Table 4. VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’ INVENTORIES FOR INDUSTRY GROUPS

(Millions of dollars)

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

Industry Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent
change
Mar. Feb. Jan.| Feb] Jan-] Dec Mar. Feb. Jan, Mar.} Mar.
1998} 1998" 1998] Mar.| Feb.| Jan. | 1998" 1998" 1998 1997] 98/97
All manufacturing industries . . 458,752] 458,058] 455,122] +02} +06] +03] 457,878] 461,124] 453,306} 438,034] +45
Manufacturing industries
with unfilled orders 304,408 | 303,900] 301,754) +02] +0.7) +03] 302,826] 304,949] 299,171] 289,639] +46
without defense capital goods 441,370] 440,641] 437,847 +0.2 +0.6 +0.3| 440,575 | 443,776] 436,308] 421,927 +44
Durable goods industries. . 287,956] 287,243} 285,065} +0.2] +08] +04] 286,957) 289,272} 283,573] 273,848] +48
With unfilled orders... . 264,244 | 263,824] 261,716} +02] +08] +04) 262,678) 264,937] 259.710] 250,616] +48
Stone, clay, and glass products 8,792] 8,788] 8,790 0.0 oo| +04] 9,000} 9,009] 8.785] 8.887) +13
mary metals. 24,595] 24,754] 25109] 06] 14 0.0] 24580] 24,879] 25,258] 24848) -1.1
Blast furnaces, si 12,110] 12,081} 12,091] 40.2] = -0.1] 0.1] 11,965] 12,154] 12330] 12,088] -1.0
Iron and steel foundr 1,631 1,637 1667} 04) 0-18] +14 1,677 1,658 1,644 1,723) -2.7
Nonferrous and other Primary
metals 10,854] 11,036] 11,351 -16] -28/ = -03] 10,938] 11,067] 11,284] 11,037] -0.9
Fabricated metal products 29,897] 29,606] 29,303] +10] +1.0] +0.7} 30,181] 29,735] 29,167] 28385] +63
Industrial machinery and equipment . 61,301] 61,351} 60,396 0.1 +16 04] 60,648] 62,327] 60,040} $8,007 +46
Engines and turbines ... . - 4,142 4,193 4,110 12 42.0 +47 4,006 . 3,949 3,510] +14.1
Farm and garden machinery 3,494 3,444 3,394 +15 +15 +16 3,718 3,824 3,715 3,296] +12.8
Construction, mining and
material handling equipment ... . 8,416 8,361 8,242 +07 +14 +0.6 8,512 8,493 8,244 7,666 | +11.0
Metalworking machinery .... . 7,279| 7,263) 7,156) 40.2) +15] -2.0] 7,205] 7,236] = 6,929] 7,264] -0.8
Computer and office equipment... | 11,131] 11,151] 11,044] 0.2] = +1.0] 3.4] 10,376] 11,408] 10,832] 11,040] —-6.0
Electronic and other
electrical equipment ........... 41,545] 41,372] 40,948] +04] +10] +11] 40,943] 41,345] 40,466] 38,631] +6.0
Electrical transmission and
distribution equipment and
industrial apparatus . 5,264 5,288 5,293 05 0.1 40.3 5,208 5,309 5,225 5,169 40.8
Household appliances 2,625] 2,598 2,550] +10] +19] +20] 2,725] 2695] 2510] 2,818 33
Electric lighting and
wiring equipment . . 3,405 3,414 3,429 03 0.4 +0.5 3,375 3,419 3,360 3,280 42.9
Household audio and
i 1,332] 1,369 1388) 27] -l4] 33 1,262 1,347 1,338 1511] -165
Communications equipment 11,080) 11,207] 11,152] =] 40.5] 40.1] 10,801} 11,227] 11,081] 10,195] +59
Electronic components . 14,556] 14,191] 13,824] +26] 42.7] +28] 14.312] 14117] 13,755] 12,288] +165
Transportation equipment . 68,942 | 68,878] 68,203] +0.1] +1.0] +08] 68,989] 69,263] 67,790] 64920] +63
Motor vehicles and parts . . . 17,096] 16,664} 16,564] +26] +06] +09) 17,251] 16,727] 16,565] 16,918] +2.
Aircraft, missiles,
p les, and parts. . 47,020] 47,242) 46,648] -05] +13] +06] 46,859] 47,477] 46,226] 43,317] +82
Shipbuilding and tanks ....... 1,641 1,634 1,705 +04 4.2 +12 1,688 1,672 1,733 1,749 35
Instruments and related products . 25,418] 25,191] 25,125] +09] +03] +04] 25169] 25,001] 24,600] 24,264] $3.7
Search and navigation equipment 6,280 6211 6,222 +11 -0.2 0.2 6,179 6,175 6,090 6,030] — +2.5
Measuring and controlling devices . 7,977 7,945 7,901 40.4 +0.6 40.6 7,949 7,916 7,783 7,652 43.9
Medical instruments and supplies : 8,034] 7,925} 7923) +14 00} +05} 7,938] 7,873] 7818] 7,674] +34
Photographic goods .. oa 2,409 2,405 2,382 40.2] +10] +05 2,385 2,337 2,222 2,280 +4.6
All other durable goods . 27,466| 27,303] 27,191} +06] +04] +03) 27,447) 27,713] 27,467] 25,906] +59
Nondurable goods industries . . 170,796 | 170,815] 170,057 0.0} +0.4] +02} 170,921) 171,852] 169,733] 164,186] 44.1
With unfilled orders . . 40,164] 40,076} 40,038 40.2 +0.1 0.3} 40,148] 40,012] 39,461} + 39,023 42.9
Food and kindred products 36,420| 36,498 | 36,293, 02] +06} +11] 36,051] 36,694] 36,630} 34,431] = +4.7
Meat products . . 4,039 4,054 4,082 0.4 0.7 +5.6 4,100 4,126 4,022 3,784 +84
Dairy products . 3,665] 3,679] 3,538] 04] +40) 47.4) 3,623] 3,600] 3.452] 3,113] +164
Beverages ..... : 7313] 7,225} 7,231) +12] 0.1] 40.6) 7,326] = 7,225] 7,225] 6,603] | +109
All other foods, except fats and oils 19,501] 19,510} 19,487 0.0 +0.1 0.7] 18,962] 19,486] 19,803] 18,734 +12
Tobacco products . - 6,278 6,250 6318] +04 “ll 423 6,367 6,743 6,917 6,228 42.2
Textile mill products . 10,338] 10,339] 10,306 0.0 40.3 0.0] 10,369] 10,467] 10,275] — 10,123 424
Broadwoven fabrics and
other textiles ....., 6480] 6,498] 6495] -0.3 0.0 00} 6476] 6612] 6,528] 6,286] +3.0
Paper and allied products . 16,450] 16,437] 16,478] +0.1 02] +06) 16,655] 16,641] 16,570] 16,249) +25
Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mill products... . . 6,663} 6,651 6732} +02] -12| +06/ 6,761 6,794] 6,808} 6,675] +13
Paperboard containers and boxes . . 4153} 4,107] 4.074] tnt] 40.8) 41.2] 4.230] 4.179] 4120] 40st] +44
Miscellaneous converted
Paper products 5,634] 5,679] 5,672] 08} = 40.1] = 40.2] = 5,664] 5,668] 5,642] 5,523
Chemicals and allied products 45,670] 45,572] 45,107 40.2 +10 +16] 46,050] 46,126] 44,898] — 42,022
Industrial chemicals ..... . 20,366} 20,289] 20,121] +04] +08] +03) 20,434] 20,593] 20,329} 19,587
Drugs, soaps, and toiletries 19,844] 19,806] 19,512] +02] +15] 432] 19,694] 19,640] 18,858] 16,779
Petroleum and coal products . 11,187 11,316 11,275 “ld 40.4 6.9 11,066 11,016 10,965 12,524
Rubber and plastics products 16,431 16,531 16,533 0.6 0.0 +0.6| 16,768] 16,930} 16,664] 16,328
All other nondurable goods 28,022} 27,872] 27,747] +05] 40.5] = -0.8| 27,595] 27,235 | 26,814] 26,281

° Preliminary. ‘ Revised.

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


10 Total Manufacturing
New Orders and Shipments

Three Month Moving Averages
Billions of Dollars

380 380
‘New Orders
360. -----------------------------------d Shipments |} 360
340 340
320 320
300 300
280 L L 1 1 L i i L L L 1 L L 280
Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar
Mar. 1996 - Mar. 1998
Total Manufacturing
Ratio of Unfilled Orders and
Inventories to Shipments
V/S Ratios UO/S Ratios
2.5 3.9
24F--- rr tt rr rrr re vos }-4 3.8
2.3 43.7
2.2
2.1
2
1.9

1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2

Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan = Mar
Mar. 1996 - Mar. 1998

Note: All Charts based on seasonally
adjusted current dollars.


7
Table 6. VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’ UNFILLED ORDERS AND TOTAL INVENTORIES
FOR TOPICAL SERIES'
(Millions of dollars)
Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted
Industry Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent
change
Mar. Feb. Jan. | Feb- | Jan- } Dec Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. | Mar.
1998" | 1998" 1998 | Mar. | Feb. | Jan. | 1998" 1998" 1998 1997 | 98/97
UNFILLED ORDERS
All manufacturing industries... . . 538,726 | 542,997 | 545,555 08 | 0.5 | +08 | 541,640 | 547,256 | 547,790 | 527,661 42.6
Market categories :
Automotive equipment .. 2376 2,388 2,409 0.5 09 0.7 2,419 2,451 2,453 2,447 Lt
Home goods and apparel 9,009 9,574 9,925 59 “3.5 43 8,906 9415 9,373 8,150 +93
Consumer staples . . 2,343 2,217 2,172 457] 42.1 +0.6 2,107 2,021 2101 2,000 +54
Machinery and equipment. 249,170 | 250,637 | 251,095 -0.6 -0.2 +13 | 249,425 | 251,620 | 251,476 | 234,669 +63
Business supplies... . . . 68 6,873 | 6,704 01] +25] 05] 6668} 6696] 6,566 | 6,650 403
Construction materials”
i 17,743 | 17,776 | 17,653 02] +07 | +01 | 17,874 | 17,869 | 17,593 | 16,633 475
97,292 | 99,276 | 100,536 | -20] -13 | +11 | 99,592 | 100,309 | 101,403 | 107,145 “1.0
Other materials, supplies and
and intermediate products... . . . 153,924 | 154,256 | 155,061 02] 05] +02 | 154,649 | 156,875 | 156,815 | 149,967 43.1
Durable goods industries :
Nondefense capital goods? ...... 266,389 | 267,727 | 267,755 05 0.0 | +11 | 266,804 | 268,968 | 268,654 | 255,077 +46
Excluding aircraft and parts. - 103,822 | 103,813 | 102,759 00] +10 | +10 | 104,237 | 105,054 | 103,658 | 98,033 +63
Defense capital goods‘ ........ 102,125 | 103,986 | 105,204 18 12] +1.0 | 104,554 | 105,055 | 106,061 | 112,186 68
Durables excluding capital goods 144,560 | 145,462 | 146,649 0.6 0.8 | +0.3 | 144,764 | 148,074 | 147,899 | 134,797 +74
Miscellaneous series :
Producers’ durable equipment . 288,899 | 290,711 | 291,683 06 03 +1.1 | 289,053 | 292,306 | 292,510 | 271,159 +6.6
Household durable goods . oo x 6,475 6,703 68 34 44 5,836 6,427 6,485 5313 49.8
Information technology industries - | 40,008 | 39,645 | 39,426] +09] +06) +39] 39722 | 39540} 39124 | 37130 47.0
Health care equipment
and products ............... 8,686 | 8,536 | 8432] +18] +12] +09] 8592] 8808] 8627] 7,585 | +133
TOTAL INVENTORIES
All manufacturing industries... .. 458,752 | 458,058 | 455,122 40.2 | +0.6 | +0.3 | 457,878 | 461,124 | 453,306 | 438,034 44.5
Market categories :
Automotive equipment . . . . 8419 | 8,264 | 8257] +19] +01 | +07] 8532] 8356] 8193 | 8,295 +29
Home goods and apparel 33,190 | 32,956 | 32,736 40.7 | +0.7 +03 | 32,950 | 32,847 | 32,348 | 31,341 45.1
Consumer staples . . : 71,925 | 71,913 | 71,472 00] +06] +40.7 | 71,387 | 72,077 | 71,330 | 67,338 +60
Machinery and equipment . . 115,031 | 115,095 | 114,355 -0.1 | +406 | +02 | 114,108 | 116,337 | 113,367 | 108,483 +5.2
Business supplies ........ 27,210 | 27,187 | 27,040 | 402} +04] -10 | 27,247 | 27,098 | 26,566 | 26,362 434
Construction materials
and supplies 27,639 | 27,644 | 27,658 00] -01 | +02] 27,917 | 27,977 | 27,644 | 27,290 423
Defense products 16,882 | 16,923 | 16,810 02] +07 +15 | 16,808 | 16,869 | 16,618 | 15,810 +63
Other materials, supplies and
and intermediate products .... . . 158,456 | 158,106 | 156,794 | +02] +08} +04 | 158,929 | 159,563 | 157,240 | 153,115 43.8
Durable goods industries :
Nondefense capital goods * . . 108,535 | 109,068 | 108,034 0.5 +10 0.0 | 107,180 | 110,009 | 106,950 | 102,293 +48
Excluding aircraft ind parts. 72,776 | 73,091 | 72,470 04} +09 -0.2 | 71,539 | 73,708 | 71,576 | 68,940 43.8
Defense capital 17,382 | 17,417 | 17,275 02} +408 | +11 | 17,303 | 17348 | 16.998 | 16,107 474
Durables excluding ‘capital ‘goods 162,039 | 160,758 | 159,756 +08] +06 | +0.6 | 162,474 | 161,915 | 159,625 | 155,448 +45
Miscellaneous series :
Producers’ durable equipment . 185,644 | 184,686 | 183,782 40.5 | +05 +0.4 | 184,657 | 186,128 | 182,440 | 176,508 44.6
Household durable goods ....... | 16,524 | 16,393 | 16,282 +08} 40.7] +408 | 16,456} 16531 | 16,203 | 15,719 44.7
Information technology industries . | 34.788 | 34,822 | 34.576 0.1 +07 1.0 | 33,707 | 35,003 | 33,998 | 33,174 +16
Health care equipment
and products ............... 18,787 | 18,660 | 18,501 | +07] +09] +20] 18613 | 18,523 | 18,049 | 16,783 | +109

See footnotes at end of table 5.

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


Table 5. VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’ SHIPMENTS AND NEW ORDERS
FOR TOPICAL SERIES'
(Millions of dollars)

Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted *
Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent | Year to date
Industry change

Mar. Feb. Jan. | Feb.- | Jan-| Dec.- Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. Mar.
l9ggr] 1998" 1998 | Mar.j Feb.| Jan.| 1998?] 1998" 1998 1997 | 98/97 1998” 1997

SHIPMENTS
All manufacturing industries... . . 340,497] 337,893) 333,652] +0.8) +1.3] — -0.9] 357,763} 335,123] 299,635} 337,516) +6.0} 992,521] 947,596

Market categories :
Automotive equipment . .
Home goods and apparel
Consumer staples . .
Machinery and equipment
Business supplies . .
Construction materials

15,226] 14,782] 13,995] +3.0] +5.6/ -6.1! 16,407} 16,060} 12,753] 14,812] +10.8] 45,220] 43,866
19,795] 19,897] 19,854] -0.5] +0.2) -0.5) 20,621] 19,646] 16,600] 19,456) +6.0 56,867} 53,713
70,026] 69,943} 69,954] +0.1 0. +0.6{ 70,305] 67,145} 65,415] 68,207) +3.1} 202,865] 199,058
64,678) 63,289) 61,969] +2.2) +2. 0.3] 73,209] 62,237] 51,594} 65,157] +12.4] 187,040] 167,724
26,029] 25,634] 25,805} +1.5] -0.7|  -2.3) 26,144) 25,065] 23,592] 25,056) +43 74,801] 72,942

and supplies. . 21,435] 21,236] 20,926] +09] +1.5] -0.4) 21,452| 20,229) 18,209] 20,364] 45.3] 59,890] 57,737
Defense products 7,035] 6,917 6,867} +1.7) +0.7)  +2.5) 7,528) 7,117 5,707 7,011 +74 20,352 19,277
Other materials, supplies and |

and intermediate products ......} 116,273] 116,195] 114,282] +0.1]  +1.7| -1.5] 122,097] 117,624] 105,765] 117,453] +4.0] 345,486) 333,279

Durable goods industries :
Nondefense capital goods ° «+ | 51,034] 49,936] 49,169] +22] +1.6 +1.6 58,975 47,796] 39,669] 51,618] +14.3| 146,440] 127,685
Excluding aircraft and parts. 43,412] 42,315] 41,274] 42.6 42.5] 0.0 $0,392) 40,534] 33,725] 44,117] +142] 124,651] 110,058
Defense capital goods‘ ..... 6,725} 6,558] 6,511] +25] +07} +3.7} 7,208 6,710] 5,315] 6,600] +9.2] 19,233] 18,069

Durables excluding capital goods. 133,086} 131,739) 127,373] +1.0) +3.4) — -2.5] 140,315} 134,228} 115,045} 131,056] +71) 389,588] 371,174

Miscellaneous series :

Producers’ durable equipment... .| 123,744} 121,515] 117,959] +1.8| +3.0} -1.5} 136,791] 122,760] 101,991] 123,055] +11.2] 361,542] 332,733
Household durable goods . 10,358] 10,406] 10,171 0.5} +2.3) -2.5} 11,158} 10,012 8,356] 10,388 474 29,526] 27,197
Information technology ind 24,115] 23,913] 23,019} +0.8} +3.9) 0.3} 28,825] 21,865) 18,022] 25,437) +13.3 68,712] 60,689
Health care equipment

and products ............... 11,5447 11,323] 11,248} +2.0)  +0.7}  -1.2) 12,205} 10,935} 10,700] 11,317] +78 33,840} 32,340
NEW ORDERS
All manufacturing industries ..... 336,226} 335,335] 337,758) +0.3) -0.7) +0.6 352,147] 334,589] 312,077) 336,218] 44.7) 998,813) 963,038

Market categories :
Automotive equipment .
Home goods and apparel
Consumer staples ......
Machinery and equipment .
Business supplies
Construction materials

and supplies

15,214] 14,762} 13,978) +3.1]  +5.6] -6.3) 16,376] 16,058] 12,845) 14,842) +103 45,279] 44,110
19,230] 19,546] 19,410] -1.6} +0.7} 3.21 20,112] 19,689] 16,962} 19,492) 43.2) 56,763] 54,356
70,151} 69,989] 69,967] +0.2] oO +0.6| 70,391] 67,055] 65,403} 68,339) +3.0] 202,849} 198,900
63,211) 62,831) 65,131] +0.6] -3.5{  +8.6) 71,014} 62,381] 56,171} 63,780) +11.3) 189,566] 173,821
26,025} 25,803) 25,769] +0.9] +0.1)  -1.9} 26,116] 25,195] 23,601} 25,298 43.2) 74,912] 72,982

21,402} 21,360) 20,946) +0.2) +2.0} -0.7) 21,457] 20,504) 18,495] 20,371 +53 60,456] 58,243

Defense products : 5,051} 5,656] 7,933} -10.7] -28.7] +10.1] 6,811] 6,023} 7,657) 7,956] -14.4] 20,491] 19,315
Other materials, supplies and
and intermediate products ..... . 115,942] 115,388] 114,624] +0.5] +0.7] 1.8} 119,870] 117,684] 110,943] 116,140] +3.2] 348,497] 341,311

Durable goods industries :

Nondefense capital goods Pee 49,696) 49,908] 52,110) -0.4) -4.2) +13.5} 56,811] 48,110} 43,910) 50,171] +13.2] 148,831} 133,239
Excluding aircraft and parts . . 43,421] 43,369] 42,249] +0.1] +2.7] +2.7] 49,575] 41,930} 36,000) 43,978) +12.7) 127,505] 114,316
Defense capital goods‘ ........ 4,864) 5,340] 7,538) -8.9) -29.2) +88] 6,707) 5,704} 7,391 7,660) -12.4 19,802] 18,577

Durables excluding capital goods . | 132,184] 130,552] 127,833] +13] +2. -2.9) 137,005} 134,403} 121,155} 129,077] +6.1} 392,563] 379,598

Miscellaneous series :
Producers’ durable equipment .... | 121,932} 120,543] 121,026] +1.2} -0.4] +2.3] 133,538] 122,556] 107,974] 121,538]  +9.9] 364,068} 340,882
Household durable goods... ... 9,917] 10,178] 9,863 -2.6] +32) -5.2] 10,567] 9,954] 8,614] 10,316] +24) 29,135] 27,710
Information technology indi 24,478] 24,132) 24,485] +14 1.4) +7.1] 29,007] 22,281] 19,427] 25,450} +14.0] 70,715] 62,729
Health care equipment
and products ............... 11,694] 11,427] 11,326] 42.3} +0.9f 1.8] 11,988) 11,117] 10,971] 10,811] +109] 34,076} 32,469

Preliminary. ‘ Revised.
' 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.

> Nondefense capital goods industries include : ordnance and accessories; steam, gas and hydraulic turbines; internal combustion engines; construction, mining, and mate
handling equipment; metalworking machinery; special industry machinery; general industrial machinery; computer and office equipment; refrigeration, heating and serv
industry machinery; electrical transmission and distribution equipment; electrical industrial apparatus; communications equipment; aircraft, missiles, space vehicles, and engi
and parts; ships and tank components; railroad equipment; and search and navigation equipment,

“Defense capital goods industries include : ordnance and accessories; communications equipment; aircraft, missiles, space vehicles, and engines and parts; ships, ta
and tank components; and search and navigation equipment.

See note at end of table 2 relating to survey error and revision,


Table 8. 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 ratio!

Industry Jan. Dec. Mar. Feb. Jan. Dec.
1998 197 1998" 1998" 1998 1997
All manufacturing industries... . . . 136 135 2.76 2.82 2.88 2.84
Durable goods industries 1.56 153 3.27 3.34 3.44
Stone, clay, and glass products - 112 12 0.84 0.84 0.86
Primary metals : 1.63 1.65 215 218 220
Fabricated metal products. 152 1.50 145 145 151
Industrial machinery and equipment. 1.70 V1 212 215 247
Electronic and other
electrical equipment . . 1,38 132 1.83 1.82 191
Transportation equipment 1.60 136 10.61 11.00 1135
Instruments and related products 1.88 184 3.53 357 3.67
Nondurable goods industries . . . 1.13 1.12 0.67 0.68 0.68 0.68
Food and kindred products - 0.86 0.87 fe) (x) (x) %
Tobacco products. . 1.92 1.92 &) (X) &) x)
Textile mill products 145 1.30 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
Paper and allied produ 1.16 114 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
Chemicals and allied produ 138 134 (Xx) (x) &
Petroleum and coal products 0.84 0.85 (x) &) ¢
Rubber and plastics products 132 126 (Xx) (x) &) &)

” Preliminary. * Revised. (X) Not applicable. (NA) Not available.

' Excludes the following industries with no unfilled orders : Wood
motor vehicle assembly operations; other transportation
petroleum and coal products; and rubber and plastics

and lumber products; glass containers; metal cans, barrels and drums; farm and garden machinery;

juipment; foods and related products; tobacco; knitting mill products; apparel and related products; chemicals;

lucts.

Table 9. REVISIONS TO PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED MONTHLY PERCENT CHANGES

(Based on seasonally adjusted data)

Shipments New orders Unfilled orders Inventories
Industry
Mar. Mar. Mar.
Mar.” Mar.? 1997- Mar.” 1997- Mar? 1997-
1993- Mar.' 1993- Feb. 1993- Feb. Mar.' 1993- Feb.
1997 1998 | 1997 | 1998 1997 | 1998] 1998] 1997] _ 1998
All manufacturing industries ...... On 0.2 a9) 0.1 02 01 01 es) 0.0 01
Durable goods industries .......... 02 02 0.1 03 03 01 0.1 ree) 0.1 0.1
Stone, clay, and glass products 06 03 (%) 1 1.0 0.5 09 (Xx) 01 02
Primary metals 05 02 01 06 06 03 03 (x) 0.1 0.0
Fabricated metal Eat equipment’ : 04 03 (x) 0.6 06 03 03 (Xx) 02 On
Heaonic and ot, : 02 04 02 06 07 02 02 &) 01 Ol
electrical equipment. . . 02 05 04 07 10 04 0.5 fea) 02 01
Transportation equipment . 06 0.5 0.5 1 09 0.1 01 (x) 0.0 03
Instruments and related products . 03 05 (e9) 03 13 O1 03 (xX) Or 02
Nondurable goods industries . . 0.1 0.2 (X) 0.1 02 02 0.2 (xX) 0.1 0.
Food and kindred products 02 05 8 (e9) (x) &) (X) 10.0) 01
Tobacco products . . 05 01 (X) () (xX) (X) (xX) (x) 01
Textile mill products . 03 03 (X) | QNA) | (NA) (NA) | (NA) 00) 0.2
Paper and allied products . 02 04 (X) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (X) 01
Chemicals and allied products 01 03 (xX) (X) (X) (X) (X) (xX) 0.2
Petroleum and coal products 04 0.2 & (X) ) © (X) ) 01
Rubber and plastics products . . . 0.1 03 ie) &) 69) & (X) & 0.2
Capital goods industries :
Nondefense 0.2 04 04 0.7 0.7 0.1 0.1 (x) 0.1 02
Defense . 03 09 03 2.0 20 0.1 01 (x) 01 02

(X) Not applicable. (NA) Not available.

Note : The five year and 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.

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

? Average for this month for the last five years.


CURRENT INDUSTRIAL REPORTS

en

Vf

U. S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Manufacturers’ Shipments,
Inventories, and Orders

March 1998
M3-1-(98)-03
For Wire Transmissions 10:00 a.m. E.S.T. May 6, 1998

For Data - (301) 457-4673
For Questions - Kathy Menth or Lee Wentela
(301) 457-4804 or (301) 457-4852

Note: All figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in March increased $0.9
billion or 0.3 percent to $336.2 billion, the Department of Commerce,
Bureau of the Census reported today. This follows a 0.7 percent
February decrease and is the second increase in the last three months
and the eighth in the last ten months. Excluding transportation, new
orders increased 0.4 percent, the third increase in the last four
months. Year to date, new orders are 3.9 percent above the same
period a year ago; first quarter new orders are 0.8 percent below
fourth quarter 1997.

Shipments increased $2.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $340.5

billion, following a 1.3 percent February increase. This is the third

increase in the fast four months. Year to date, shipments are 4.8
ercent above the same period a year ago; first quarter shipments are
.8 percent above fourth quarter 1997.

Unfilled orders, down three of the last four months, decreased
$4.3 billion or 0.8 percent to $538.7 billion, following a 0.5 percent
February decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 2.76,
down from 2.82 in February.

Inventories increased $0.7 billion or 0.2 percent to $458.8
billion. This follows a 0.6 percent February increase and is the
fourteenth increase in the last fifteen months. The inventories-to-
shipments ratio was 1.35, down from 1.36 in February.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased
$0.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $186.7 billion, revised from the
Pigviously published 0.4 percent increase. This follows a 0.9 percent

ebruary decrease and is the second increase in the last three months.
Industrial machinery and equipment, up for the fourth consecutive
month, had the largest increase, $0.8 billion or 2.1 percent to $37.4
billion. This follows a 3.3 percent February increase. Electronic and
other electrical equipment, up three of the last four months, increased
$0.7 billion or 2.4 percent to $31.6 billion, due to electronic
components. This follows a 1.1 percent February decrease. Primary
metals, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.7 billion or
4.3 percent to $14.8 billion, following a 2.8 percent February
increase.

New orders for nondurable goods, down for the third
consecutive month, decreased $0.1 billion to $149.5 billion, following
a 0.5 percent February decrease. Decreases, led by chemicals and
allied products, offset increases, led by printing and publishing.

Shipments

Shipments of durable goods in March increased $2.6 billion or
1.4 percent to $190.8 billion, unrevised from the previously published

1.4 percent increase. This follows a 2.8 percent February increase
and is the third increase in the last four months. Transportation
equipment, up for the second consecutive month, had the largest
increase, $1.3 billion or 2.9 percent to $45.6 billion; led by motor
vehicles and parts, all component industries increased. This follows
a 4.0 percent February increase. Industrial machinery and
equipment, up for the fourth consecutive month, increased $0.8
billion or 2.3 percent to $36.9 billion. This follows a 1.3 percent
February increase.

Shipments of nondurable poods. down for the third consecutive
month, decreased slightly to $149.7 billion, following a 0.6 percent
February decrease. Chemicals and allied products had the largest
decline, and printing and publishing had the largest increase.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for durable goods in March decreased $4.1
billion or 0.8 percent to $513.1 billion, unrevised from the previously
published 0.8 percent decrease. This follows a 0.5 percent February
decrease and is the third decrease in the last four months.
Transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, had
the largest decrease, $3.6 billion or 1.4 percent to $258.9 billion,
mostly due to aircraft and parts. This follows a 0.7 percent February
decrease. Industrial machinery and equipment, up for the second
consecutive month, increased $0.5 billion or 0.6 percent to $73.6
billion, following a 0.7 percent February increase.

Inventories

Inventories of durable goods in March increased $0.7 billion or
0.2 percent to $288.0 billion, following a 0.8 percent February
increase. This is the fifth increase in the last six months and the
thirteenth in the last fifteen months. Fabricated metal products had
the largest increase, $0.3 billion or 1.0 percent to $29.9 billion. This
follows a 1.0 percent February increase and is the seventeenth
increase in the last eighteen months. Instruments and related
products increased $0.2 billion or 0.9 percent to $25.4 billion. This
follows a 0.3 percent February increase and is the fifth increase in
the last six months.

Inventories of nondurable goods, down for the first month since
January 1997, decreased slightly to $170.8 billion, following a 0.4
ercent February increase. Petroleum and coal products had the
largest decrease, $0.1 billion or 1.1 percent to $11.2 billion, This
follows a 0.4 percent February increase and is the fourth decrease in
the last five months.

By stage of fabrication, March finished goods increased 0.4
percent in durables and declined slightly in nondurables. Work in
process increased 0.1 percent in durables and decreased 0.9 percent
In nondurables. Materials and supplies increased 0.4 percent in
durables and 0.4 percent in nondurables.

Our internet site address is: http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/indicator/www/m3/index.htm

‘The advance report on durable goods for April is scheduled for May 28, 1998 at 10:00a.m. and the full report on June 4, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. For sale by the Superintendentof Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. This report is available on the day of issue through the Department of Commerce's online Economic Bulletin Board (N-8-1)
(202-482-3870).


U.S. Department of Commerce
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Washington, D.C. 20233

Offlolal Business

Penalty tor Private Use, $300

——

FIRST-CLASS MAIL
POSTAGE & FEES PA

Bureau of the Census
PERMIT NO. G-58



Nondefense Capital Goods "1
New Orders and Shipments
Three Month Moving Averages
Billions of Dollars

New Orders

52 52

Shipments

47

42

37 F- ------ 22 -ee eee eee ee ee eee --- +--+ --------- +37

1. i 1 L 1 1 L L 1 1 L 1 i
Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar
Mar. 1996 - Mar. 1998

Defense Capital Goods
New Orders and Shipments
Three Month Moving Averages

Billions of Dollars
10 10

New Orders

4 1 i L 1 L 1 1 L L 1 i = L 1 4
Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar

Mar. 1996 - Mar. 1998

Note: All Charts based on seasonally
adjusted current dollars.



Table 7. VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’ INVENTORIES, BY STAGE OF FABRICATION,
BY INDUSTRY GROUP

(Millions of dollars)

‘Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

Industry Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent
change
Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb.- Jan.- Dec.- Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. Mar.
1998P 1998" 1998 Mar. Feb. Jan, 1998? 1998" 1998 1997 | 98/97
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
All manufacturing industries ..... 151,812 | 151,236 | 150,116 +04 +0.7 40.8 | 151,125 | 151,814 | 151,084 | 145,262 +4.0
Durable goods industries ...... . 89,088 88,772 88,051 +04 +0.8 +0.9 87,963 88,852 88,613 83,870 +49
Stone, clay, and glass products . . 2,916 2,914 2,951 +0.1 13 0.7 2,883 2,914 2,959 2,856 40.9
Primary metals... ..... 71836 7331 7,908 | +0.1 -10 “15 7,607 77789 8034 TBI -16
Fabricated metal products +.. | 10,866 | 10,808 | 10659) +05] +14] +07] 10871 | 10812 | 10,786 | 10.452 +4.0
Industrial machinery and equipment 18,692 18,559 18,299 +07 +14 40.2 18,294 18,653 18,157 17,648 437
Electronic and other
electrical equipment 14,143 | 14,194 | 14,198 -0.4 0.0 | +2.0 | 13,968 | 14,062 | 14,130 | 13,420 44.1
‘Transportation equipment 15,344 | 15/329 | 15,021 +01} 421 | +25 | 15/320 | 15/382 | 15:170 | 14,040 +911
Instruments and related pro 3:370 8,725 652. +17] +08] +13 8,840 8,649 8,667 8013 | +103
iber, furniture and
miscellaneous durable goods 10,421 10,412 10,363 40.1 +0.5 +0.1 10,180 10,591 10,710 9,710 +4.8
Nondurable goods industries . . 62,724 | 62,464 | 62,065 | +04] +06] +0.7 | 63,162 | 62,962 | 62,471 | 61,392 +29
Food and Kindred products 11,364 | 11368 | 11,179 00} +17] +06] 11518 | 11606 | 11450} 11,481 +03
Tobacco products 5,241 $7257 5,361 03 19 | 435 57396 5,567 5,770 5,296 +19
Textile mill products 3,059 3,047 3,045 +04 +0.1 0.6 3,109 3,098 3,046 3,253 44
Paper and allied products 8,038 7,960 993 41.0 04 +12 8,112 8,035 8,028 7,935 422
Chemicals and allied products 15,100 | 15,024 | 14,888 +05} +09} 424 | 15,088 | 15,028 | 14,794 | 14,060 +73
Petroleum and coal products 3,476 3,556 3,507 22 +14 2.6 51: 4 x 3,758 6.5
Rubber and plastics products 6,453 6,466 6,426 0.2 +0.6 +07 6,482 6,532 6,464 6,214 +43
Apparel, printing and publishing
and leather goods ............. 9,993 9,786 9,666 +21 +12 -17 9,943 9,630 9,523 9,395 +5.8
WORK IN PROCESS
All manufacturing industries... .. 146,294 | 146,461 | 145,499 01] +07 -0.2 | 145,576 | 146,784 | 144,103 | 138,359 45.2
Durable goods industries ...... ++ | 117,085 } 117,000 } 116,222 | +01 | +07 -0.1 | 116,757 | 117,422 | 114,965 | 111,491
Stone, clay, and glass products . 279 299 1,291 -15 +0.6 43.2 1,370 1,385 1,266 1,358
Primary metals : 8,652 8,796 8,972 -16 20] +11 8,741 8,799 8,924 8,878
Fabricated metal products . . . 8,380 8,081 8,102 43.7 03 0.4 8,361 7,975 8,025 7,805
Industrial machinery and equipment 23,321 23,527 23,203 09 +14 “17 23,101 23,709 | 22,846 22,256
Electronic and other
electrical equipment 15,829 | 15,820 | 15,603 | +01] +14] +11 | 15,726 | 15,950] 15,402 | 14,673
Transportation equipment . . . 44,470 | 44545 | 44174 02] +08 | +03 4,384 3740 | 43,928 | 41,595
Instruments and related products : 97892 797 9814 | +10 0.2 04 9,795 9,743 9,562 9,880
Lumber, furniture and
miscellaneous durable goods .. .. . 5,262 5,135 5,063 | 425] +14 21 5,279 5,121 5,012 5,046
Nondurable goods industries . 29,209 29,461 29,277 09 40.6 0.7 28,819 29,362 29,138 26,868
Food and kindred products . 5,325 5,373 5,382 0.9 0.2 -19 5,18: 5,371 5,610 4,830
Tobacco products . : 170 159 137 | +69 | +161 | +87 15 156 149 206
Textile mill products ...... 2,593 2,611 2,617 0.7 0.2 12 2,587 2,612 2,617 2,494
Paper and allied products . . 1,849 1,895 1,894 24 +0.1 +15 1,850 1,910 1,921 1,689
Chemicals and allied products °! 8,624 8,587 8497 | +04] 411 +02 8/529 8,567 8,391 7,037
Petroleum and coal products 2,529 2,564 2447 “14 ] 448 3.8 2,525 2,533 2392 2,807
Rubber and plastics products 2,267 2,251 2,231 +0.7 +0.9 0.0 2,271 2,297 2,263 2,172
Apparel, printing and publishing
and leather goods ............. 5,852 6,021 6,072 28 0.8 -03 5,712 5,916 5,795 5,633 +14
FINISHED GOODS
All manufacturing industries 160,646 | 160,361 | 159,507 +02] +05 | +04 | 161,177 | 162,526 | 158,119 } 154,413 +44
Durable goods industries ...... 81,783 | 81,471 | 80,792 | +04] +08 | +0.7 | 82,237 | 82,998 | 79,995 | 78,487 +48
Stone, clay, and glass products - 3597 4575, 4,548 +05] +06] +02 4,747 4,710 4,560 4673 +16
Primary metals ......... 8,107 8,127 8,229 0.2 12 +03 8,232 8,291 8,300 8,239 0.1
Fabricated metal products - | 10651 | 10,717 | 10,542 06] +17 | +16] 10949 | 10,948 | 10,356 | 10,128 +81
Industrial machinery and equipment 19,288 | 19,265 894 +01 | +420] +05 | 19,253 | 19/965 | 19037 | 18,103 +6.4
Electronic and other
electrical equipment . . . 11,573 | 11,358 | 11,147 | +19] +19 0.0 | 11,249 | 11,333 | 10,934 | 10,538 +67
‘Transportation equipment . 22... |: 9,128 9,004 9008 | +14 00 | +03 9,285 9141 8,692 9,285, 0.0
Instruments and related products . . | 6,656 6,669 6,659 02} +02] +04 6,534 6,609 6371 6,371 +26
Lumber, furniture and
miscellaneous durable goods .. . . 11,783 | 11,756 | 11,765 +02 0.1 +16 | 11,988 | 12,001 | 11,745 | 11,150 475
Nondurable goods industries 78,863 | 78,890 | 78,715 0.0] +02] 40.1 | 78,940 | 79,528 | 78,124 | 75,926 +4.0
Food and kindred products 19,731 | 19,757 | 19,732 0.1 | +01 | +23 | 19344 | 19,717 | 19,570 | 18,120 +68
Tobacco products . . 867 834 820 | +40] +17 55 815 41,021 ‘998 726 | +123
Textile mill products 4,686 4,681 4644 | +01] +08] +11 4,673 4,757 4,612 4376 +68
Paper and allied produ 6,563 6,582 6,591 03 -0.1 -04 6,693 6,696 6,621 6,625 +10
Chemicals and allied produ 21,946 1,961 | 21,722 Ol} +11 +16 | 22,433 | 22,531 | 21,713 | 20,925 472
Petroleum and coal products 5,182 5,196 3,321 3 23} -108 5,027 5,017 3,177 5,959 | -15.6
Rubber and plastics products. 771 7814 7.876 3 08 | +06 8,015 8,101 7,937 7,942 +09
Apparel, printing and pul 1g
and leather goods .. . . 12,177 | 12,065 | 12,009 | +09] +05 0.4} 11,940 | 11,689 | 11,496 | 11,253 +6.1

” Preliminary, * Revised.


Table 3. VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’
(Millions of dollars)

UNFILLED ORDERS FOR INDUSTRY GROUPS

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

Industry Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent
change
Mar. Feb. Jan.| Feb] Jan-} Dec. Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar.| Mar.
1998 198° 1998] Mar.| Feb.]_— Jan. «1998? 1998" 1998 1997] 98/97
All manufacturing industries . . 538,726 | 542,997] 545,555 08 05 +0.8| 541,640] 547,256] 547,790] 527,661 42.6
Manufacturing industries
without defense capital goods ..... 436,601 | 439,011] 440,351 05 03 +0.7| 437,086] 442,201] 441,729] 415,475 45.2
Durable goods industries ...... 513,074] 517,175] 519,608 08 05 40.9} 516,122] 522,097] 522,614] 502,060 +2.8
Stone, clay, and glass Products : 6,393 6,331 6,459 +1.0 -2.0 08 6,517 6,445 6,425 6,868 5A
Primary metals 33,231] 33,874] 33,898] -19| -0.1 09] 34,664] 35,397] 34,387] 31,382] +105
Blast furnaces, stee! mills 14216| 14,233] 14,201 0.1] +02] -19] 14,916} 14980] 14,492] 12,582] +18.6
Iron and steel foundries . 5,797] 5,678] 5,572] 42.1) 419] 40.4 040} 5,828] 5,574] 4,818] +25.4
Nonferrous and other ary
metals... .. 13,218] 13,963] 14,125] 5.3] Ld -05| 13,708] 14,589] 14,321] 13,982] -2.0
Fabricated metal pi 27,205 | 27,248) 27,269] -02] 0.1] +08] 27,190] 27,283) 27,174] 25,199} +79
Industrial machinery and. equip . 73,635 | 73,182] 72,653 40.6 +0.7 -0.3} 73,963 74,407] 73,748] 73,707 +03
Engines and turbines .......... 11,539] 11,862] 11,776] -2.7) -+0.7] 40.6] 11,348] 12,041] 12,238] 12,427 87
Construction, mining and
material handling equipment ... . 11,207 10,949 10,577 424 43.5 40.2 11,757 11,305 10,817 OAT] 424.8
Metalworking machinery 7422} 7307] 7,169] +16] +19) 403) 7,422] 7,307] 7,169] 8,560] -13.3
Computer and office equipment . . - 8,004] 7,987] 7,960] +02) +03) +02) 7,678] 7,868] 7,682} 9,229] -16.8
Electronic and other
electrical equipment ..........- 56,932] 56,484] 56,630 +08 03 42.9] 55,934] 57,383} 57,721 52,046 475
Electrical transmission and
distribution equipment and
industrial apparatus ........... 6,242 6,298 6,273 09 40.4 1D 6,353 6,407 6,256 6,830 -7.0
Electric lighting and
wiring equipment 5,036 5,063 4,840 0.5 +4.6 +04 5,036 5,063 4,840 4383] +149
Communications equipment . 16,406] 15,915] 15,507] #3.1] 426) +86| 16,420] 15,933] 15,500] 13,881] +183
Electronic components 23,040] 23,033} 23,909 oo| -37] +26} 21,923] 23599] 24,864] 21,085} +4.0
Transportation equipment 258,856 | 262,499 | 264,481 14] 07] © +12] 261,027] 263,538] 265,307] 258,204) +1.1
Aircraft, missiles,
space vehicles, and parts, . . 223,832 | 227,267] 229,030) -1.5] 0.8] +13] 225,759] 227,991] 229,718] 225,300|  +0.2,
Shipbuilding and tanks . 18,374] 18,366] 18,625 00] -14] +05] 18,358] 18,384] 18,562] 18,724 -2.0
Instruments and related products 48,170| 48,644] 48,998] = -1.0] -0.7] +03] 48,624] 49,203] 49,152] 47,458] 42.5
Search and navigation equipment . | 28,004] 28,265] 28,465] -09] -0.7] -04] 28,492] 28,592] 28,641] 28,564) — -0.3
Measuring and controlling devices . 10,114 10,174 10,303 0.6 13 +16 10,114 10,174 10,303 9,967 +15
Medical instruments and supplies 8,642] 8492] 8386] +18] +13] +09] 8550] 8,767] 8584] 7,552] +132
All other durable goods .......... 8,652] 8,913} 9,220] 29) -3.3 “ld 8,203} 8,441 8,700] 7,196] +14.0
Nondurable goods industries ...... . 25,652] 25,822] 25,947 07 0.5 -1.2] 25,518] 25,159] 25,176] 25,601 03

° Preliminary. ‘ Revised.

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


Table 2, VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’ NEW ORDERS FOR INDUSTRY GROUPS
(Millions of dollars)

‘Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted’
Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent] Year to date
Industry change
Mar} Feb.} Jan. | Feb-| Jan-| Dec-| Mar} Feb.| Jan.| _ Mar.| Mar.
1998" 1998'| 1998] Mar. Feb.| Jan.] 19987] 1998] 1998] 1997] 98/97] 19987] 1997
All manufacturing industries... .. 336,226] 335,335] 337,758] +03] -0.7] +0.6] 352,147] 334,589] 312,077] 336,218] +4.7 998,813 963,038
Manufacturing industries

with unfilled orders _ deere es +] 190,630) 190,217] 193,468] +0.2) 1,7] +2.1] 202,575} 190,242} 178,894] 190,480} +63) 571,711] 540,043
without defense capital goods . + | 331,362] 329,995] 330,220} +0.4] -0.1]  +0.4] 345,440} 328,885] 304,686] 328,558) +5.1} 979,011] 944,461

Durable goods industries
With unfilled orders . . .
Stone, clay, and glass products .
Primary metals... ..
mi

Tron and steel foundries . .
Nonferrous and other primary

186,744] 185,800] 187,481} +05)  -0.9)
152,718] 152,489] 155,427} +02}  -1.9)
8,055) 7,821 1,796] +0.3]
14,817] 15,482} 15,065) +2.8)
6,288} 6,337} 6,016 +53)
1,799} 1,772 1,552] +1.5) +14.2)

6,730] 7,373) 7,497) -8.7]-1.7]
+1 19,896) 19,924) 19,457) -0.1]  +2.4)
Industrial machinery and equipment | 37387] 36,620| 35,436] +2.1| | +3.3
Engines and turbines .........- 1340] 2,078] 1,972] -11.5| +5.4]
Construction, mining and
material handling equipment
Metalworking machinery
Computer and office equipm
Electronic and other
electrical equipment .......... 31,624) 30,880) 31,211) +2.4] 1.1] 42.1] 32,069] 29,897] 29,913} 29,379} 49.2 91,879] 86,426
Electrical transmission and
istribution equipment and

200,523} 188,217] 172,456] 186,908] +73} 561,196] 531,414
164,141} 153,143] 143,627] 153,329} +71] 460,911] 434,233
7,893] 7,360) 6,926} 7,288 +83) 22,179] 20,804
15,341} 16,970] 15,686] 16,279 5.8 47,997] 48,779
1 6,732 6,292 +24 20,218] 20,009

1,949} 1,998 1,556} 1,602} +21.7 5,503 4,812

6,946] 7,932} 7,398] 8,385} -17.2| 22,276) 23,958
20,566} 20,246] 17,904) 19,225 +7.0 58,716] 55,700
43,240] 36,090] 31,008] 37,436] +15.5] 110,338] 98,680

1,859} 1,782} 1,528 1,815 +24 5,169 5,012

4391] 4,461] 4,078) -1.6)  +9.4) — -5 5,077) 4,828) 4,117) 4,312) +17.7] 14,022] 12,009
3,584) 3,559) 3,471) 40.7] $2.5) +15. 3,824) 3,396} 2,702] 3,505 +91 9,922 9,537
10,605] 10,192) 9,826] +4.1}  +3.7] 43.7) 13,882) 9,045] 7,391] 11,161] +24.4) 30,318] 25,158

industrial apparatus ........... 3,527] 3,632] 3,367] -2.9] +79] 6.3] 3,844] 3,854] 3,069] 3,511} +9.5] 10,767] 9,979
Electric lighting and
wiring equipment ......... -| 2,173] 2,389} 2,183] -9.9)
Communications equipment . . 7,573) 7,488) 7,970) +11
Electronic components 12,627} 11,706] 12/339} +7.9]
Transportation equipment . . . 41,987] 42,361] 45,752| | -0.9
Aircraft, missiles,

2,340) 2,462 1,935, 2,120) +10.4 6,737 6,167
8,386] 6,914) 6,163) 7,256] +15.6] = 21,463} 18,064
11,916] 11,236) 13,839) 11,031 +8.0 36,991] 35,966
46,949] 45,436] 41,970} 43,874] +7.0| 134,355) 127,478

3 hicles, and parts. 7,922) 9,495] 14,552] -16.6 10,339] 9,209] 12,948] 10,896) -5.1] 32,496] 29,875
Shipbuilding and tanks .. 950} 583 919} +63.0} 973 673 749) 635] +532] 2,395] 1,659
Instruments and related products ....] 13,185} 13,267] 13,514] -0.6 14,082] 13,515] 12,006] 13,804] +2.0] 39,603] 39,126
Search and navigation equipment .} 2,581] 2,623) 2,680) -1.6 2,978) 2,882] 2,285] 3,153] -5.6] 8,145] 8,536
4,035] 3,833] 3,627] 4,090] -1.3] 11,495] 11,363

Measuring and controlling devices . 3,744 3,882] 4,063 3.6
Medical instruments and supy :
All other durable goods ... .

4,699] 4,500) 4,208) 3,928] +196 13,407) 12,211
20,383} 18,703} 17,043] 19,623) 43.9) 56,129] 54,421

437,617) 431,624
110,800] 105,810

4,673) 4,474) 4,445] +4.4
19,793} 19,445] 19,250) +1.8]

Nondurable goods industries .

149,482] 149,535] 150,277] 0.0} -0.5) — -0.7) 151,624] 146,372) 139,621] 149,310 +
With unfilled orders .....

37,912] 37,728} 38,041 +05 0.8] -1.1] 38,434] 37,099] 35,267) 37,151

+
pe
hin

* Preliminary. ‘ Revised.
' Shipments and new orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations.

(n) When new orders for a prior month are negative because of cancellations, the percentage change calculation is algebraically negative, even though there is a net doll:
increase from the prior month to the current month.

Note : Estimates of manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders are subject to survey error and revision. One major component of survey error is nonsampling emrc
which includes errors of coverage, response, and nonreporting. Since the survey panel is not a probability sample, estimates of sampling error cannot be calculated. Furth
details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations are contained in our most recent annual benchmark publication, Current Industrial Reports: M3-1(96
“Manufacturers” Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 1987-1996."


Table 1. VALUE OF MANUFACTURERS’ SHIPMENTS FOR INDUSTRY GROUPS
(Millions of dollars)

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted"

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent Year to date
Industry change
Mar} Feb.| Jan. | Feb-| Jan-| Dec-] Mar.| Feb.| Jan. | Mar. | Mar.
1998" | 1998} 1998] Mar.| Feb.) Jan.} 1998°] 1998'| 1998} 1997] 98/97] 1998" | 1997
All manufacturing industries .... . 340,497) 337,893] 333,652] +0.8]  +1.3} —-0.9] 357,763] 335,123] 299,635] 337,516]  +6.0| 992,521] 947,596
Manufacturing Industries
with unfilled orders... ... ++} 194,901} 192,775] 189,362} +1.1] +181 — -0.5] 208,191} 190,776] 166,452] 191,778] +8.6] 565,419] 524,601
without defense capital goods 333,772} 331,335] 327,141} +0.7| +1.3) —-1.0] 350,555] 328,413] 294,320] 330,916] +59] 973,288] 929,527
Durable goods industries. 190,845) 188,233] 183,053] +1.4| 42.8] -1.2| 206,498} 188,734] 160,029] 189,274]  +9.1] 555,261] 516,928
With unfilled orders 156,819} 154,922] 150,999] +1.2| +2.6] —-0.6| 170,116 153,660] 131,200] 155,695] +93] 454,976] 419,747
Stone, clay, and glass products . 7,993} 7,949] 7,845| +0.6f +1.3] +04) 7,821) 7,340] 6,746] 7,269] +76] 21.907] 20,513
Primary metals. 15,460] 15,506} 15,378] -0.3] +0.8]  +0.8 16,074] 15,960] 14,636] 15,781] +19} 46,670] 45,835
Blast furnaces, 6,305} 6,305 6,287} 0.0} -+0.3) 0.3] 6,510} 6,552] 6,132] 6,402] -+1.7] 19,194} 18,962
Iron and steel foundries... 2... 1,680) 1,666) 1,529) +08 +9.0/  -3.4) 1,737] 1,744) 1,427] 1,441 +205] 4,908] 4,286
Nonferrous and other primary
metals .........., 7,475] 7,535] 7,562] -0.8| -0.4} +2.5] 7,827] 7,664] 7,077] 7,938} + -1.4| 22,568] 22,587
Fabricated metal products ........| 19,939} 19,945} 19,237] 0.0 +3.7) -0.7] 20,659] 20,137] 17,448] 19,111] +81] 58244) 54731
Industrial machinery and equipment . | 36,934] 36,091] 35,623) +23] +13) +0.3] 43,6841 35,431 30,168] 38,390| +138] 109.283] 97,137
Engines and turbines ..........] 2,163] 1,992] 1,907] +8.6]  +4.5] -1.3] 2,552] 1,979] 11574] 2,082] +22.6] 6,105] 5.286
Farm and garden machinery | . 2,131} 2,120] 2,149] +05] -1.3] +34) 2,886) 2,500] 1,928] 2,669] -+8.1 7,314| 6,573
Construction, mining and
material handling equipment . 4,133} 4,089] 4,060) +11] +0.7] +1.5] 4,625] 4,340] 3,678] 4,132] -+11.9] 12,643] 11,221
Metalworking machinery .. . 3,469} 3,421] 3,447] +14] -0.81§-0.1) 3,709] 3,258] 2,678] 3,554] 44.4) 9.645] 9,187
Computer and office equipment 10,588] 10,165] 9,808} +4.2) +36 +1.9) 14,072] 8,859] 7,436] 11,645] +20.8] 30,367] 25,710
Electronic and other
electrical equipment... ... 31,176] 31,026) 29,618] +0.5] +48) -3.2] 33,518] 30,235) 25,053) 31,505] +64] 88,806] 82,242
Electrical transmission and
distribution equipment and
industrial apparatus . . . . 3,583) 3,607) 3,488) -0.7] +3.) +25] 3,898] 3,703] 3,034) 3,405] +145] 10,635] 9,451
Household appliances . . . 2,159} 2,197] 2,152] -1.7] 42.1) -4.91 2.377] 2,099] 1,743] 2,235] 46.41 = 6.219] 5,753
Electric lighting and
wiring equipment ........... 2,200} 2,166] 2,168} +1.6] -0.1] -2.3] 2,367] 2,239] 1,918] 2,208} «= +7.2] «= 6,524] 6,198
Household audio and
video equipment . . 1373) 1,348) 1,337] +1.9] +0.8)  -7.0, 1,320] 1,218] 1,040] 1,248] +5.8] 3,578] 3,445
Communications equipment 7,082} 7,080] 6,741} 0.0] +5.0) +1.0) 7,899] 6,481! 4,964] 6,944] 413.8] 19.344] 16,583
Electronic components . . 12,620] 12,582) 11,735] +0.31 +72] -6.7} 13,592] 12,501] 10,674] 13,439] +1.1] 36,767) 34,642
Transportation equipment . . 45,630] 44,343) 42,641] 42.9] +4.0] -1.9| 49,460] 47,205] 37,388] 44,037] +12.3| 134,053] 125,009
Motor vehicles and parts . 31,102] 30,310] 28,559] +2.6] +61] -4.4) 33,465] 33,510] 26,465] 29,940 +118] 93,440] 89,839
Aircraft, missiles,
space vehicles, and parts, 11,357] 11,258] 11,555] 40.9) -2.6 +7.6 12,571] 10,936] 8,822] 11,208] +122] 32,329] 27,484
Shipbuilding and tanks 942] 842] 830] +119) +14) 40.1) 999] 851 607] 893) +119] 2,457} 2388
Instruments and related pro ++ | 13,659] 13,621] 13,359] +0.3] 42.0] -2.0f 14,661] 13,464] 11,798] 13,744] +6.7| 39,923] 37,480
Search and navigation equipment 2,842) 2,823) 2,793] -+0.7] +1.) +40) 3,078) 2.931] 2448] 2,766] +113] 8,457) 7,589
Measuring and controlling devices .| 3,804] 4,011] 3,904] -5.21 42.7] 0.91 4,095] 3,962] 3,468] 4,093 0.0} 11,525] 11,143
Medical instruments and supplies 4,523| 4,368] 4,3671 +3.5] 0.0] -1.6 4.916] 4.317] 3,936] 4,436] +10.8) 13,169] 12,085
Photographic goods... . 1,973) 1,938} 1,824] +1.8] +6.3) -12.1] 2,042] 1,807] 1516) 2,018) +1.2] 5365] 5,412
All other durable goods . 20,054) 19,752) 19,352] +1.5] 42.1] -1.8] 20,621] 18,962] 16,792] 19,437] +61] 56,375] 53,981
Nondurable goods industries . 149,652] 149,660] 150,599] 0.0 -0.5| 151,265] 146,389] 139,606] 148,242] +2.0] 437,260] 430,668
With unfilled orders . 38,082) 37,853] 38,363] +0.6| 0.4) 38,075] 37,116] 35,252] 36,083] +5.5] 110,443] 104,854
Food and kindred Products 41,938) 41,802) 42,003] +03 42.0] 42,403] 40,483} 39,149] 40,406] +4.9] 122,035] 116,130
Meat products . : 9,034] 8,983] 8.990] +0.6 +18] 8,994] 8,696} 8.281] 8,925] 40.81 25,971] 25,627
Dairy products . 6,072] 6,058] 5,825] +0.2 48.8} 6,246] 5,957] 5,731] 5,126] +21.8] 17,934) 14,810
Beverages .. 5,990] 6,181] 6,222] -3.1 +10) 5,936} 5,549] 5,313] 5,825] +19] 16,798] 15,855
All other foods, except fats and oils | 18,663] 18,390] 18857] +155 +22) 19,048] 18,091] 17,715] 18,486] +3.0] 54,854] 53,726
Tobacco products... . 3,363] 3,506] 3,286] -4.1 42.1) 3,493] 3,481] 2/924) 3.283] +64) 9,898] 9,180
Textile mill products . . 6,804] 6,855] 7,122] -0.7 43.41 7,229) 6,651] 6,154] 7,241] —--0.2] 20,034] 19,695
Broadwoven fabrics and
other textiles ........ 4,256) 4,219} 4,329} 40.9) -2.5| +2.8) 4,670] 4,177] 3,842) 4,637] +0.7)— 12,689] 12,450
Paper and allied products . 13,963] 13,942] 14,159] +02) -1.5] -1.5] 14,044] 13,945] 13,614] 13,203] +6.4] 41,603] 39,354
Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mill products ...... 5,442) 5,516] 5,569] 1.3] -1.0} 0.6 5,459] 5,502] 5,320] 5,374] +1.6] 16,281] 15,623
Paperboard containers and boxes ..| 3,473} 3,442} 3,538] 40.9] 2.7] -5.5| 3,538] 3,464) 3,427] 3,270] +821 10.429] 9.741
Miscellaneous converted
paper products .............. 5,048] 4,984) 5,052} +13] -1.3] +0.3] 5,047] 4,979] 4,867] 4,559] +10.7| 14,893] 13,990
Chemicals and allied products 32,180) 32,377] 32,600] -0.6 -0.7] -1.3) 33,644] 31,903] 31,181] 33,611] +0.1| 96,728] 96.762
Industrial chemicals... .. 15,150] 15,360] 15,749] -1.4] 2.5] -1.9) 15,673] 15,571] 15,014] 16550] -5.3] 46,258] 47,900
Drugs, soaps, and toiletries . 12,908] 12,787] 12,651) +09] +1.1] 1.0} 13,398] 12,142) 12,452] 12,646] —-+5.9] 37,992] 37,240
Petroleum and coal products . . 13,171} 13,210) 13,467] -0.3] -1.9] -5.2|. 12,172) 12,175] 12,319] 14,231] -14.5] 36,666] 44,044
Rubber and plastics products. 12,659] 12,651] 12,570] +0.1]  +0.6 -3.4) 13,172] 12,795] 11,673] 12,754] +3.3) 37,640] 36,599
Alll other nondurable goods . . 25,574) 25,317] 25,392) +1.0]  -0.3] -0.4} 25,108] 24,956] 22,592] 23,513] +6.8] 72,656] 68,904

T Preliminary. Revised.

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