FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (12)-8 

CB12-187 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

August 2012 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in August, down 

two of the last three months, decreased $24.9 billion or 

5.2 percent to $452.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 2.6 percent July 

increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 

0.7 percent. 

 Shipments, down two of the last three months, 

decreased $1.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $476.9 billion. 

This followed a 1.9 percent July increase. 

 Unfilled orders, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $17.0 billion or 1.7 percent 

to $978.8 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent July 

increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 

6.27, up from 6.23 in July. 

 Inventories, up two consecutive months, increased 

$3.7 billion or 0.6 percent to $611.8 billion. This was at 

the highest level since the series was first published on a 

NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.6 percent July 

increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.28, 

up from 1.27 in July. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, 

down following three consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $30.3 billion or 13.2 percent to $198.3 billion, 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 3.3 percent July increase. 

 Transportation equipment, down following four 

consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, 

$27.8 billion or 34.9 percent to $52.0 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $5.4 billion or 2.2 percent to $254.5 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, 

down two of the last three months, decreased $6.7 

billion or 2.9 percent to $222.4 billion, revised from the 

previously published 3.0 percent decrease. This 

followed a 1.8 percent July increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down two of the last 

three months, had the largest decrease, $5.5 billion or 

7.9 percent to $64.0 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up two 

consecutive months, increased $5.4 billion or 2.2 percent 

to $254.5 billion. This followed a 1.9 percent July 

increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up two 

consecutive months, led the increase, up $4.8 billion or 

6.9 percent to $74.7 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

August, down following two consecutive monthly 

increases, decreased $17.0 billion or 1.7 percent to 

$978.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published 

decrease. This followed a 0.7 percent July increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, 

$12.0 billion or 2.1 percent to $568.6 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, 

up thirty-one of the last thirty-two months, increased 

$2.4 billion or 0.6 percent to $372.2 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This was at the 

highest level since the series was first published on a 

NAICS basis and followed a 0.9 percent July increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up thirty-one of the last 

thirty-two months, had the largest increase, $1.6 billion 

or 1.5 percent to $112.2 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up two 

consecutive months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.6 percent 

to $239.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent July 

increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up two 

consecutive months, drove the increase, up $1.6 billion 

or 3.2 percent to $53.3 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies 

increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 0.4 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.9 

percent in durable goods and 0.7 percent in nondurable 

goods. Finished goods increased 0.6 percent in durable 

goods and 0.6 percent in nondurable goods.

Figures in text are adjusted for seasonality, but not for inflation. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. For 

data, call (301) 763-4673 or go to <http://www.census.gov/m3>.The advance report on durable goods for September is scheduled for release on October 25, 

2012, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on November 2, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. See back page for survey description. To receive the latest updates on 

the Nation's key economic indicators, download the America's Economy app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

[Estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Aug. July June 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

 All manufacturing industries.................. 476,856 478,169 469,382 -0.3 1.9 -1.2 497,047 458,206 489,974 484,740 3,809,902 3,630,996 4.9

 Excluding transportation ................... 412,865 408,712 405,075 1.0 0.9 -1.3 429,031 405,608 419,562 423,293 3,305,202 3,178,407 4.0

 Excluding defense.............................. 466,047 467,683 458,195 -0.3 2.1 -1.3 486,294 448,981 477,753 473,905 3,725,699 3,541,654 5.2

 With unfilled orders ............................ 156,136 159,749 157,432 -2.3 1.5 -0.2 162,684 145,927 169,889 156,724 1,256,281 1,165,845 7.8

 Durable goods industries ......................... 222,370 229,046 225,011 -2.9 1.8 0.0 232,403 209,316 240,994 222,584 1,784,966 1,649,174 8.2

 Wood products................................. ...... 6,130 6,106 6,081 0.4 0.4 -0.7 6,597 6,362 6,677 6,191 49,262 46,207 6.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,099 8,082 8,033 0.2 0.6 -1.3 9,151 8,460 8,748 8,858 65,046 62,227 4.5

 Primary metals............................ ........... 27,993 28,153 27,961 -0.6 0.7 -1.5 29,556 27,549 29,268 27,698 233,806 199,149 17.4

 Iron and steel mills............................ 10,949 10,945 10,805 0.0 1.3 -4.8 11,274 10,438 11,392 12,063 93,717 93,917 -0.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 15,256 15,416 15,352 -1.0 0.4 0.9 16,422 15,437 15,898 13,884 125,179 92,386 35.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,788 1,792 1,804 -0.2 -0.7 -1.0 1,860 1,674 1,978 1,751 14,910 12,846 16.1

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,162 27,167 27,360 0.0 -0.7 -0.6 29,440 26,567 28,708 28,866 221,236 209,608 5.5

 Machinery............................................. 32,707 32,819 33,278 -0.3 -1.4 4.2 33,114 31,577 35,568 31,662 258,013 233,551 10.5

 Farm machinery................................. 1,624 1,870 1,968 -13.2 -5.0 -6.6 1,461 1,862 1,852 3,365 18,744 20,490 -8.5

 Construction machinery..................... 5,535 5,440 5,024 1.7 8.3 13.7 5,981 5,575 4,918 4,037 36,666 27,437 33.6

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 2,129 2,186 2,117 -2.6 3.3 -1.4 2,084 2,078 2,295 2,159 16,558 15,642 5.9

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,539 3,484 3,395 1.6 2.6 5.3 3,247 3,179 3,918 2,698 25,327 22,661 11.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 652 644 701 1.2 -8.1 3.7 699 564 740 720 5,130 5,224 -1.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,137 3,177 3,128 -1.3 1.6 -1.8 3,480 3,392 4,134 3,239 25,643 24,191 6.0

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,545 2,528 2,535 0.7 -0.3 3.7 2,648 2,397 2,730 2,260 19,244 15,847 21.4

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,477 3,479 4,352 -0.1 -20.1 19.5 3,450 3,255 4,453 3,578 29,679 26,878 10.4

 Material handling equipment............... 2,815 2,818 2,772 -0.1 1.7 -1.5 3,020 2,655 2,867 2,806 22,194 19,769 12.3

 Computers and electronic products 2

.......... 27,351 28,433 29,023 -3.8 -2.0 0.2 26,709 28,693 30,694 28,461 221,437 222,108 -0.3

 Computers........................................ 944 986 1,133 -4.3 -13.0 -10.4 879 1,046 1,249 1,469 8,941 11,502 -22.3

 Computer storage devices..................... 893 1,077 797 -17.1 35.1 2.7 740 815 1,156 599 5,895 4,759 23.9

 Other peripheral equipment................ 864 873 897 -1.0 -2.7 0.0 786 613 1,254 807 6,534 6,327 3.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,728 2,644 2,684 3.2 -1.5 -2.3 2,598 2,324 3,188 2,620 20,678 21,500 -3.8

 Defense communications equipment.... 368 352 396 4.5 -11.1 -28.3 361 316 398 480 3,131 3,884 -19.4

 Audio and video equipment.................... 235 257 253 -8.6 1.6 -0.8 194 217 225 196 1,693 1,630 3.9

 Electronic components......................... 3,577 3,563 3,613 0.4 -1.4 -1.0 3,717 3,245 3,886 3,807 28,395 28,775 -1.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,303 1,360 1,257 -4.2 8.2 -1.8 1,313 1,238 1,342 1,360 10,297 10,251 0.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,874 2,993 2,996 -4.0 -0.1 4.1 2,887 2,638 3,135 3,025 22,971 23,416 -1.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,016 6,160 6,803 -2.3 -9.5 -3.0 5,778 5,613 7,616 6,623 52,968 53,659 -1.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,916 9,947 9,996 -0.3 -0.5 -0.4 10,335 9,424 10,764 10,346 79,522 76,885 3.4

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 901 894 898 0.8 -0.4 0.9 920 874 934 977 7,166 7,491 -4.3

 Household appliances........................ 1,562 1,557 1,536 0.3 1.4 -2.8 1,621 1,427 1,664 1,537 12,472 11,919 4.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,087 3,102 3,145 -0.5 -1.4 -0.6 3,176 2,927 3,617 3,285 25,022 23,882 4.8

 Batteries........................................... 1,005 981 977 2.4 0.4 1.6 1,079 896 956 1,000 7,342 6,982 5.2

 Transportation equipment........................ 63,991 69,457 64,307 -7.9 8.0 -1.0 68,016 52,598 70,412 61,447 504,700 452,589 11.5

 Automobiles..................................... 8,526 8,796 9,093 -3.1 -3.3 -1.5 9,467 7,163 9,709 7,788 69,242 54,919 26.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 14,335 16,098 13,982 -11.0 15.1 1.7 15,651 10,448 14,964 12,367 106,291 90,930 16.9

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,331 2,458 2,623 -5.2 -6.3 -2.5 2,397 2,253 2,766 2,539 20,329 16,685 21.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,528 21,927 18,258 -15.5 20.1 -1.6 20,332 15,829 19,592 19,501 150,953 142,907 5.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,129 9,757 9,176 -6.4 6.3 -4.9 9,047 7,989 10,909 8,373 72,216 58,906 22.6

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,552 4,331 4,646 5.1 -6.8 -0.4 4,534 3,661 5,405 4,296 35,626 35,905 -0.8

 Ships and boats................................. 2,279 2,220 2,256 2.7 -1.6 2.5 2,208 2,053 2,353 2,211 17,802 17,827 -0.1

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,365 5,325 5,313 0.8 0.2 0.1 5,837 5,350 5,503 5,606 43,150 41,563 3.8

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,656 13,557 13,659 0.7 -0.7 -0.4 13,648 12,736 14,652 13,449 108,794 105,287 3.3

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 254,486 249,123 244,371 2.2 1.9 -2.3 264,644 248,890 248,980 262,156 2,024,936 1,981,822 2.2

 Food products....................................... 60,730 60,734 60,201 0.0 0.9 -0.7 61,832 58,666 59,655 61,415 476,887 462,681 3.1

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,346 8,168 8,044 2.2 1.5 -2.4 8,722 7,939 7,606 8,515 63,980 61,831 3.5

 Dairy products.................................. 8,193 8,092 8,061 1.2 0.4 -1.3 8,501 8,070 8,084 9,266 65,652 68,737 -4.5

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 16,485 16,732 16,754 -1.5 -0.1 -2.3 16,748 16,618 17,242 17,167 133,502 130,181 2.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,969 12,649 12,216 2.5 3.5 -5.9 13,547 12,595 12,906 12,591 99,600 93,191 6.9

 Beverages......................................... 9,196 9,275 9,123 -0.9 1.7 0.5 9,774 9,221 9,813 8,881 72,600 66,725 8.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,773 3,374 3,093 11.8 9.1 -20.7 3,773 3,374 3,093 3,710 27,000 26,466 2.0

 Textile mills........................................... 2,469 2,468 2,450 0.0 0.7 -1.6 2,617 2,379 2,640 2,636 20,189 20,627 -2.1

 Textile products................................... 1,992 1,957 1,934 1.8 1.2 -1.0 2,082 1,957 2,099 1,955 15,951 15,164 5.2

 Apparel................................................ 1,291 1,294 1,241 -0.2 4.3 1.2 1,416 1,284 1,183 1,359 9,762 9,203 6.1

 Leather and allied products...................... 441 448 453 -1.6 -1.1 -6.6 462 443 487 478 3,650 3,623 0.7

 Paper products...................................... 13,884 13,899 13,867 -0.1 0.2 -0.4 14,528 13,974 14,231 14,828 111,876 113,990 -1.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,497 6,483 6,482 0.2 0.0 -0.7 6,804 6,561 6,621 7,038 52,468 53,549 -2.0

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,059 4,101 4,090 -1.0 0.3 0.5 4,256 4,180 4,191 4,296 32,883 33,723 -2.5

 Printing................................................. 6,662 6,625 6,587 0.6 0.6 -7.3 6,904 6,233 6,459 7,109 52,799 53,911 -2.1

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 74,687 69,843 67,086 6.9 4.1 -3.2 78,989 72,919 68,110 74,314 580,282 556,598 4.3

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 70,577 65,841 62,930 7.2 4.6 -3.3 73,938 68,287 63,174 68,910 545,793 524,458 4.1

 Chemical products..................................... 62,195 61,909 61,078 0.5 1.4 -2.3 64,011 61,136 62,831 67,223 511,594 517,378 -1.1

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,001 3,033 2,673 -1.1 13.5 -4.7 2,655 2,506 2,720 2,795 26,819 25,401 5.6

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 13,776 14,088 14,100 -2.2 -0.1 -1.6 13,962 13,754 14,013 15,522 113,507 120,126 -5.5

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,744 2,803 2,855 -2.1 -1.8 -0.8 2,999 2,970 3,116 2,976 23,732 21,806 8.8

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,166 17,297 17,258 -0.8 0.2 -1.1 18,256 17,304 18,379 18,248 142,346 135,456 5.1

p

 Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

1

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally adjusted 

estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences,

where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes.

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

2 Estimates and percent changes of shipments for the semiconductor industry are no longer shown separately, but are included in computers and electronic products, and all other applicable

 aggregate totals. 

Year to date
 3

Table 2. Value of Manufacturers' New Orders for Industry Groups1

[Estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Aug. July June 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 452,806 477,711 465,739 -5.2 2.6 -0.5 467,865 454,058 478,559 481,165 3,758,783 3,624,706 3.7

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 400,845 397,922 395,266 0.7 0.7 -2.2 412,936 391,199 406,124 413,643 3,250,589 3,155,038 3.0

 Excluding defense 2

.............................. 444,048 465,525 451,064 -4.6 3.2 -1.6 460,825 444,784 462,695 471,220 3,676,447 3,528,835 4.2

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 139,126 166,941 161,449 -16.7 3.4 2.4 140,439 151,947 165,171 160,146 1,261,230 1,212,977 4.0

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 198,320 228,588 221,368 -13.2 3.3 1.6 203,221 205,168 229,579 219,009 1,733,847 1,642,884 5.5

 Primary metals............................ ............ 27,003 27,588 26,996 -2.1 2.2 -1.5 28,256 26,955 27,470 27,798 228,996 199,038 15.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,191 10,518 10,465 -3.1 0.5 -0.6 10,387 10,065 10,424 12,056 90,422 91,614 -1.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 15,088 15,227 14,788 -0.9 3.0 -1.5 16,093 15,164 15,204 13,905 123,566 94,049 31.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,724 1,843 1,743 -6.5 5.7 -6.2 1,776 1,726 1,842 1,837 15,008 13,375 12.2

 Fabricated metal products........................ 27,540 27,662 27,720 -0.4 -0.2 -1.6 28,916 26,638 27,933 28,307 226,889 215,088 5.5

 Machinery............................................. 28,111 29,584 31,514 -5.0 -6.1 -2.5 27,083 28,237 32,116 30,805 252,452 257,648 -2.0

 Construction machinery....................... 4,491 3,948 4,153 13.8 -4.9 5.1 4,263 3,780 3,100 2,278 32,472 31,444 3.3

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,374 1,491 2,495 -7.8 -40.2 9.1 1,302 1,624 2,569 1,970 15,333 22,473 -31.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,499 3,165 3,132 10.6 1.1 -1.5 3,068 2,949 3,526 2,572 25,284 23,341 8.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 589 656 722 -10.2 -9.1 -2.7 593 608 766 703 5,507 5,392 2.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 1,197 3,487 3,408 -65.7 2.3 -0.9 1,257 3,768 4,386 3,076 25,831 25,995 -0.6

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,457 2,330 2,338 5.5 -0.3 -3.6 2,488 2,109 2,496 2,291 19,020 17,333 9.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 2,636 2,658 3,733 -0.8 -28.8 -3.9 2,538 2,402 3,845 4,146 28,943 31,542 -8.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,978 2,817 2,710 5.7 3.9 -5.2 3,137 2,479 2,731 2,908 22,754 20,522 10.9

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 20,550 21,280 21,744 -3.4 -2.1 -4.9 19,121 18,482 23,652 20,526 170,602 166,438 2.5

 Computers........................................ 999 900 1,147 11.0 -21.5 -13.0 934 960 1,263 1,459 8,948 11,396 -21.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,667 2,868 3,093 -7.0 -7.3 -3.6 2,636 2,459 3,359 2,766 23,573 20,176 16.8

 Defense communications equipment...... 363 395 285 -8.1 38.6 -33.3 283 280 318 361 2,689 3,335 -19.4

 Electronic components......................... 3,487 3,521 3,449 -1.0 2.1 -7.1 3,738 3,283 3,610 3,871 28,536 28,978 -1.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,629 1,565 1,676 4.1 -6.6 -2.9 1,573 1,398 1,816 1,318 13,317 10,538 26.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,984 3,090 2,834 -3.4 9.0 -4.8 2,599 2,295 2,908 2,578 22,915 22,216 3.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 5,920 6,216 6,779 -4.8 -8.3 -3.5 5,119 5,702 7,195 6,093 52,636 54,100 -2.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,927 9,566 9,778 3.8 -2.2 -4.6 10,246 9,069 10,508 10,621 79,978 79,390 0.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 885 884 882 0.1 0.2 -1.5 893 836 983 981 7,174 7,627 -5.9

 Household appliances.......................... 1,561 1,516 1,540 3.0 -1.6 -2.7 1,631 1,441 1,570 1,523 12,470 12,003 3.9

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,093 3,013 3,023 2.7 -0.3 -4.6 3,096 2,896 3,494 3,183 25,411 25,106 1.2

 Transportation equipment........................ 51,961 79,789 70,473 -34.9 13.2 10.8 54,929 62,859 72,435 67,522 508,194 469,668 8.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,628 21,883 18,153 -14.9 20.5 -1.8 20,087 15,717 19,156 19,253 149,632 142,388 5.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... -346 19,199 12,708 -101.8 51.1 32.5 33 18,564 10,386 15,061 82,919 74,107 11.9

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 4,186 4,556 5,143 -8.1 -11.4 23.7 3,233 3,560 5,781 4,745 35,492 38,700 -8.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,446 2,447 3,438 -40.9 -28.8 226.5 1,055 1,849 3,551 1,208 14,078 20,189 -30.3

 Furniture and related products................. 5,349 5,373 5,378 -0.4 -0.1 2.1 5,280 5,369 5,396 4,962 43,686 41,970 4.1

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 254,486 249,123 244,371 2.2 1.9 -2.3 264,644 248,890 248,980 262,156 2,024,936 1,981,822 2.2

p

 Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

1

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally

 adjusted estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday

and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not

adjusted for price changes.

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. For further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations see <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/>.

Year to date
 4 

Table 3. Value of Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders for Industry Groups1

[Estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. Aug.

2012p 2012r 2012 Aug. July June 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 978,842 995,852 988,660 -1.7 0.7 0.4 970,872 993,117 987,097 923,406 5.1

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 410,290 415,270 418,410 -1.2 -0.8 -0.5 406,712 415,870 420,111 392,058 3.7

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 789,220 804,179 798,687 -1.9 0.7 0.1 783,224 801,756 795,785 731,924 7.0

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 978,842 995,852 988,660 -1.7 0.7 0.4 970,872 993,117 987,097 923,406 5.1

 Primary metals........................................ 31,813 32,803 33,368 -3.0 -1.7 -2.8 31,192 32,492 33,086 33,039 -5.6

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 17,421 18,179 18,606 -4.2 -2.3 -1.8 17,124 18,011 18,384 18,251 -6.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,897 11,065 11,254 -1.5 -1.7 -4.8 10,613 10,942 11,215 11,627 -8.7

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 3,495 3,559 3,508 -1.8 1.5 -1.7 3,455 3,539 3,487 3,161 9.3

 Fabricated metal products......................... 83,242 82,864 82,369 0.5 0.6 0.4 83,024 83,548 83,477 76,880 8.0

 Machinery.............................................. 130,001 134,597 137,832 -3.4 -2.3 -1.3 128,901 134,932 138,272 127,023 1.5

 Construction machinery....................... 23,680 24,724 26,216 -4.2 -5.7 -3.2 22,625 24,343 26,138 24,428 -7.4

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 18,687 19,442 20,137 -3.9 -3.5 1.9 18,966 19,748 20,202 20,432 -7.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 8,391 8,431 8,750 -0.5 -3.6 -2.9 8,353 8,532 8,762 9,274 -9.9

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,822 2,885 2,873 -2.2 0.4 0.7 2,839 2,945 2,901 2,696 5.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 8,356 10,296 9,986 -18.8 3.1 2.9 8,578 10,801 10,425 8,813 -2.7

 Metalworking machinery....................... 7,210 7,298 7,496 -1.2 -2.6 -2.6 7,084 7,244 7,532 6,987 1.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 26,868 27,709 28,530 -3.0 -2.9 -2.1 26,761 27,673 28,526 23,345 14.6

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,425 8,262 8,263 2.0 0.0 -0.7 8,293 8,176 8,352 7,571 9.5

 Computers and electronic products 2......... 136,833 136,594 136,097 0.2 0.4 0.3 135,345 135,996 136,039 128,664 5.2

 Computers......................................... 1,163 1,108 1,194 5.0 -7.2 1.2 1,163 1,108 1,194 1,158 0.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 28,562 28,623 28,399 -0.2 0.8 1.5 28,282 28,244 28,109 24,128 17.2

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,218 5,223 5,180 -0.1 0.8 -2.1 5,132 5,210 5,246 6,401 -19.8

 Electronic components.......................... 13,079 13,169 13,211 -0.7 -0.3 -1.2 13,209 13,188 13,150 13,110 0.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 13,064 12,738 12,533 2.6 1.6 3.5 13,097 12,837 12,677 9,397 39.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 46,391 46,281 46,184 0.2 0.2 -0.3 45,792 46,080 46,423 45,852 -0.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 29,356 29,452 29,396 -0.3 0.2 -0.1 28,670 29,329 29,240 28,618 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 21,189 21,178 21,559 0.1 -1.8 -1.0 21,184 21,273 21,628 19,634 7.9

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,028 1,044 1,054 -1.5 -0.9 -1.5 1,043 1,070 1,108 1,115 -6.5

 Household appliances.......................... 663 664 705 -0.2 -5.8 0.6 647 637 623 621 4.2

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,813 9,807 9,896 0.1 -0.9 -1.2 9,895 9,975 10,006 9,414 5.1

 Transportation equipment........................ 568,552 580,582 570,250 -2.1 1.8 1.1 564,160 577,247 566,986 531,348 6.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,550 16,450 16,494 0.6 -0.3 -0.6 15,797 16,042 16,154 16,024 -1.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 398,731 408,206 398,764 -2.3 2.4 0.9 396,460 405,474 394,899 356,755 11.1

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 59,968 60,334 60,109 -0.6 0.4 0.8 59,222 60,523 60,624 58,932 0.5

 Ships and boats.................................. 18,501 19,334 19,107 -4.3 1.2 6.6 18,064 19,217 19,421 24,235 -25.5

 Furniture and related products................. 6,354 6,370 6,322 -0.3 0.8 1.0 6,208 6,765 6,746 6,018 3.2

p Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

1

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally

adjusted estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday

and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.
 5

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

[Estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. Aug.

2012p 2012r 2012 Aug. July June 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

 All manufacturing industries..................... 611,806 608,099 604,221 0.6 0.6 -0.1 615,609 612,070 602,323 596,766 3.2

 Excluding transportation...................... 499,602 497,523 495,177 0.4 0.5 -0.3 502,122 500,265 493,727 493,688 1.7

 Excluding defense............................. 585,446 582,051 578,597 0.6 0.6 -0.1 589,348 585,962 576,780 570,431 3.3

 With unfilled orders............................. 301,631 299,673 297,248 0.7 0.8 0.2 304,699 302,671 296,955 288,841 5.5

 Durable goods industries........................ 372,216 369,847 366,503 0.6 0.9 0.3 375,813 372,965 365,689 356,787 5.3

 Wood products........................................ 8,954 8,924 8,897 0.3 0.3 1.2 8,914 8,760 8,694 8,543 4.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,711 11,624 11,571 0.7 0.5 0.0 11,577 11,627 11,688 11,061 4.7

 Primary metals......................................... 34,192 34,096 34,062 0.3 0.1 -1.0 34,421 34,513 34,603 35,536 -3.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 19,860 19,850 19,944 0.1 -0.5 -1.8 20,002 20,202 20,485 21,363 -6.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 12,183 12,102 11,966 0.7 1.1 -0.1 12,300 12,209 11,985 12,220 0.7

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,149 2,144 2,152 0.2 -0.4 0.8 2,119 2,102 2,133 1,953 8.5

 Fabricated metal products......................... 45,972 45,892 45,839 0.2 0.1 -0.3 46,318 46,440 46,055 45,443 1.9

 Machinery.............................................. 67,115 66,586 65,698 0.8 1.4 0.0 67,640 66,708 65,146 60,877 11.1

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,712 3,691 3,673 0.6 0.5 -0.5 3,548 3,560 3,719 3,310 7.2

 Construction machinery........................ 6,087 6,047 5,972 0.7 1.3 1.8 6,024 5,973 5,989 5,039 19.5

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,784 7,689 7,617 1.2 0.9 1.4 7,926 7,845 7,661 6,708 18.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,217 7,171 7,230 0.6 -0.8 0.1 7,274 7,064 7,192 7,176 1.4

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,477 1,478 1,474 -0.1 0.3 1.9 1,513 1,537 1,463 1,471 2.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,073 4,073 4,110 0.0 -0.9 -0.2 4,174 4,187 4,182 4,325 -3.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,524 5,469 5,366 1.0 1.9 -0.2 5,610 5,505 5,314 4,870 15.2

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 11,196 11,052 10,543 1.3 4.8 -2.0 11,587 11,236 10,106 10,035 15.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,510 4,426 4,326 1.9 2.3 0.4 4,581 4,475 4,353 3,843 19.2

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 46,451 46,453 46,106 0.0 0.8 0.6 47,288 47,001 45,620 46,979 0.7

 Computers......................................... 1,161 1,197 1,188 -3.0 0.8 -1.2 1,233 1,195 1,168 1,347 -8.5

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,092 1,082 1,081 0.9 0.1 -0.6 1,161 1,117 1,051 1,158 0.3

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,708 1,721 1,650 -0.8 4.3 -5.3 1,782 1,761 1,611 1,736 2.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,957 7,016 7,026 -0.8 -0.1 2.1 7,058 7,042 6,833 6,946 1.6

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,591 1,555 1,534 2.3 1.4 1.1 1,591 1,555 1,534 2,380 -33.2

 Audio and video equipment.................. 656 648 620 1.2 4.5 2.5 727 668 588 671 8.3

 Electronic components.......................... 7,231 7,309 7,296 -1.1 0.2 1.7 7,202 7,432 7,170 6,965 3.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,410 3,373 3,344 1.1 0.9 0.2 3,456 3,371 3,305 3,230 7.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,722 2,780 2,870 -2.1 -3.1 0.1 2,731 2,829 2,867 2,792 -2.2

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 11,837 11,781 11,712 0.5 0.6 0.7 12,082 11,892 11,584 12,230 -1.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,489 15,460 15,414 0.2 0.3 -0.3 15,655 15,658 15,471 15,309 2.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,791 1,777 1,745 0.8 1.8 0.8 1,814 1,835 1,781 1,655 9.6

 Household appliances.......................... 1,650 1,658 1,662 -0.5 -0.2 -0.6 1,729 1,729 1,665 1,880 -8.0

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,683 4,668 4,649 0.3 0.4 -1.5 4,677 4,689 4,606 4,625 1.1

 Batteries............................................ 1,066 1,057 1,055 0.9 0.2 0.9 1,101 1,064 1,068 1,052 4.7

 Transportation equipment......................... 112,204 110,576 109,044 1.5 1.4 0.9 113,487 111,805 108,596 103,078 10.1

 Automobiles....................................... 2,793 2,650 2,687 5.4 -1.4 2.8 2,860 2,778 2,549 2,657 7.6

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 2,582 2,609 2,502 -1.0 4.3 -3.6 2,743 2,633 2,399 2,652 3.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 2,120 2,052 1,974 3.3 4.0 3.3 2,198 2,115 1,950 2,099 4.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 17,677 17,616 17,433 0.3 1.0 0.5 17,636 17,680 17,178 16,757 5.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 60,274 59,086 58,431 2.0 1.1 1.3 61,156 59,887 58,642 53,301 14.7

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 13,629 13,343 13,221 2.1 0.9 0.1 13,715 13,431 13,233 13,048 5.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,103 3,066 3,100 1.2 -1.1 3.9 3,048 3,014 3,138 2,771 10.0

 Furniture and related products................. 6,136 6,175 6,134 -0.6 0.7 0.2 6,243 6,342 6,293 6,202 0.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 23,992 24,061 23,738 -0.3 1.4 0.4 24,270 24,111 23,523 23,759 2.2

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 239,590 238,252 237,718 0.6 0.2 -0.7 239,796 239,105 236,634 239,979 -0.1

 Food products........................................ 45,079 44,827 44,798 0.6 0.1 -0.3 45,417 44,163 43,356 45,119 0.7

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,363 5,218 5,133 2.8 1.7 1.7 5,275 5,083 5,007 5,039 4.7

 Dairy products.................................... 5,814 5,785 5,775 0.5 0.2 -2.1 6,000 6,013 5,953 6,242 -3.9

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 7,738 7,706 7,681 0.4 0.3 0.5 7,791 7,675 7,513 7,674 1.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 18,491 18,517 18,489 -0.1 0.2 0.7 17,839 17,938 17,980 16,966 5.1

 Beverages......................................... 14,770 14,791 14,773 -0.1 0.1 0.8 14,321 14,429 14,412 13,464 6.4

 Tobacco............................................ 3,721 3,726 3,716 -0.1 0.3 0.6 3,518 3,509 3,568 3,502 0.5

 Textile mills............................................ 3,387 3,388 3,399 0.0 -0.3 -0.6 3,390 3,403 3,422 3,535 -4.1

 Textile products...................................... 3,146 3,164 3,182 -0.6 -0.6 0.3 3,180 3,186 3,209 3,276 -2.9

 Apparel................................................. 2,309 2,317 2,302 -0.3 0.7 0.9 2,449 2,448 2,338 2,218 10.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 841 836 838 0.6 -0.2 1.2 867 857 850 825 5.1

 Paper products....................................... 14,168 14,251 14,329 -0.6 -0.5 0.2 14,141 14,215 14,212 14,369 -1.6

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,219 6,293 6,376 -1.2 -1.3 0.5 6,173 6,262 6,280 6,313 -2.2

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,081 4,064 4,044 0.4 0.5 0.1 4,067 4,035 4,032 4,037 0.7

 Printing.................................................. 5,397 5,371 5,412 0.5 -0.8 2.1 5,478 5,430 5,390 5,603 -2.2

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 53,314 51,676 51,028 3.2 1.3 -2.4 53,184 52,749 51,780 50,892 4.5

 Petroleum refineries............................. 49,117 47,525 46,903 3.3 1.3 -2.6 48,857 48,496 47,645 47,036 3.9

 Chemical products..................................... 72,078 72,535 72,401 -0.6 0.2 -0.5 72,385 73,121 72,408 75,693 -4.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,153 3,996 3,881 3.9 3.0 3.6 3,758 3,642 3,587 3,616 3.9

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 23,797 23,958 23,904 -0.7 0.2 0.5 24,117 24,295 24,284 25,151 -4.1

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,926 2,945 2,904 -0.6 1.4 0.2 2,943 3,000 2,962 2,991 -1.6

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 21,380 21,370 21,540 0.0 -0.8 -1.1 21,466 21,595 21,689 21,483 -0.1

p Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

1

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally adjusted 

estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences,

where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes.

2 Estimates of inventories for the semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and all other applicable aggregate totals, but are not shown separately. 

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

[Estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Aug. July June 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 476,856 478,169 469,382 -0.3 1.9 -1.2 497,047 458,206 489,974 484,740 3,809,902 3,630,996 4.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 40,383 40,412 40,557 -0.1 -0.4 -1.2 44,775 41,825 44,775 44,062 330,593 312,754 5.7

 Information technology......................... 20,747 21,277 21,891 -2.5 -2.8 -1.9 20,293 19,144 24,444 21,924 169,624 171,746 -1.2

 Computers and related products .......... 2,701 2,936 2,827 -8.0 3.9 -3.8 2,405 2,474 3,659 2,875 21,370 22,588 -5.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 43,720 49,279 43,956 -11.3 12.1 -0.6 47,847 35,693 47,031 42,195 346,815 305,441 13.5

 Capital goods...................................... 77,486 78,727 79,374 -1.6 -0.8 0.9 77,724 73,066 86,236 77,154 617,696 580,193 6.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 69,375 70,476 70,713 -1.6 -0.3 0.8 69,646 65,695 76,990 68,582 552,472 508,329 8.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,319 63,787 64,815 -0.7 -1.6 1.4 63,466 60,235 70,049 63,260 505,594 474,004 6.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,111 8,251 8,661 -1.7 -4.7 1.9 8,078 7,371 9,246 8,572 65,224 71,864 -9.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 208,864 206,004 200,329 1.4 2.8 -1.9 217,255 197,448 203,464 207,253 1,636,427 1,566,987 4.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,601 37,565 35,907 -5.2 4.6 -0.3 37,907 29,046 38,272 32,756 278,916 245,765 13.5

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 173,263 168,439 164,422 2.9 2.4 -2.2 179,348 168,402 165,192 174,497 1,357,511 1,321,222 2.7

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 452,806 477,711 465,739 -5.2 2.6 -0.5 467,865 454,058 478,559 481,165 3,758,783 3,624,706 3.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 38,824 41,152 41,028 -5.7 0.3 -1.3 42,332 42,483 44,595 42,967 332,631 317,044 4.9

 Information technology......................... 21,035 21,587 22,373 -2.6 -3.5 -4.9 19,523 18,807 24,313 21,292 175,154 170,524 2.7

 Computers and related products .......... 2,756 2,850 2,841 -3.3 0.3 -5.0 2,460 2,388 3,673 2,865 21,377 22,482 -4.9

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 43,820 49,235 43,851 -11.0 12.3 -0.7 47,602 35,581 46,595 41,947 345,494 304,922 13.3

 Capital goods...................................... 63,475 86,121 84,619 -26.3 1.8 8.1 60,727 79,035 85,575 81,709 627,959 621,620 1.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 57,414 75,941 72,741 -24.4 4.4 2.4 55,889 71,037 72,997 73,675 563,933 543,007 3.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 60,795 60,113 63,667 1.1 -5.6 -2.7 58,514 55,709 66,406 61,719 507,725 496,144 2.3

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 6,061 10,180 11,878 -40.5 -14.3 64.3 4,838 7,998 12,578 8,034 64,026 78,613 -18.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 208,886 205,999 200,368 1.4 2.8 -1.8 217,094 197,597 203,156 206,969 1,636,442 1,566,897 4.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,623 37,560 35,946 -5.2 4.5 -0.2 37,746 29,195 37,964 32,472 278,931 245,675 13.5

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 173,263 168,439 164,422 2.9 2.4 -2.2 179,348 168,402 165,192 174,497 1,357,511 1,321,222 2.7

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 978,842 995,852 988,660 -1.7 0.7 0.4 970,872 993,117 987,097 923,406 (X) (X) 5.1

 Construction materials and supplies...... 55,743 57,302 56,562 -2.7 1.3 0.8 55,835 58,278 57,620 55,133 (X) (X) 1.3

 Information technology......................... 136,261 135,973 135,663 0.2 0.2 0.4 134,574 135,344 135,681 126,734 (X) (X) 6.2

 Computers and related products .......... 1,163 1,108 1,194 5.0 -7.2 1.2 1,163 1,108 1,194 1,158 (X) (X) 0.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 16,550 16,450 16,494 0.6 -0.3 -0.6 15,797 16,042 16,154 16,024 (X) (X) -1.4

 Capital goods...................................... 745,984 759,995 752,601 -1.8 1.0 0.7 739,709 756,706 750,737 695,642 (X) (X) 6.3

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................580,376 592,337 586,872 -2.0 0.9 0.3 575,576 589,333 583,991 527,363 (X) (X) 9.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 238,072 240,596 244,270 -1.0 -1.5 -0.5 235,538 240,490 245,016 223,250 (X) (X) 5.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 165,608 167,658 165,729 -1.2 1.2 2.0 164,133 167,373 166,746 168,279 (X) (X) -2.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 3,934 3,912 3,917 0.6 -0.1 1.0 3,762 3,923 3,774 3,547 (X) (X) 6.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 3,934 3,912 3,917 0.6 -0.1 1.0 3,762 3,923 3,774 3,547 (X) (X) 6.1

 All manufacturing industries .................. 611,806 608,099 604,221 0.6 0.6 -0.1 615,609 612,070 602,323 596,766 (X) (X) 3.2

 Construction materials and supplies...... 59,086 59,040 58,924 0.1 0.2 0.1 59,418 59,565 58,994 58,392 (X) (X) 1.8

 Information technology......................... 39,249 39,263 39,131 0.0 0.3 0.4 40,020 39,642 38,680 40,409 (X) (X) -1.0

 Computers and related products .......... 3,961 4,000 3,919 -1.0 2.1 -2.8 4,176 4,073 3,830 4,241 (X) (X) -1.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 25,172 24,927 24,596 1.0 1.3 0.5 25,437 25,206 24,076 24,165 (X) (X) 5.3

 Capital goods...................................... 193,796 191,790 189,402 1.0 1.3 0.6 195,978 193,092 188,868 180,580 (X) (X) 8.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................172,180 170,498 168,506 1.0 1.2 0.7 174,547 171,828 168,065 159,563 (X) (X) 9.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 121,619 121,106 119,605 0.4 1.3 0.3 123,268 121,775 118,724 115,068 (X) (X) 7.1

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 21,616 21,292 20,896 1.5 1.9 0.3 21,431 21,264 20,803 21,017 (X) (X) 2.0

 Consumer goods.................................. 180,195 178,529 177,716 0.9 0.5 -0.6 180,635 178,949 176,249 177,758 (X) (X) 1.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 25,345 25,253 25,076 0.4 0.7 0.0 25,803 25,433 24,499 25,049 (X) (X) 3.0

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 154,850 153,276 152,640 1.0 0.4 -0.7 154,832 153,516 151,750 152,709 (X) (X) 1.4

X Not Applicable p Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

1 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally adjusted 

estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes.

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

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 
 7

Table 6. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories, by Stage of Fabrication, by Industry Group1 

[Estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. Aug.

2012p 2012r 2012 Aug. July June 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 203,290 202,451 200,686 0.4 0.9 -0.2 203,590 203,876 200,144 195,627 4.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 120,710 120,210 119,365 0.4 0.7 -0.2 121,418 121,162 118,714 115,411 5.2

 Wood products................................... 3,632 3,585 3,569 1.3 0.4 1.8 3,609 3,458 3,336 3,268 10.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,696 4,697 4,702 0.0 -0.1 -1.0 4,693 4,698 4,706 4,483 4.7

 Primary metals.................................... 12,852 12,743 12,730 0.9 0.1 -0.2 12,892 12,789 12,870 13,519 -4.6

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,798 16,819 16,739 -0.1 0.5 -1.1 16,963 17,012 16,784 16,619 2.1

 Machinery.......................................... 26,084 25,988 25,524 0.4 1.8 0.0 26,407 26,365 25,384 23,598 11.9

 Computers and electronic products...... 17,341 17,281 17,323 0.3 -0.2 -0.1 17,446 17,405 17,170 16,784 3.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 6,848 6,848 6,846 0.0 0.0 -0.5 6,866 6,925 6,892 6,585 4.3

 Transportation equipment.................. 21,677 21,411 21,126 1.2 1.3 0.0 21,678 21,608 20,774 19,875 9.1

 Furniture and related products............ 2,946 2,981 2,972 -1.2 0.3 1.1 2,968 3,032 3,011 2,980 -0.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,836 7,857 7,834 -0.3 0.3 -0.9 7,896 7,870 7,787 7,700 2.5

 Nondurable goods industries................. 82,580 82,241 81,321 0.4 1.1 -0.2 82,172 82,714 81,430 80,216 2.4

 Food products................................... 15,222 14,974 14,716 1.7 1.8 0.3 15,055 14,880 14,330 14,856 1.3

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,942 4,953 4,947 -0.2 0.1 0.4 4,719 4,733 4,816 4,419 6.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,192 1,195 1,195 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 1,203 1,214 1,214 1,262 -4.7

 Textile products.................................. 1,489 1,489 1,521 0.0 -2.1 -0.3 1,504 1,511 1,545 1,476 1.9

 Apparel............................................. 802 754 758 6.4 -0.5 2.4 824 761 755 631 30.6

 Leather and allied products................ 270 254 264 6.3 -3.8 -0.8 279 260 267 275 1.5

 Paper products................................... 6,985 7,070 7,116 -1.2 -0.6 0.5 6,985 6,989 7,005 7,053 -1.0

 Printing ............................................ 2,492 2,499 2,525 -0.3 -1.0 1.9 2,507 2,522 2,532 2,655 -5.6

 Petroleum and coal products............... 17,745 17,494 17,060 1.4 2.5 1.7 17,547 17,940 17,658 15,286 14.8

 Chemical products............................. 22,793 22,981 22,506 -0.8 2.1 -1.9 22,831 23,179 22,612 23,730 -3.8

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,648 8,578 8,713 0.8 -1.5 -2.3 8,718 8,725 8,696 8,573 1.7

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 189,162 187,631 186,841 0.8 0.4 0.1 189,826 188,388 186,085 182,342 4.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 144,601 143,370 141,753 0.9 1.1 0.7 146,214 144,865 141,904 137,965 6.0

 Wood products................................... 1,518 1,532 1,491 -0.9 2.7 -0.1 1,520 1,527 1,497 1,451 4.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,378 1,367 1,342 0.8 1.9 1.1 1,358 1,376 1,379 1,270 6.9

 Primary metals.................................... 11,036 11,104 11,107 -0.6 0.0 -1.1 11,308 11,419 11,398 11,605 -2.6

 Fabricated metal products.................. 13,604 13,486 13,487 0.9 0.0 0.5 13,758 13,574 13,431 12,798 7.5

 Machinery.......................................... 16,948 16,744 16,523 1.2 1.3 0.1 17,155 16,749 16,294 15,892 7.9

 Computers and electronic products...... 15,845 16,067 16,019 -1.4 0.3 0.8 16,118 16,361 15,981 17,862 -9.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,566 3,567 3,565 0.0 0.1 -0.3 3,648 3,622 3,575 3,599 1.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 76,311 75,064 73,865 1.7 1.6 1.3 76,899 75,746 73,952 69,234 11.1

 Furniture and related products............ 1,019 1,037 1,024 -1.7 1.3 -2.1 1,027 1,055 1,038 1,009 1.8

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,376 3,402 3,330 -0.8 2.2 -0.5 3,423 3,436 3,359 3,245 5.5

 Nondurable goods industries................. 44,561 44,261 45,088 0.7 -1.8 -1.6 43,612 43,523 44,181 44,377 -1.7

 Food products................................... 4,175 4,104 4,033 1.7 1.8 0.0 3,696 3,511 3,506 3,360 10.0

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,888 5,882 5,839 0.1 0.7 -0.2 5,314 5,335 5,438 5,183 2.5

 Textiles.............................................. 772 759 762 1.7 -0.4 -1.2 782 767 763 815 -4.0

 Textile products.................................. 415 421 413 -1.4 1.9 -0.2 418 420 408 456 -8.3

 Apparel............................................. 382 384 376 -0.5 2.1 0.8 409 417 396 407 0.5

 Leather and allied products................ 111 124 124 -10.5 0.0 1.6 108 124 120 114 -5.3

 Paper products................................... 1,243 1,249 1,279 -0.5 -2.3 -1.7 1,261 1,264 1,285 1,367 -7.8

 Printing ............................................ 1,250 1,235 1,231 1.2 0.3 2.1 1,321 1,250 1,153 1,398 -5.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... 13,124 12,608 13,302 4.1 -5.2 -6.2 13,071 12,833 13,282 13,772 -5.1

 Chemical products............................. 14,870 15,153 15,429 -1.9 -1.8 1.1 14,899 15,262 15,558 15,306 -2.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,331 2,342 2,300 -0.5 1.8 -0.5 2,333 2,340 2,272 2,199 6.1

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 219,354 218,017 216,694 0.6 0.6 -0.3 222,193 219,806 216,094 218,797 1.6

 Durable goods industries........................ 106,905 106,267 105,385 0.6 0.8 0.2 108,181 106,938 105,071 103,411 4.6

 Wood products................................... 3,804 3,807 3,837 -0.1 -0.8 1.2 3,785 3,775 3,861 3,824 -1.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,637 5,560 5,527 1.4 0.6 0.6 5,526 5,553 5,603 5,308 4.1

 Primary metals.................................... 10,304 10,249 10,225 0.5 0.2 -2.0 10,221 10,305 10,335 10,412 -1.8

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,570 15,587 15,613 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 15,597 15,854 15,840 16,026 -2.7

 Machinery.......................................... 24,083 23,854 23,651 1.0 0.9 0.0 24,078 23,594 23,468 21,387 12.6

 Computers and electronic products...... 13,265 13,105 12,764 1.2 2.7 1.3 13,724 13,235 12,469 12,333 11.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,075 5,045 5,003 0.6 0.8 -0.1 5,141 5,111 5,004 5,125 0.3

 Transportation equipment.................. 14,216 14,101 14,053 0.8 0.3 0.2 14,910 14,451 13,870 13,969 6.7

 Furniture and related products............ 2,171 2,157 2,138 0.6 0.9 0.1 2,248 2,255 2,244 2,213 1.6

 Miscellaneous products........................ 12,780 12,802 12,574 -0.2 1.8 1.5 12,951 12,805 12,377 12,814 1.1

 Nondurable goods industries................. 112,449 111,750 111,309 0.6 0.4 -0.7 114,012 112,868 111,023 115,386 -1.2

 Food products................................... 25,682 25,749 26,049 -0.3 -1.2 -0.7 26,666 25,772 25,520 26,903 -0.9

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 7,661 7,682 7,703 -0.3 -0.3 1.7 7,806 7,870 7,726 7,364 6.0

 Textiles.............................................. 1,423 1,434 1,442 -0.8 -0.6 -0.5 1,405 1,422 1,445 1,458 -3.6

 Textile products.................................. 1,242 1,254 1,248 -1.0 0.5 1.3 1,258 1,255 1,256 1,344 -6.4

 Apparel............................................. 1,125 1,179 1,168 -4.6 0.9 0.0 1,216 1,270 1,187 1,180 3.1

 Leather and allied products................ 460 458 450 0.4 1.8 2.3 480 473 463 436 10.1

 Paper products................................... 5,940 5,932 5,934 0.1 0.0 0.3 5,895 5,962 5,922 5,949 -0.9

 Printing ............................................ 1,655 1,637 1,656 1.1 -1.1 2.3 1,650 1,658 1,705 1,550 6.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... 22,445 21,574 20,666 4.0 4.4 -3.0 22,566 21,976 20,840 21,834 3.4

 Chemical products............................. 34,415 34,401 34,466 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 34,655 34,680 34,238 36,657 -5.5

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,401 10,450 10,527 -0.5 -0.7 -0.2 10,415 10,530 10,721 10,711 -2.8

p Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

1

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally adjusted 

estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences,

where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes.

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
 8

Table 7. Ratios of Manufacturers' Inventories to Shipments and Unfilled Orders 

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Aug Jul Jun May Aug Jul Jun May

2012p 2012r 2012 2012 2012p 2012r 2012 2012

All manufacturing industries2

............................ 1.28 1.27 1.29 1.27 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.67 1.61 1.63 1.62 6.27 6.23 6.28 6.24

 Wood products.............................................. 1.46 1.46 1.46 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.45 1.44 1.44 1.42 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.22 1.21 1.22 1.21 1.14 1.17 1.19 1.21

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.69 1.69 1.68 1.67 3.17 3.16 3.12 3.09

 Machinery..................................................... 2.05 2.03 1.97 2.06 4.25 4.42 4.48 4.77

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.70 1.63 1.59 1.58 7.68 7.56 7.21 7.00

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.56 1.55 1.54 1.54 2.38 2.36 2.39 2.40

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.75 1.59 1.70 1.66 14.65 13.79 14.77 14.36

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.14 1.16 1.15 1.15 1.36 1.38 1.38 1.36

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.76 1.77 1.74 1.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.94 0.96 0.97 0.96 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.43 1.46 1.51 1.41 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.37 1.37 1.39 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.58 1.62 1.65 1.62 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.79 1.79 1.85 1.86 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.91 1.87 1.85 1.71 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.81 0.81 0.82 0.75 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.71 0.74 0.76 0.75 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.16 1.17 1.19 1.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.25 1.24 1.25 1.25 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

 Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

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.

Aug2 Aug2 Aug2 Aug2

Industry 2011- 2011- 2011- 2011-

Aug1 Jul Aug1 Jul Aug1 Jul Aug1 Jul

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

 

All manufacturing industries.................. (X) 0.2 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.1

Durable goods industries....................... 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... 0.0 0.8 -0.4 1.5 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.6

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 0.1 0.8 -0.3 1.5 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.2 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.1 0.4 0.0 1.2 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.7 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.4

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

 Food products................................... (X) 0.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Chemical products................................ (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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.

3

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories 

are for the end of the period. Not seasonally adjusted estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar 

reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, 

as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted 

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data from the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey.] 

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
9 

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-of-month 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-inprocess, and finished goods). The M3 includes approximately 4,300 reporting units. Units may be 

divisions of diversified large companies, large homogenous companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 89 

industry categories. Due to the small monthly sample, these 89 categories have been combined into 65 

publication levels. The survey methodology assumes that the month-to-month 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 4,300 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 4,300 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. Any corrections will be published in the full report. 

Corrections received after the full report will be released in the next month’s advance report. Any 

revisions made later than two months will be reflected in the annual benchmark publication. 

Additional survey documentation can be found on our web site: http://www.census.gov/m3.