 14,511 14,217 0.3 2.1 3.2 14,861 14,908 13,287 11,041 123,092 99,023 24.3

 Iron and steel mills............................ 7,064 7,038 6,928 0.4 1.6 5.9 7,243 7,257 6,525 4,899 57,471 45,122 27.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,892 5,881 5,693 0.2 3.3 0.2 5,959 6,007 5,347 4,804 51,709 42,288 22.3

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,592 1,592 1,596 0.0 -0.3 2.1 1,659 1,644 1,415 1,338 13,912 11,613 19.8

 Fabricated metal products...................... 23,240 23,162 23,173 0.3 0.0 1.5 24,413 24,256 22,079 21,388 203,570 184,143 10.5

 Machinery............................................. 25,382 24,885 25,116 2.0 -0.9 3.2 26,540 24,026 23,739 22,088 219,293 189,666 15.6

 Farm machinery................................. 1,840 1,899 1,880 -3.1 1.0 9.4 1,855 1,807 1,793 1,425 16,420 13,120 25.2

 Construction machinery..................... 2,648 2,514 2,364 5.3 6.3 4.0 2,508 2,351 2,267 1,711 21,364 15,738 35.7

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 968 918 902 5.4 1.8 2.4 1,043 893 879 815 7,753 6,366 21.8

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,304 3,193 3,595 3.5 -11.2 5.7 3,661 2,813 3,565 3,086 29,437 26,090 12.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 837 862 931 -2.9 -7.4 5.8 922 827 868 898 7,881 7,111 10.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,937 2,735 2,809 7.4 -2.6 -0.3 3,170 2,862 2,808 2,685 25,429 22,918 11.0

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,132 2,100 2,129 1.5 -1.4 1.6 2,511 2,141 1,910 1,780 18,045 15,104 19.5

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,285 3,304 3,265 -0.6 1.2 3.3 3,455 3,246 2,766 2,803 28,132 23,819 18.1

 Material handling equipment............... 1,544 1,558 1,502 -0.9 3.7 3.0 1,564 1,505 1,446 1,388 13,441 11,968 12.3

 Computers and electronic products ......... 38,580 39,986 39,372 -3.5 1.6 3.0 44,330 37,728 34,500 41,682 340,890 301,466 13.1

 Computers........................................ 5,087 5,339 5,474 -4.7 -2.5 7.7 5,625 5,107 5,762 6,063 47,207 41,587 13.5

 Computer storage devices................... 1,551 1,519 1,522 2.1 -0.2 1.1 2,516 1,138 981 2,323 13,057 11,730 11.3

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,492 1,716 1,647 -13.1 4.2 7.6 1,925 1,539 1,321 1,931 13,736 12,949 6.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 6,425 6,978 6,516 -7.9 7.1 3.8 7,182 6,412 5,251 7,319 56,408 51,083 10.4

 Defense communications equipment... 503 511 503 -1.6 1.6 -2.9 551 515 457 479 4,598 3,817 20.5

 Audio and video equipment.................. 685 762 699 -10.1 9.0 3.6 782 745 622 766 5,715 5,695 0.4

 Semiconductors ................................. 7,080 7,481 7,522 -5.4 -0.5 5.1 7,902 7,270 6,521 6,476 62,951 51,489 22.3

 Electronic components........................ 4,591 4,579 4,597 0.3 -0.4 1.2 4,929 4,554 4,191 4,380 39,757 36,284 9.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 934 881 820 6.0 7.4 -13.4 1,087 879 754 996 8,119 7,567 7.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,777 2,731 2,731 1.7 0.0 6.3 2,959 2,582 2,590 2,549 23,426 21,374 9.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,948 6,954 6,788 -0.1 2.4 -1.3 8,317 6,461 5,551 7,828 61,234 53,551 14.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,892 9,197 9,054 -3.3 1.6 3.6 9,927 9,139 8,279 9,528 79,071 75,230 5.1

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,110 1,095 1,094 1.4 0.1 6.9 1,233 1,056 925 1,169 9,525 9,208 3.4

 Household appliances........................ 2,125 2,097 2,069 1.3 1.4 1.0 2,302 2,153 1,912 2,236 18,135 17,511 3.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,607 2,711 2,691 -3.8 0.7 2.9 2,994 2,717 2,495 2,871 23,725 22,279 6.5

 Batteries........................................... 519 520 497 -0.2 4.6 -0.2 632 507 403 570 4,308 4,001 7.7

 Transportation equipment...................... 53,777 54,672 52,233 -1.6 4.7 -3.7 58,065 55,437 38,045 57,002 487,242 458,315 6.3

 Automobiles..................................... 7,602 7,682 7,195 -1.0 6.8 -4.2 8,210 8,036 4,390 7,998 68,231 64,282 6.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 11,144 11,054 9,524 0.8 16.1 -13.9 12,312 11,447 5,509 12,257 101,711 94,656 7.5

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,317 1,277 1,300 3.1 -1.8 5.3 1,345 1,302 1,246 1,145 11,071 9,673 14.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,198 18,604 18,652 -2.2 -0.3 1.6 18,958 19,189 13,793 18,967 166,974 161,141 3.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 6,272 6,313 5,904 -0.6 6.9 -5.2 6,939 5,906 4,643 6,216 52,636 49,537 6.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,438 3,724 3,542 -7.7 5.1 -4.4 3,921 3,516 3,198 3,858 33,058 29,071 13.7

 Ships and boats................................. 2,333 2,352 2,450 -0.8 -4.0 0.0 2,357 2,486 2,078 2,456 21,260 19,055 11.6

 Furniture and related products................. 6,151 6,322 6,471 -2.7 -2.3 4.4 6,437 6,764 6,120 6,105 55,949 51,965 7.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 11,468 11,355 11,380 1.0 -0.2 -2.8 12,039 11,135 10,391 11,665 101,560 95,314 6.6

 Nondurable goods industries................... 172,379 174,139 174,407 -1.0 -0.2 1.3 177,837 179,618 170,736 160,498 1,525,689 1,374,051 11.0

 Food products....................................... 40,497 41,096 41,942 -1.5 -2.0 1.2 42,039 42,042 39,983 40,620 359,895 340,282 5.8

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,261 3,102 3,457 5.1 -10.3 1.3 3,252 3,163 3,289 4,227 30,182 36,482 -17.3

 Dairy products.................................. 6,122 6,329 6,632 -3.3 -4.6 -1.2 6,329 6,445 6,478 5,934 57,230 48,308 18.5

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 12,877 12,946 12,618 -0.5 2.6 0.3 12,976 13,531 12,360 11,480 108,091 100,023 8.1

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 9,231 9,308 9,020 -0.8 3.2 -4.6 9,423 9,698 9,263 8,815 82,068 79,673 3.0

 Beverages......................................... 6,158 6,110 5,929 0.8 3.1 0.4 6,350 6,500 6,172 5,825 54,344 51,744 5.0

 Tobacco............................................ 3,073 3,198 3,091 -3.9 3.5 -13.0 3,073 3,198 3,091 2,990 27,724 27,929 -0.7

 Textile mills........................................... 3,478 3,487 3,504 -0.3 -0.5 5.2 3,746 3,613 3,259 3,561 31,323 29,950 4.6

 Textile products................................... 3,124 3,157 3,147 -1.0 0.3 0.8 3,205 3,414 3,202 3,087 28,704 26,161 9.7

 Apparel................................................ 4,710 4,657 4,768 1.1 -2.3 -0.4 5,049 5,046 4,928 4,796 42,221 39,162 7.8

 Leather and allied products..................... 879 906 896 -3.0 1.1 -1.4 888 988 874 881 7,861 8,083 -2.7

 Paper products...................................... 14,430 14,703 14,602 -1.9 0.7 -1.6 14,759 15,137 14,385 13,561 128,855 119,397 7.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,038 6,037 6,089 0.0 -0.9 1.5 6,136 6,309 6,073 5,678 53,747 51,869 3.6

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,973 4,058 3,984 -2.1 1.9 3.3 4,017 4,263 3,941 3,651 34,569 33,004 4.7

 Printing................................................. 7,932 7,785 8,009 1.9 -2.8 -1.9 8,394 8,014 7,544 8,264 70,097 70,347 -0.4

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 28,690 29,024 28,673 -1.2 1.2 7.0 29,603 30,877 29,548 20,552 245,167 179,501 36.6

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 26,457 26,739 26,453 -1.1 1.1 7.3 26,964 28,156 26,982 18,546 225,328 164,082 37.3

 Basic chemicals...................................... 42,231 42,788 42,861 -1.3 -0.2 1.4 43,275 43,073 41,244 40,464 376,885 342,159 10.1

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,802 1,807 1,804 -0.3 0.2 4.7 1,315 1,407 1,558 1,190 16,327 14,630 11.6

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,483 9,983 10,270 -5.0 -2.8 1.9 10,075 10,115 9,511 10,506 87,004 87,797 -0.9

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,504 2,556 2,465 -2.0 3.7 -1.2 2,580 2,743 2,609 2,504 23,397 21,800 7.3

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,177 17,228 16,985 -0.3 1.4 0.1 17,456 17,716 16,506 15,897 152,613 139,336 9.5

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

 Shipments are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations.

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.

Year to date
 4

Table 2. Value of Manufacturers' New Orders for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Sept. Aug. July 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

All manufacturing industries 2................... 368,254 369,574 370,838 -0.4 -0.3 1.7 384,859 371,988 341,356 349,573 3,254,405 2,916,053 11.6

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 315,883 315,056 311,374 0.3 1.2 0.8 329,718 317,996 298,277 295,144 2,764,128 2,459,318 12.4

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 356,637 360,064 361,448 -1.0 -0.4 2.2 373,803 364,939 335,281 340,889 3,167,373 2,831,876 11.8

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 139,779 138,806 142,593 0.7 -2.7 3.9 145,841 134,198 125,287 130,747 1,226,159 1,081,634 13.4

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 195,875 195,435 196,431 0.2 -0.5 1.9 207,022 192,370 170,620 189,075 1,728,716 1,542,002 12.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 14,610 14,928 15,020 -2.1 -0.6 7.5 14,345 15,385 13,997 10,729 126,921 98,895 28.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 7,052 7,351 7,508 -4.1 -2.1 13.3 6,866 7,783 6,977 4,667 59,724 45,165 32.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,925 5,969 5,847 -0.7 2.1 1.0 5,811 5,950 5,553 4,705 52,962 42,087 25.8

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,633 1,608 1,665 1.6 -3.4 7.1 1,668 1,652 1,467 1,357 14,235 11,643 22.3

 Fabricated metal products...................... 23,071 23,556 23,047 -2.1 2.2 -0.3 23,377 24,575 21,916 21,392 209,741 184,088 13.9

 Machinery............................................. 26,141 25,345 24,783 3.1 2.3 0.8 27,040 23,899 23,229 21,767 224,818 188,164 19.5

 Construction machinery....................... 2,851 2,714 2,354 5.0 15.3 7.0 2,574 2,474 1,968 1,664 22,776 15,802 44.1

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 950 886 860 7.2 3.0 -3.7 1,025 861 837 806 8,046 6,430 25.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,817 3,391 3,636 12.6 -6.7 -3.4 3,941 2,777 3,830 2,915 30,992 25,978 19.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 841 850 908 -1.1 -6.4 6.6 914 809 864 920 7,928 7,339 8.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,975 2,702 2,727 10.1 -0.9 0.6 3,080 2,766 2,747 2,587 25,795 23,367 10.4

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,136 2,085 2,135 2.4 -2.3 2.4 2,451 2,027 1,887 1,825 18,492 15,124 22.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,195 3,575 3,022 -10.6 18.3 0.8 3,355 3,468 2,560 2,594 28,682 21,242 35.0

 Material handling equipment............... 1,637 1,549 1,451 5.7 6.8 -3.5 1,928 1,349 1,261 1,668 13,580 11,819 14.9

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 35,717 32,584 30,741 9.6 6.0 -4.2 40,355 28,429 26,133 36,582 285,644 256,193 11.5

 Computers........................................ 5,666 5,096 5,092 11.2 0.1 -10.2 6,135 4,980 5,151 6,073 47,110 42,299 11.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,166 6,690 6,053 -7.8 10.5 5.2 7,076 4,842 4,554 8,279 54,815 56,131 -2.3

 Defense communications equipment... 3,432 372 544 822.6 -31.6 2.8 3,480 376 498 443 7,408 3,874 91.2

 Semiconductors 2................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components........................ 4,605 5,010 4,313 -8.1 16.2 -7.5 4,798 5,119 3,862 4,390 41,618 34,073 22.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 1,139 1,066 903 6.8 18.1 -0.9 1,260 963 858 915 8,644 7,711 12.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,117 2,745 2,784 13.6 -1.4 -3.9 3,300 1,949 2,050 2,659 24,993 22,048 13.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,357 7,073 6,631 4.0 6.7 -10.5 8,528 6,252 5,737 8,231 63,866 55,343 15.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,147 9,436 9,040 -3.1 4.4 6.7 9,941 9,333 8,545 9,327 80,830 75,238 7.4

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,177 1,310 963 -10.2 36.0 17.7 1,270 1,278 805 1,120 9,958 9,312 6.9

 Household appliances.......................... 2,090 2,290 2,133 -8.7 7.4 11.2 2,224 2,400 2,051 2,137 18,313 17,436 5.0

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,711 2,663 2,646 1.8 0.6 -1.0 3,017 2,602 2,518 2,899 24,288 22,646 7.3

 Transportation equipment........................ 52,371 54,518 59,464 -3.9 -8.3 6.5 55,141 53,992 43,079 54,429 490,277 456,735 7.3

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,136 18,865 18,704 -3.9 0.9 0.4 18,629 19,200 14,044 19,215 168,046 161,053 4.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 5,610 6,706 12,475 -16.3 -46.2 103.5 6,576 6,614 10,737 5,698 58,105 42,534 36.6

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 2,469 2,779 3,007 -11.2 -7.6 -41.6 2,175 1,600 1,894 3,292 26,369 32,567 -19.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,777 2,172 2,322 -18.2 -6.5 9.5 1,534 2,175 1,446 1,733 18,950 17,696 7.1

 Furniture and related products................. 6,198 6,309 6,348 -1.8 -0.6 1.2 6,442 6,519 6,216 6,133 56,750 52,223 8.7

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 172,379 174,139 174,407 -1.0 -0.2 1.3 177,837 179,618 170,736 160,498 1,525,689 1,374,051 11.0

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

 New orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 2

 Data on new orders are not available for the semiconductor industry. Estimates and percent changes for new orders exclude semiconductor industry data. 

Note: Estimates of manufacturers' shipments, inventories and orders are subject to survey error and revision. One major component of survey error is nonsampling

error, which includes errors of coverage, response, and nonreporting. Since the survey panel is not a probability sample, estimates of sampling error cannot be

calculated. Further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations are contained in our most recent annual benchmark publication,

Current Industrial Reports: M3-1(02), "Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 1992-2002."

Year to date
 5 

Table 3. Value of Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. Sept.

2004p 2004r 2004 Sept. Aug. July 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

All manufacturing industries 1................... 539,342 535,310 533,792 0.8 0.3 1.2 531,475 531,238 533,998 484,496 9.7

 Excluding transportation 1................... 281,216 275,778 274,106 2.0 0.6 -0.4 277,159 273,998 275,313 241,660 14.7

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 377,273 375,422 373,535 0.5 0.5 1.8 373,345 373,753 374,105 334,894 11.5

 Durable goods industries 1

........................ 539,342 535,310 533,792 0.8 0.3 1.2 531,475 531,238 533,998 484,496 9.7

 Primary metals........................................ 20,205 20,143 19,726 0.3 2.1 4.2 19,831 20,347 19,870 14,331 38.4

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,648 11,660 11,347 -0.1 2.8 5.4 11,520 11,897 11,371 7,843 46.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,840 5,807 5,719 0.6 1.5 2.8 5,671 5,819 5,876 4,280 32.5

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,717 2,676 2,660 1.5 0.6 2.7 2,640 2,631 2,623 2,208 19.6

 Fabricated metal products...................... 44,628 44,797 44,403 -0.4 0.9 -0.3 44,192 45,228 44,909 36,845 19.9

 Machinery.............................................. 49,234 48,475 48,015 1.6 1.0 -0.7 48,407 47,907 48,034 40,918 18.3

 Construction machinery....................... 4,531 4,328 4,128 4.7 4.8 -0.2 4,118 4,052 3,929 2,073 98.6

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 1,355 1,373 1,405 -1.3 -2.3 -2.9 1,355 1,373 1,405 962 40.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 9,213 8,700 8,502 5.9 2.3 0.5 8,893 8,613 8,649 7,360 20.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 879 875 887 0.5 -1.4 -2.5 874 882 900 782 11.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,700 4,662 4,695 0.8 -0.7 -1.7 4,613 4,703 4,799 4,445 3.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,551 4,547 4,562 0.1 -0.3 0.1 4,407 4,467 4,581 3,663 20.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 9,882 9,972 9,701 -0.9 2.8 -2.4 9,888 9,988 9,766 8,153 21.3

 Material handling equipment............... 4,976 4,883 4,892 1.9 -0.2 -1.0 5,000 4,636 4,792 4,740 5.5

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 139,189 134,972 134,893 3.1 0.1 -0.8 136,861 132,934 134,963 125,033 9.5

 Computers......................................... 8,674 8,095 8,338 7.2 -2.9 -4.4 8,708 8,198 8,325 8,836 -1.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 45,858 46,117 46,405 -0.6 -0.6 -1.0 44,787 44,893 46,463 46,853 -4.4

 Defense communications equipment... 6,199 3,270 3,409 89.6 -4.1 1.2 6,199 3,270 3,409 2,999 106.7

 Semiconductors 1................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 15,843 15,829 15,398 0.1 2.8 -1.8 15,790 15,921 15,356 13,273 19.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 5,177 4,972 4,787 4.1 3.9 1.8 5,106 4,933 4,849 4,633 10.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 38,515 38,175 38,161 0.9 0.0 0.1 37,641 37,300 37,933 34,308 9.7

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 18,923 18,514 18,395 2.2 0.6 -0.8 18,630 18,419 18,628 14,131 31.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 15,288 15,033 14,794 1.7 1.6 -0.1 15,174 15,160 14,966 13,800 10.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,670 1,603 1,388 4.2 15.5 -8.6 1,690 1,653 1,431 1,559 8.4

 Household appliances.......................... 955 990 797 -3.5 24.2 8.7 945 1,023 776 824 14.7

 Electrical equipment............................ 8,892 8,788 8,836 1.2 -0.5 -0.5 8,836 8,813 8,928 8,438 4.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 258,126 259,532 259,686 -0.5 -0.1 2.9 254,316 257,240 258,685 242,836 4.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 15,275 15,337 15,076 -0.4 1.7 0.3 14,692 15,021 15,010 12,045 22.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 110,711 111,373 110,980 -0.6 0.4 6.3 110,540 110,903 110,195 104,491 5.8

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 55,313 56,282 57,227 -1.7 -1.7 -0.9 54,081 55,827 57,743 59,460 -9.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,028 19,584 19,764 -2.8 -0.9 -0.6 18,151 18,974 19,285 19,289 -5.9

 Furniture and related products................. 6,135 6,088 6,101 0.8 -0.2 -2.0 6,157 6,152 6,397 5,512 11.7

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

 Data on new orders are not available for the semiconductor industry. Estimates and percent changes for new orders exclude semiconductor industry data. 

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.
 6

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. Sept.

2004p 2004r 2004 Sept. Aug. July 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

 All manufacturing industries..................... 463,262 461,975 458,681 0.3 0.7 1.0 463,958 465,926 461,464 438,210 5.9

 Excluding transportation...................... 394,842 392,920 389,432 0.5 0.9 0.9 395,144 395,837 391,393 370,499 6.7

 Excluding defense............................. 439,146 438,073 434,635 0.2 0.8 1.1 439,695 441,686 437,069 415,006 5.9

 With unfilled orders............................. 216,685 216,060 214,428 0.3 0.8 1.2 216,508 218,319 216,197 204,114 6.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 278,186 277,119 274,834 0.4 0.8 1.1 277,522 279,879 276,952 260,534 6.5

 Wood products........................................ 10,401 10,318 10,230 0.8 0.9 0.5 10,264 10,069 9,988 9,276 10.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,369 9,363 9,303 0.1 0.6 1.1 9,225 9,367 9,350 9,567 -3.6

 Primary metals........................................ 19,969 19,643 19,070 1.7 3.0 1.3 20,068 19,667 19,187 17,374 15.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,250 10,881 10,307 3.4 5.6 1.2 11,389 10,930 10,419 9,387 21.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,851 6,918 6,960 -1.0 -0.6 1.0 6,856 6,922 6,962 6,360 7.8

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,868 1,844 1,803 1.3 2.3 2.4 1,823 1,815 1,806 1,627 12.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 34,364 34,005 33,470 1.1 1.6 1.7 34,241 34,184 33,669 30,656 11.7

 Machinery.............................................. 44,927 44,688 44,315 0.5 0.8 1.1 44,625 44,920 44,212 40,992 8.9

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,420 2,399 2,422 0.9 -0.9 0.5 2,305 2,311 2,360 2,056 12.1

 Construction machinery........................ 4,131 4,116 4,164 0.4 -1.2 3.7 4,091 4,079 4,096 3,415 19.8

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,264 2,343 2,333 -3.4 0.4 -3.1 2,265 2,394 2,360 2,249 0.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,111 7,108 6,905 0.0 2.9 -0.9 7,028 7,166 6,866 6,507 8.0

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,434 1,417 1,409 1.2 0.6 -0.2 1,460 1,421 1,411 1,418 3.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,481 4,473 4,371 0.2 2.3 2.9 4,416 4,526 4,375 4,047 9.1

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,372 4,315 4,348 1.3 -0.8 -0.3 4,433 4,439 4,434 4,342 2.1

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,824 4,762 4,717 1.3 1.0 2.4 4,864 4,864 4,756 4,157 17.0

 Material handling equipment............... 2,504 2,445 2,419 2.4 1.1 1.0 2,519 2,458 2,389 2,337 7.8

 Computers and electronic products......... 49,611 48,998 48,583 1.3 0.9 0.7 49,401 50,061 49,462 46,467 6.3

 Computers......................................... 2,789 2,614 2,520 6.7 3.7 2.3 2,996 2,752 2,481 2,687 11.5

 Computer storage devices................... 1,283 1,238 1,226 3.6 1.0 0.9 1,198 1,322 1,263 1,116 7.3

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,404 2,431 2,457 -1.1 -1.1 2.2 2,376 2,563 2,504 2,322 2.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 9,561 9,667 9,536 -1.1 1.4 2.0 9,512 9,884 9,696 9,634 -1.3

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,183 1,216 1,176 -2.7 3.4 -5.9 1,183 1,216 1,176 1,373 -13.8

 Audio and video equipment.................. 1,119 1,089 1,058 2.8 2.9 4.3 1,237 1,168 1,106 1,053 17.5

 Semiconductors1

................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 8,259 7,927 8,004 4.2 -1.0 0.7 8,167 7,903 8,292 6,870 18.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,511 2,473 2,439 1.5 1.4 -1.3 2,505 2,494 2,485 2,574 -2.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,895 2,847 2,863 1.7 -0.6 -1.6 2,901 2,907 2,900 2,771 4.7

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,277 10,261 10,251 0.2 0.1 0.1 10,141 10,483 10,278 10,100 0.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 13,036 13,047 12,820 -0.1 1.8 1.5 12,676 13,024 12,847 11,935 6.2

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,485 1,481 1,456 0.3 1.7 0.1 1,485 1,512 1,511 1,402 5.9

 Household appliances.......................... 2,374 2,399 2,306 -1.0 4.0 4.2 2,260 2,350 2,316 1,925 17.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,493 4,485 4,450 0.2 0.8 0.6 4,326 4,479 4,395 3,885 11.4

 Batteries............................................ 642 623 602 3.0 3.5 0.7 649 655 630 596 8.9

 Transportation equipment...................... 68,420 69,055 69,249 -0.9 -0.3 1.1 68,814 70,089 70,071 67,711 1.6

 Automobiles....................................... 2,258 2,246 2,124 0.5 5.7 -2.7 2,332 2,328 2,241 1,938 20.3

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,622 2,493 2,428 5.2 2.7 -3.1 2,694 2,617 2,523 2,269 18.7

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 808 804 796 0.5 1.0 -0.9 835 833 798 765 9.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 16,188 16,123 16,130 0.4 0.0 0.4 16,171 16,114 16,285 15,294 5.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 23,062 24,165 24,426 -4.6 -1.1 3.8 23,193 24,661 24,513 25,086 -7.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,689 11,514 11,609 1.5 -0.8 -0.6 11,762 11,706 11,857 10,971 7.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,259 3,136 3,133 3.9 0.1 -4.1 3,239 3,126 3,153 2,802 15.6

 Furniture and related products................. 8,339 8,274 8,185 0.8 1.1 0.8 8,378 8,409 8,393 7,698 8.8

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 19,750 19,728 19,609 0.1 0.6 1.0 19,830 20,089 19,773 18,858 5.2

 Nondurable goods industries................... 185,076 184,856 183,847 0.1 0.5 0.8 186,436 186,047 184,512 177,676 4.9

 Food products........................................ 33,791 33,914 34,013 -0.4 -0.3 -0.1 34,337 34,115 33,509 33,781 1.6

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 2,941 2,822 2,849 4.2 -0.9 -9.4 2,791 2,619 2,676 3,459 -19.3

 Dairy products.................................... 3,975 3,985 4,044 -0.3 -1.5 -1.6 3,955 4,046 4,205 3,488 13.4

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,311 6,415 6,391 -1.6 0.4 0.8 6,348 6,349 6,340 6,179 2.7

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 15,114 15,147 14,648 -0.2 3.4 -0.6 15,344 14,647 14,006 15,065 1.9

 Beverages......................................... 10,402 10,479 10,037 -0.7 4.4 -0.6 10,623 10,173 9,710 10,220 3.9

 Tobacco........................................... 4,712 4,668 4,611 0.9 1.2 -0.5 4,721 4,474 4,296 4,845 -2.6

 Textile mills........................................... 4,844 4,828 4,826 0.3 0.0 -0.8 4,757 4,858 4,907 5,035 -5.5

 Textile products...................................... 5,219 5,199 5,189 0.4 0.2 0.7 5,262 5,224 5,236 5,080 3.6

 Apparel................................................. 7,285 7,154 7,018 1.8 1.9 1.0 7,449 7,358 7,358 7,393 0.8

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,602 1,594 1,606 0.5 -0.7 -1.4 1,632 1,632 1,651 1,689 -3.4

 Paper products....................................... 14,665 14,744 14,644 -0.5 0.7 2.1 14,637 14,738 14,628 14,743 -0.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,301 6,254 6,300 0.8 -0.7 2.9 6,260 6,232 6,283 6,622 -5.5

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,298 4,440 4,339 -3.2 2.3 2.4 4,326 4,446 4,341 4,138 4.5

 Printing.................................................. 6,652 6,537 6,462 1.8 1.2 1.0 7,000 6,974 6,780 6,511 7.5

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 17,370 17,461 17,770 -0.5 -1.7 4.8 17,861 17,846 18,259 16,096 11.0

 Petroleum refineries............................. 15,648 15,773 16,115 -0.8 -2.1 5.0 16,134 16,091 16,526 14,601 10.5

 Basic chemicals...................................... 56,120 56,279 56,109 -0.3 0.3 -0.1 55,934 56,856 56,562 52,378 6.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,369 2,382 2,396 -0.5 -0.6 -0.1 2,117 2,057 2,083 2,046 3.5

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 23,236 23,414 23,524 -0.8 -0.5 -1.6 23,319 24,059 23,986 21,119 10.4

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,855 2,838 2,830 0.6 0.3 0.3 2,808 2,826 2,856 2,739 2.5

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 22,414 21,999 21,562 1.9 2.0 1.7 22,223 21,799 21,616 19,905 11.6

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1 Inventories for semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and total durable goods industries, but are not shown separately. 

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.
 7 

Table 5. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments, New Orders, Unfilled Orders, and Total Inventories for 

 Topical Series 1

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted2

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Sept. Aug. July 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 371,302 375,537 372,105 -1.1 0.9 0.9 392,524 382,018 344,364 357,911 3,288,297 2,963,725 11.0

 Construction materials and supplies...... 39,859 40,183 39,457 -0.8 1.8 0.9 42,555 43,413 39,460 38,136 354,123 315,669 12.2

 Information technology......................... 30,277 31,562 30,887 -4.1 2.2 3.1 35,187 29,437 27,200 34,406 269,441 243,035 10.9

 Computers and related products .......... 8,130 8,574 8,643 -5.2 -0.8 6.5 10,066 7,784 8,064 10,317 74,000 66,266 11.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 38,261 38,617 36,671 -0.9 5.3 -3.9 40,825 39,974 24,938 40,367 347,987 329,752 5.5

 Capital goods...................................... 71,721 72,997 71,777 -1.7 1.7 2.0 78,984 69,975 65,156 73,771 633,292 568,359 11.4

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 63,649 64,571 63,458 -1.4 1.8 1.8 70,302 61,826 57,396 65,256 559,133 501,033 11.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 61,069 61,960 61,415 -1.4 0.9 2.3 67,544 59,497 55,875 62,456 537,665 478,662 12.3

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,072 8,426 8,319 -4.2 1.3 3.5 8,682 8,149 7,760 8,515 74,159 67,326 10.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 140,491 142,250 141,038 -1.2 0.9 -0.1 146,613 146,980 130,486 134,526 1,248,427 1,132,169 10.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,884 34,956 33,120 -0.2 5.5 -5.2 37,428 35,805 24,481 36,708 313,848 295,299 6.3

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 105,607 107,294 107,918 -1.6 -0.6 1.6 109,185 111,175 106,005 97,818 934,579 836,870 11.7

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 368,254 369,574 370,838 -0.4 -0.3 1.7 384,859 371,988 341,356 349,573 3,254,405 2,916,053 11.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 39,524 40,408 39,070 -2.2 3.4 0.4 41,369 43,650 39,016 38,183 358,708 316,143 13.5

 Information technology......................... 34,603 31,077 30,137 11.3 3.1 -2.3 39,269 26,665 25,903 35,713 275,917 251,302 9.8

 Computers and related products .......... 8,709 8,331 8,261 4.5 0.8 -5.1 10,576 7,657 7,453 10,327 73,903 66,978 10.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 38,199 38,878 36,723 -1.7 5.9 -4.5 40,496 39,985 25,189 40,615 349,059 329,664 5.9

 Capital goods...................................... 76,073 73,402 78,012 3.6 -5.9 6.0 81,808 66,489 68,504 73,036 650,201 576,246 12.8

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 65,512 65,015 69,879 0.8 -7.0 9.3 71,899 60,158 63,213 65,753 573,695 503,596 13.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,439 61,730 61,322 2.8 0.7 0.6 69,349 56,840 55,655 63,124 546,388 486,478 12.3

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 10,561 8,387 8,133 25.9 3.1 -15.8 9,909 6,331 5,291 7,283 76,506 72,650 5.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 140,793 142,471 140,998 -1.2 1.0 -0.1 146,808 147,063 130,746 134,459 1,249,069 1,131,933 10.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,186 35,177 33,080 0.0 6.3 -5.2 37,623 35,888 24,741 36,641 314,490 295,063 6.6

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 105,607 107,294 107,918 -1.6 -0.6 1.6 109,185 111,175 106,005 97,818 934,579 836,870 11.7

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 539,342 535,310 533,792 0.8 0.3 1.2 531,475 531,238 533,998 484,496 (X) (X) 9.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 36,800 37,135 36,910 -0.9 0.6 -1.0 36,454 37,640 37,403 31,607 (X) (X) 15.3

 Information technology......................... 127,996 123,670 124,155 3.5 -0.4 -0.6 125,648 121,566 124,338 115,521 (X) (X) 8.8

 Computers and related products .......... 8,674 8,095 8,338 7.2 -2.9 -4.4 8,708 8,198 8,325 8,836 (X) (X) -1.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 15,275 15,337 15,076 -0.4 1.7 0.3 14,692 15,021 15,010 12,045 (X) (X) 22.0

 Capital goods...................................... 380,646 376,294 375,889 1.2 0.1 1.7 374,706 371,882 375,368 346,598 (X) (X) 8.1

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................236,552 234,689 234,245 0.8 0.2 2.8 234,109 232,512 234,180 215,965 (X) (X) 8.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 150,279 147,909 148,139 1.6 -0.2 -0.1 148,007 146,202 148,859 136,087 (X) (X) 8.8

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 144,094 141,605 141,644 1.8 0.0 -0.1 140,597 139,370 141,188 130,633 (X) (X) 7.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 13,342 13,040 12,819 2.3 1.7 -0.3 13,253 13,058 12,975 11,631 (X) (X) 13.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 13,342 13,040 12,819 2.3 1.7 -0.3 13,253 13,058 12,975 11,631 (X) (X) 13.9 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 463,262 461,975 458,681 0.3 0.7 1.0 463,958 465,926 461,464 438,210 (X) (X) 5.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 50,543 50,143 49,530 0.8 1.2 1.7 50,054 50,146 49,606 45,857 (X) (X) 9.2

 Information technology......................... 39,960 39,783 39,415 0.4 0.9 0.6 39,938 40,717 39,771 39,648 (X) (X) 0.7

 Computers and related products .......... 6,476 6,283 6,203 3.1 1.3 2.0 6,570 6,637 6,248 6,125 (X) (X) 7.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 21,876 21,666 21,478 1.0 0.9 -0.4 22,032 21,892 21,847 20,266 (X) (X) 8.7

 Capital goods...................................... 128,545 128,857 128,454 -0.2 0.3 1.1 128,290 130,778 129,098 123,999 (X) (X) 3.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................109,124 109,575 109,066 -0.4 0.5 1.6 108,832 111,274 109,493 105,299 (X) (X) 3.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 92,419 91,960 91,292 0.5 0.7 0.9 91,960 93,292 91,727 87,425 (X) (X) 5.2

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 19,421 19,282 19,388 0.7 -0.5 -1.7 19,458 19,504 19,605 18,700 (X) (X) 4.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 142,785 142,721 142,059 0.0 0.5 0.5 144,435 144,116 142,637 137,069 (X) (X) 5.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,751 29,461 28,900 1.0 1.9 0.8 29,853 29,912 29,317 26,980 (X) (X) 10.6

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 113,034 113,260 113,159 -0.2 0.1 0.5 114,582 114,204 113,320 110,089 (X) (X) 4.1

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable.

1

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories. 2

 Shipments and new orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 3

 Nondefense capital goods industries include: small arms and ordnance; farm machinery and equipment; construction machinery; mining, oil, and gas field machinery;

industrial machinery; vending, laundry, and other machinery; photographic equipment; metalworking machinery; turbines and generators; other power transmission

equipment; pumps and compressors; material handling equipment; all other machinery; electronic computers; computer storage devices; other computer peripheral

equipment; communications equipment; search and navigation equipment; electromedical, measuring, and control instruments; electrical equipment; other electrical 

equipment, appliances, and components; heavy duty trucks; aircraft; railroad rolling stock; ships and boats; office and institutional furniture; and medical equipment

and supplies.

4 Defense capital goods industries include: small arms and ordnance; communications equipment; aircraft; missiles, space vehicles, and parts; ships and boats;

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 6

 Based on year-to-date for shipments and new orders, but on same month prior year for unfilled orders and inventories.

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.

NEW ORDERS

UNFILLED ORDERS

TOTAL INVENTORIES
 8

Table 6. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories, by Stage of Fabrication, by Industry Group

 

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. Sept.

2004p 2004r 2004 Sept. Aug. July 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 152,305 151,410 150,674 0.6 0.5 1.2 152,518 151,651 151,629 142,996 6.7

 Durable goods industries ........................ 91,612 90,650 89,972 1.1 0.8 1.1 91,873 91,218 90,862 83,669 9.8

 Wood products................................... 3,976 3,953 3,915 0.6 1.0 1.8 4,063 3,879 3,749 3,598 12.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,350 3,359 3,375 -0.3 -0.5 0.9 3,366 3,384 3,384 3,396 -0.9

 Primary metals.................................... 7,760 7,590 7,349 2.2 3.3 2.2 7,891 7,657 7,427 5,896 33.8

 Fabricated metal products..................... 13,096 12,825 12,442 2.1 3.1 2.9 13,178 12,933 12,501 11,048 19.3

 Machinery.......................................... 13,317 13,154 13,011 1.2 1.1 0.7 13,277 13,257 13,133 12,408 7.0

 Computers and electronic products ...... 17,322 17,018 17,182 1.8 -1.0 0.5 17,343 17,135 17,470 16,371 5.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,785 4,781 4,672 0.1 2.3 1.0 4,687 4,751 4,658 4,540 3.2

 Transportation equipment.................. 17,745 17,835 17,894 -0.5 -0.3 0.6 17,800 17,944 18,238 17,002 4.7

 Furniture and related products............ 3,647 3,555 3,586 2.6 -0.9 2.7 3,644 3,574 3,629 3,192 14.2

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,614 6,580 6,546 0.5 0.5 -1.1 6,624 6,704 6,673 6,218 6.5

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 60,693 60,760 60,702 -0.1 0.1 1.3 60,645 60,433 60,767 59,327 2.2

 Food products.................................... 9,693 9,503 9,632 2.0 -1.3 -1.3 9,459 9,227 9,525 10,151 -6.8

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,403 5,346 5,174 1.1 3.3 -1.7 5,326 5,143 4,969 5,520 -3.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,353 1,354 1,354 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 1,333 1,352 1,365 1,383 -3.6

 Textile products.................................. 1,863 1,873 1,874 -0.5 -0.1 1.3 1,910 1,906 1,910 1,743 9.6

 Apparel............................................. 1,661 1,646 1,624 0.9 1.4 -0.1 1,640 1,633 1,626 1,643 -0.2

 Leather and allied products................... 447 451 451 -0.9 0.0 -0.9 455 465 468 444 2.5

 Paper products................................... 6,490 6,509 6,703 -0.3 -2.9 1.3 6,530 6,484 6,668 6,841 -4.5

 Printing ............................................. 2,906 2,881 2,877 0.9 0.1 0.2 3,040 2,952 2,963 2,865 6.1

 Petroleum and coal products............... 5,537 5,544 5,771 -0.1 -3.9 12.7 5,547 5,555 5,910 5,025 10.4

 Basic chemicals................................... 17,459 17,819 17,571 -2.0 1.4 0.8 17,528 17,873 17,624 16,526 6.1

 Plastics and rubber products............... 7,881 7,834 7,671 0.6 2.1 1.5 7,877 7,843 7,739 7,186 9.6

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 131,245 132,238 132,313 -0.8 -0.1 0.9 131,769 133,737 132,765 127,550 3.3

 Durable goods industries ........................ 99,721 100,591 100,638 -0.9 0.0 1.7 99,918 102,049 101,233 95,818 4.3

 Wood products................................... 1,972 1,938 1,989 1.8 -2.6 0.2 1,967 1,934 1,987 1,961 0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,168 1,180 1,164 -1.0 1.4 -1.6 1,130 1,177 1,167 1,163 -2.8

 Primary metals.................................... 6,571 6,458 6,226 1.7 3.7 0.8 6,592 6,465 6,269 5,800 13.7

 Fabricated metal products..................... 9,750 9,711 9,762 0.4 -0.5 0.0 9,770 9,854 9,869 9,303 5.0

 Machinery.......................................... 15,701 15,678 15,665 0.1 0.1 1.5 15,770 16,045 15,769 14,670 7.5

 Computers and electronic products ...... 19,625 19,835 19,559 -1.1 1.4 1.8 19,583 20,291 19,887 17,552 11.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,028 3,041 2,993 -0.4 1.6 -0.8 2,953 3,062 3,024 2,817 4.8

 Transportation equipment.................. 37,155 37,931 38,474 -2.0 -1.4 2.0 37,357 38,312 38,371 38,132 -2.0

 Furniture and related products............ 1,571 1,656 1,597 -5.1 3.7 -0.7 1,569 1,665 1,616 1,543 1.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,180 3,163 3,209 0.5 -1.4 10.8 3,227 3,244 3,274 2,877 12.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 31,524 31,647 31,675 -0.4 -0.1 -1.4 31,851 31,688 31,532 31,732 0.4

 Food products.................................... 3,237 3,377 3,275 -4.1 3.1 1.5 3,118 3,147 3,033 2,890 7.9

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,940 4,994 4,801 -1.1 4.0 -1.4 5,160 4,616 4,296 4,895 5.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,272 1,267 1,257 0.4 0.8 -0.4 1,267 1,262 1,265 1,290 -1.8

 Textile products.................................. 668 682 689 -2.1 -1.0 -0.7 669 686 692 730 -8.4

 Apparel............................................. 1,199 1,176 1,137 2.0 3.4 -0.7 1,170 1,168 1,172 1,190 -1.7

 Leather and allied products................... 166 170 161 -2.4 5.6 -5.8 163 168 160 167 -2.4

 Paper products................................... 1,277 1,277 1,251 0.0 2.1 2.9 1,286 1,310 1,275 1,183 8.7

 Printing ............................................. 1,839 1,789 1,762 2.8 1.5 1.7 1,957 2,013 1,931 1,829 7.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... 3,475 3,476 3,860 0.0 -9.9 3.0 3,576 3,564 4,016 4,301 -16.9

 Basic chemicals................................... 10,808 10,823 10,885 -0.1 -0.6 -5.2 10,841 11,166 11,119 10,777 0.6

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,643 2,616 2,597 1.0 0.7 0.7 2,644 2,588 2,573 2,480 6.6

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 179,712 178,327 175,694 0.8 1.5 0.8 179,671 180,538 177,070 167,664 7.2

 Durable goods industries ........................ 86,853 85,878 84,224 1.1 2.0 0.4 85,731 86,612 84,857 81,047 5.8

 Wood products................................... 4,453 4,427 4,326 0.6 2.3 -0.6 4,234 4,256 4,252 3,717 13.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,851 4,824 4,764 0.6 1.3 2.0 4,729 4,806 4,799 5,008 -5.6

 Primary metals.................................... 5,638 5,595 5,495 0.8 1.8 0.6 5,585 5,545 5,491 5,678 -1.6

 Fabricated metal products..................... 11,518 11,469 11,266 0.4 1.8 2.0 11,293 11,397 11,299 10,305 9.6

 Machinery.......................................... 15,909 15,856 15,639 0.3 1.4 1.0 15,578 15,618 15,310 13,914 12.0

 Computers and electronic products ...... 12,664 12,145 11,842 4.3 2.6 -0.6 12,475 12,635 12,105 12,544 -0.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,223 5,225 5,155 0.0 1.4 3.4 5,036 5,211 5,165 4,578 10.0

 Transportation equipment.................. 13,520 13,289 12,881 1.7 3.2 -1.1 13,657 13,833 13,462 12,577 8.6

 Furniture and related products............ 3,121 3,063 3,002 1.9 2.0 -0.5 3,165 3,170 3,148 2,963 6.8

 Miscellaneous products........................ 9,956 9,985 9,854 -0.3 1.3 -0.5 9,979 10,141 9,826 9,763 2.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 92,859 92,449 91,470 0.4 1.1 1.2 93,940 93,926 92,213 86,617 8.5

 Food products.................................... 20,861 21,034 21,106 -0.8 -0.3 0.2 21,760 21,741 20,951 20,740 4.9

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,771 4,807 4,673 -0.7 2.9 1.5 4,858 4,888 4,741 4,650 4.5

 Textiles.............................................. 2,219 2,207 2,215 0.5 -0.4 -0.8 2,157 2,244 2,277 2,362 -8.7

 Textile products.................................. 2,688 2,644 2,626 1.7 0.7 0.7 2,683 2,632 2,634 2,607 2.9

 Apparel............................................. 4,425 4,332 4,257 2.1 1.8 1.9 4,639 4,557 4,560 4,560 1.7

 Leather and allied products................... 989 973 994 1.6 -2.1 -0.9 1,014 999 1,023 1,078 -5.9

 Paper products................................... 6,898 6,958 6,690 -0.9 4.0 2.8 6,821 6,944 6,685 6,719 1.5

 Printing ............................................. 1,907 1,867 1,823 2.1 2.4 1.5 2,003 2,009 1,886 1,817 10.2

 Petroleum and coal products............... 8,358 8,441 8,139 -1.0 3.7 0.6 8,738 8,727 8,333 6,770 29.1

 Basic chemicals................................... 27,853 27,637 27,653 0.8 -0.1 1.4 27,565 27,817 27,819 25,075 9.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 11,890 11,549 11,294 3.0 2.3 2.0 11,702 11,368 11,304 10,239 14.3

p

 Preliminary r Revised

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
Table 7. Ratios of Manufacturers' Inventories to Shipments and Unfilled Orders

 to Shipments, by Industry Group

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Sep Aug Jul Jun Sep Aug Jul Jun

2004p 2004r 2004 2004 2004p 2004r 2004 2004

 All manufacturing industries2...... 1.25 1.23 1.23 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries 2

................... 1.40 1.38 1.39 1.38 3.97 3.90 3.92 3.94

 Wood products................................ 1.10 1.06 1.12 1.11 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.27 1.24 1.23 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.37 1.35 1.34 1.37 1.39 1.39 1.39 1.37

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.48 1.47 1.44 1.44 1.99 2.01 1.99 2.03

 Machinery....................................... 1.77 1.80 1.76 1.80 2.15 2.17 2.13 2.20

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.29 1.23 1.23 1.26 5.11 4.83 4.92 5.07

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.47 1.42 1.42 1.44 1.83 1.73 1.73 1.80

 Transportation equipment................. 1.27 1.26 1.33 1.26 7.66 7.49 7.59 7.33

 Furniture and related products........... 1.36 1.31 1.26 1.31 1.14 1.09 1.06 1.14

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.72 1.74 1.72 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.07 1.06 1.05 1.06 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.83 0.83 0.81 0.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.64 1.63 1.62 1.56 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.39 1.38 1.38 1.46 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.67 1.65 1.65 1.65 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.55 1.54 1.47 1.45 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 1.82 1.76 1.79 1.79 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.02 1.00 1.00 0.97 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.84 0.84 0.81 0.78 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.61 0.60 0.62 0.63 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Basic chemicals............................... 1.33 1.32 1.31 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.30 1.28 1.27 1.25 (X) (X) (X) (X)

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable

1

 Excludes the following industries with no unfilled orders: Wood products; nonmetallic mineral products;

medical equipment and supplies; office supplies; other miscellaneous manufacturing; cutlery and handtools;

farm and garden machinery; computer storage and peripheral devices; audio and video equipment; manufacturing

and reproducing magnetic and optical media; batteries; automobiles; light trucks and utility vehicles; heavy duty

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Sep2 Sep2 Sep2 Sep2

Industry 2003- 2003- 2003- 2003-

Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug

2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004

 All manufacturing industries........... (X) 0.4 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.1

Durable goods industries ...................... 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.7 0.1 1.6 0.2 0.9 0.1 0.2

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.0 0.4 -0.1 1.5 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.4

 Machinery.......................................... 0.3 0.8 0.2 1.4 0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.2

 Computers and electronic products ..... 0.1 0.8 0.3 1.6 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.2 0.4 1.7 0.8 0.9 0.5 -0.3 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.3 0.3 -0.3 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.7 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.9 (X) 0.4

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 0.9 (X) 1.0 (X) 0.4

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Food products................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Leather and allied products................... (X) 2.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 1.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

 Basic chemicals.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

 The current month revisions are the difference between the advance percent change and the percent change as shown in this

 publication.

2

 The twelve month revisions are the differences between the month-to-month percent changes of the preliminary and

final estimates. The monthly averages are the simple averages of the absolute values of the differences for the months specified. 

The advance to final percent change revisions for the durable goods industries are shown in the advance report for the month.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
10

Survey Description 

This report is compiled from results of the U.S.

Census Bureau’s Manufacturers’ Shipments,

Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey. This survey

provides statistics on manufacturers' value of

shipments, new orders (net of cancellations), end-ofmonth order backlog (unfilled orders), end-of-month

total inventory (at current cost or market value), and

inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and

supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods). The

M3 includes approximately 4,000 reporting units. 

Units may be divisions of diversified large

companies, large homogenous companies, or singleunit manufacturers in 89 industry categories. Due to

the small monthly sample, these 89 categories have

been combined into 59 publication levels. The

survey methodology assumes that the month-tomonth changes of the total operations of those

companies in the monthly survey effectively

represent the month-to-month movements of all

establishments that make up the category. The

current coverage levels in the survey show that

reported data in the monthly survey represent

approximately 60 percent of the shipments estimates

at the total manufacturing level. Data published

represent manufacturing in a calendar month. The

data collection is based on a voluntary survey

authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code.

The data presented in this release are based on data

obtained from a panel of 4,000 reporting units and

provide an indication of the activity within the

manufacturing sector. The results differ from what

would be obtained from a complete enumeration of

all manufacturing companies. In addition, a different

panel of 4,000 companies would yield different

results. The M3 panel is comprised of companies

with $500 million or more in shipments and a limited

number of smaller companies. From a statistical

perspective, the panel is not a probability sample;

therefore, the sampling errors that are normally

provided with sample surveys cannot be measured. 

Nonsampling errors are attributable to many sources. 

The use of company or divisional reports to estimate

the monthly change for establishments is one source

of nonsampling error. The use of primarily large

companies to represent the month-to-month

movement of all companies is another potential

source.

Additional survey documentation can be found on our

web site: http://www.census.gov/m3.

2005 Release Dates for M3 Survey

Survey Month Advance 8:30 A.M. Preliminary 10:00 A.M.

Dec 2004 January 27, 2005 February 3, 2005

Jan 2005 February 24, 2005 March 4, 2005

Feb 2005 March 24, 2005 March 31, 2005

Mar 2005 April 27, 2005 May 3, 2005

Apr 2005 May 25, 2005 June 2, 2005

May 2005 June 24, 2005 July 5, 2005

Jun 2005 July 27, 2005 August 2, 2005

Jul 2005 August 24, 2005 August 30, 2005

Aug 2005 September 28, 2005 October 4, 2005

Sep 2005 October 27, 2005 November 3, 2005

Oct 2005 November 29, 2005 December 6, 2005

Nov 2005 December 23, 2005