FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (12)-9 

CB12-207 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

September 2012 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in September, up 

two of the last three months, increased $22.0 billion or 

4.8 percent to $475.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 5.1 percent August 

decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders 

increased 1.4 percent. 

 Shipments, up two of the last three months, increased 

$4.1 billion or 0.9 percent to $481.3 billion. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, up three of the last four months, 

increased $1.7 billion or 0.2 percent to $981.0 billion. 

This followed a 1.7 percent August decrease. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.24, down from 

6.28 in August. 

 Inventories, up three consecutive months, increased 

$3.7 billion or 0.6 percent to $615.7 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 August 

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

unchanged from August. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, up four of the last five months, increased 

$19.5 billion or 9.8 percent to $218.2 billion, revised 

from the previously published 9.9 percent increase. This 

followed a 13.1 percent August decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, up five of the last six 

months, had the largest increase, $16.6 billion or 31.3 

percent to $69.4 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $2.4 billion or 1.0 percent to $257.2 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

September, up two of the last three months, increased 

$1.7 billion or 0.8 percent to $224.1 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This followed a 

2.9 percent August decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also up two of the last 

three months, had the largest increase, $0.7 billion or 1.1 

percent to $64.6 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $2.4 billion or 1.0 

percent to $257.2 billion. This followed a 2.2 percent 

August increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up 

three consecutive months, drove the increase, up $2.8 

billion or 3.7 percent to $77.8 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, up three of the last four months, increased 

$1.7 billion or 0.2 percent to $981.0 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published decrease. This followed a 

1.7 percent August decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four 

months, had the largest increase, $4.8 billion or 0.8 

percent to $574.4 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

September, up thirty-two of the last thirty-three months, 

increased $0.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $372.9 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 0.6 percent 

August increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up thirty-two of the 

last thirty-three months, had the largest increase, $0.4 

billion or 0.4 percent to $112.6 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $2.8 billion or 1.2 

percent to $242.8 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent 

August increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up 

three consecutive months, led the increase, up $2.2 

billion or 4.2 percent to $55.9 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, September materials and 

supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 0.6 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 

0.3 percent in durable goods and 3.2 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased slightly in 

durable goods and increased 0.8 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 October is scheduled for release on November 27, 

2012, at 8:30 a.m. EST and the full report on December 5, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. EST. 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

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Sept. Aug. July 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

 All manufacturing industries.................. 481,251 477,115 478,169 0.9 -0.2 1.9 485,699 497,536 458,206 478,000 4,296,090 4,108,996 4.6

 Excluding transportation................... 416,648 413,221 408,712 0.8 1.1 0.9 418,429 429,483 405,608 415,895 3,724,083 3,594,302 3.6

 Excluding defense.............................. 470,442 466,253 467,683 0.9 -0.3 2.1 473,656 486,776 448,981 466,093 4,199,837 4,007,747 4.8

 With unfilled orders............................ 157,231 156,043 159,749 0.8 -2.3 1.5 162,772 162,728 145,927 160,303 1,419,097 1,326,148 7.0

 Durable goods industries......................... 224,089 222,397 229,046 0.8 -2.9 1.8 230,087 232,675 209,316 224,376 2,015,325 1,873,550 7.6

 Wood products....................................... 6,139 6,219 6,106 -1.3 1.9 0.4 6,306 6,729 6,362 6,029 55,700 52,236 6.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,111 8,133 8,082 -0.3 0.6 0.6 8,310 9,216 8,460 8,429 73,421 70,656 3.9

 Primary metals....................................... 28,383 28,029 28,153 1.3 -0.4 0.7 27,840 29,575 27,549 26,843 261,665 225,992 15.8

 Iron and steel mills............................ 10,864 11,000 10,945 -1.2 0.5 1.3 10,344 11,380 10,438 11,476 104,167 105,393 -1.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 15,738 15,263 15,416 3.1 -1.0 0.4 15,698 16,361 15,437 13,584 140,816 105,970 32.9

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,781 1,766 1,792 0.8 -1.5 -0.7 1,798 1,834 1,674 1,783 16,682 14,629 14.0

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,290 27,239 27,167 0.2 0.3 -0.7 28,034 29,531 26,567 28,319 249,361 237,927 4.8

 Machinery............................................. 32,432 32,458 32,819 -0.1 -1.1 -1.4 32,751 33,022 31,577 32,079 290,672 265,630 9.4

 Farm machinery................................. 1,599 1,614 1,870 -0.9 -13.7 -5.0 1,488 1,461 1,862 2,460 20,232 22,950 -11.8

 Construction machinery..................... 5,687 5,516 5,440 3.1 1.4 8.3 5,831 5,981 5,575 4,089 42,497 31,526 34.8

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 2,109 2,126 2,186 -0.8 -2.7 3.3 2,128 2,083 2,078 2,006 18,685 17,648 5.9

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,388 3,474 3,484 -2.5 -0.3 2.6 3,718 3,234 3,179 3,445 29,032 26,106 11.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 628 649 644 -3.2 0.8 -8.1 666 706 564 735 5,803 5,959 -2.6

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,086 3,121 3,177 -1.1 -1.8 1.6 3,210 3,482 3,392 3,113 28,855 27,304 5.7

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,498 2,498 2,528 0.0 -1.2 -0.3 2,509 2,599 2,397 2,226 21,704 18,073 20.1

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,441 3,418 3,479 0.7 -1.8 -20.1 3,293 3,415 3,255 4,066 32,937 30,944 6.4

 Material handling equipment............... 2,878 2,820 2,818 2.1 0.1 1.7 2,831 3,018 2,655 2,714 25,023 22,483 11.3

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 28,039 27,439 28,433 2.2 -3.5 -2.0 29,925 26,685 28,693 30,886 251,338 252,994 -0.7

 Computers........................................ 1,143 980 986 16.6 -0.6 -13.0 1,334 879 1,046 1,871 10,275 13,373 -23.2

 Computer storage devices..................... 720 822 1,077 -12.4 -23.7 35.1 1,014 740 815 1,078 6,909 5,837 18.4

 Other peripheral equipment................ 922 867 873 6.3 -0.7 -2.7 1,171 776 613 1,212 7,695 7,539 2.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,633 2,721 2,644 -3.2 2.9 -1.5 3,155 2,599 2,324 3,201 23,834 24,701 -3.5

 Defense communications equipment.... 340 364 352 -6.6 3.4 -11.1 380 361 316 674 3,511 4,558 -23.0

 Audio and video equipment.................... 267 244 257 9.4 -5.1 1.6 251 195 217 211 1,945 1,841 5.6

 Electronic components......................... 3,484 3,540 3,563 -1.6 -0.6 -1.4 3,699 3,692 3,245 3,796 32,069 32,571 -1.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,318 1,302 1,360 1.2 -4.3 8.2 1,449 1,313 1,238 1,397 11,746 11,648 0.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,998 2,889 2,993 3.8 -3.5 -0.1 3,231 2,881 2,638 3,189 26,196 26,605 -1.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,102 6,039 6,160 1.0 -2.0 -9.5 6,789 5,792 5,613 7,741 59,771 61,400 -2.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,819 9,887 9,947 -0.7 -0.6 -0.5 10,326 10,336 9,424 10,652 89,849 87,537 2.6

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 885 900 894 -1.7 0.7 -0.4 919 920 874 971 8,085 8,462 -4.5

 Household appliances........................ 1,595 1,571 1,557 1.5 0.9 1.4 1,645 1,621 1,427 1,577 14,117 13,496 4.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,032 3,059 3,102 -0.9 -1.4 -1.4 3,273 3,157 2,927 3,484 28,276 27,366 3.3

 Batteries........................................... 991 1,003 981 -1.2 2.2 0.4 1,084 1,079 896 1,079 8,426 8,061 4.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 64,603 63,894 69,457 1.1 -8.0 8.0 67,270 68,053 52,598 62,105 572,007 514,694 11.1

 Automobiles..................................... 8,828 8,552 8,796 3.2 -2.8 -3.3 8,914 9,467 7,163 7,534 78,156 62,453 25.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 14,030 14,211 16,098 -1.3 -11.7 15.1 14,179 15,651 10,448 12,130 120,470 103,060 16.9

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,190 2,289 2,458 -4.3 -6.9 -6.3 2,201 2,397 2,253 2,620 22,530 19,305 16.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,310 18,464 21,927 -0.8 -15.8 20.1 18,278 20,329 15,829 18,703 169,228 161,610 4.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 10,335 9,177 9,757 12.6 -5.9 6.3 11,356 9,058 7,989 9,371 83,583 68,277 22.4

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,452 4,587 4,331 -2.9 5.9 -6.8 5,204 4,537 3,661 4,798 40,833 40,703 0.3

 Ships and boats................................. 2,162 2,277 2,220 -5.1 2.6 -1.6 2,219 2,222 2,053 2,313 20,035 20,140 -0.5

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,366 5,373 5,325 -0.1 0.9 0.2 5,388 5,854 5,350 5,271 48,555 46,834 3.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,907 13,726 13,557 1.3 1.2 -0.7 13,937 13,674 12,736 13,763 122,757 119,050 3.1

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 257,162 254,718 249,123 1.0 2.2 1.9 255,612 264,861 248,890 253,624 2,280,765 2,235,446 2.0

 Food products....................................... 60,758 60,712 60,734 0.1 0.0 0.9 62,088 61,843 58,666 61,955 538,986 524,636 2.7

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,280 8,329 8,168 -0.6 2.0 1.5 8,164 8,717 7,939 8,094 72,139 69,925 3.2

 Dairy products.................................. 8,164 8,177 8,092 -0.2 1.1 0.4 8,311 8,494 8,070 9,142 73,956 77,879 -5.0

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 16,556 16,485 16,732 0.4 -1.5 -0.1 16,560 16,756 16,618 16,750 150,070 146,931 2.1

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,298 12,952 12,649 -5.0 2.4 3.5 12,201 13,545 12,595 12,101 111,799 105,292 6.2

 Beverages......................................... 9,201 9,179 9,275 0.2 -1.0 1.7 9,104 9,772 9,221 8,662 81,702 75,387 8.4

 Tobacco............................................ 3,097 3,773 3,374 -17.9 11.8 9.1 3,097 3,773 3,374 3,439 30,097 29,905 0.6

 Textile mills........................................... 2,442 2,466 2,468 -1.0 -0.1 0.7 2,481 2,621 2,379 2,574 22,674 23,201 -2.3

 Textile products................................... 1,966 1,983 1,957 -0.9 1.3 1.2 1,966 2,078 1,957 1,906 17,913 17,070 4.9

 Apparel................................................ 1,253 1,304 1,294 -3.9 0.8 4.3 1,309 1,459 1,284 1,346 11,114 10,549 5.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 437 440 448 -0.7 -1.8 -1.1 478 464 443 501 4,130 4,124 0.1

 Paper products...................................... 13,814 13,871 13,899 -0.4 -0.2 0.2 13,847 14,524 13,974 14,328 125,719 128,318 -2.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,459 6,488 6,483 -0.4 0.1 0.0 6,531 6,800 6,561 6,785 58,995 60,334 -2.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,081 4,067 4,101 0.3 -0.8 0.3 4,023 4,266 4,180 4,157 36,916 37,880 -2.5

 Printing................................................. 6,676 6,692 6,625 -0.2 1.0 0.6 6,974 6,939 6,233 7,206 59,808 61,117 -2.1

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 77,754 74,953 69,843 3.7 7.3 4.1 76,027 79,142 72,919 69,984 656,462 626,582 4.8

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 73,645 70,830 65,841 4.0 7.6 4.6 71,502 74,046 68,287 65,279 617,403 589,737 4.7

 Chemical products..................................... 62,440 62,095 61,909 0.6 0.3 1.4 61,226 63,906 61,136 64,244 572,715 581,622 -1.5

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,262 3,062 3,033 6.5 1.0 13.5 2,796 2,672 2,506 2,658 29,632 28,059 5.6

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 13,454 13,684 14,088 -1.7 -2.9 -0.1 12,934 13,965 13,754 14,865 126,444 134,991 -6.3

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,750 2,733 2,803 0.6 -2.5 -1.8 2,725 2,985 2,970 2,893 26,443 24,699 7.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,324 17,250 17,297 0.4 -0.3 0.2 17,015 18,340 17,304 17,479 159,445 152,935 4.3

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

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Sept. Aug. July 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries 2........................ 475,386 453,411 477,711 4.8 -5.1 2.6 479,091 468,249 454,058 477,670 4,238,258 4,102,376 3.3

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 405,950 400,540 397,922 1.4 0.7 0.7 407,120 413,115 391,199 412,156 3,657,888 3,567,194 2.5

 Excluding defense2.............................. 464,175 444,507 465,525 4.4 -4.5 3.2 466,688 461,087 444,784 464,432 4,143,397 3,993,267 3.8

 With unfilled orders 2............................. 158,937 139,495 166,941 13.9 -16.4 3.4 163,009 140,379 151,947 165,995 1,424,179 1,378,972 3.3

 Durable goods industries 2......................... 218,224 198,693 228,588 9.8 -13.1 3.3 223,479 203,388 205,168 224,046 1,957,493 1,866,930 4.9

 Primary metals........................................ 27,968 26,908 27,588 3.9 -2.5 2.2 26,638 28,172 26,955 26,419 255,550 225,457 13.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,587 10,183 10,518 4.0 -3.2 0.5 9,447 10,431 10,065 11,175 99,913 102,789 -2.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 15,690 15,033 15,227 4.4 -1.3 3.0 15,542 15,987 15,164 13,531 139,002 107,580 29.2

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,691 1,692 1,843 -0.1 -8.2 5.7 1,649 1,754 1,726 1,713 16,635 15,088 10.3

 Fabricated metal products........................ 27,220 27,421 27,662 -0.7 -0.9 -0.2 27,518 28,888 26,638 28,755 254,379 243,843 4.3

 Machinery............................................. 30,345 27,778 29,584 9.2 -6.1 -6.1 29,802 26,921 28,237 32,732 282,092 290,380 -2.9

 Construction machinery........................ 4,998 4,493 3,948 11.2 13.8 -4.9 4,927 4,263 3,780 4,866 37,399 36,310 3.0

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,903 1,414 1,491 34.6 -5.2 -40.2 1,661 1,319 1,624 2,070 17,011 24,543 -30.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,313 3,468 3,165 -4.5 9.6 1.1 3,451 3,082 2,949 3,046 28,749 26,387 9.0

 Photographic equipment....................... 638 639 656 -0.2 -2.6 -9.1 746 655 608 803 6,315 6,195 1.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,149 1,187 3,487 165.3 -66.0 2.3 3,011 1,269 3,768 2,637 28,854 28,632 0.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,450 2,356 2,330 4.0 1.1 -0.3 2,428 2,378 2,109 2,306 21,338 19,639 8.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 2,714 2,587 2,658 4.9 -2.7 -28.8 2,576 2,483 2,402 4,416 31,464 35,958 -12.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,787 2,953 2,817 -5.6 4.8 3.9 2,924 3,119 2,479 2,986 25,660 23,508 9.2

 Computers and electronic products 2

........... 20,201 20,428 21,280 -1.1 -4.0 -2.1 23,862 19,140 18,482 26,393 194,483 192,831 0.9

 Computers........................................ 1,169 1,035 900 12.9 15.0 -21.5 1,360 934 960 1,863 10,308 13,259 -22.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,543 2,625 2,868 -3.1 -8.5 -7.3 3,509 2,650 2,459 3,927 27,096 24,103 12.4

 Defense communications equipment....... 297 356 395 -16.6 -9.9 38.6 428 283 280 599 3,117 3,934 -20.8

 Electronic components......................... 3,502 3,474 3,521 0.8 -1.3 2.1 3,643 3,699 3,283 3,843 32,140 32,821 -2.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,649 1,684 1,565 -2.1 7.6 -6.6 1,830 1,573 1,398 1,648 15,147 12,186 24.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,626 2,960 3,090 -11.3 -4.2 9.0 2,854 2,641 2,295 3,209 25,811 25,425 1.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 5,965 5,846 6,216 2.0 -6.0 -8.3 7,195 5,130 5,702 8,309 59,842 62,409 -4.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,465 9,815 9,566 -3.6 2.6 -2.2 9,714 10,221 9,069 10,854 89,667 90,244 -0.6

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 865 875 884 -1.1 -1.0 0.2 969 893 836 1,110 8,143 8,737 -6.8

 Household appliances.......................... 1,600 1,568 1,516 2.0 3.4 -1.6 1,641 1,631 1,441 1,586 14,111 13,589 3.8

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,879 3,064 3,013 -6.0 1.7 -0.3 2,890 3,092 2,896 3,286 28,297 28,392 -0.3

 Transportation equipment........................ 69,436 52,871 79,789 31.3 -33.7 13.2 71,971 55,134 62,859 65,514 580,370 535,182 8.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,158 18,445 21,883 -1.6 -15.7 20.5 18,175 20,077 15,717 18,772 167,797 161,160 4.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 14,656 533 19,199 2,649.7 -97.2 51.1 15,602 30 18,564 11,007 98,518 85,114 15.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 5,711 4,490 4,556 27.2 -1.4 -11.4 6,499 3,236 3,560 4,077 41,994 42,777 -1.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,725 1,347 2,447 28.1 -45.0 -28.8 1,611 1,065 1,849 3,094 15,699 23,283 -32.6

 Furniture and related products................... 5,439 5,397 5,373 0.8 0.4 -0.1 5,428 5,296 5,369 5,160 49,130 47,130 4.2

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 257,162 254,718 249,123 1.0 2.2 1.9 255,612 264,861 248,890 253,624 2,280,765 2,235,446 2.0

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

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

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

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 981,010 979,304 995,852 0.2 -1.7 0.7 971,005 970,768 993,117 929,098 4.5

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 406,618 409,745 415,270 -0.8 -1.3 -0.8 401,976 406,440 415,870 394,341 1.9

 Excluding defense2............................. 790,893 789,589 804,179 0.2 -1.8 0.7 782,882 783,005 801,756 736,285 6.3

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 981,010 979,304 995,852 0.2 -1.7 0.7 971,005 970,768 993,117 929,098 4.5

 Primary metals........................................ 31,267 31,682 32,803 -1.3 -3.4 -1.7 29,887 31,089 32,492 32,615 -8.4

 Iron and steel mills............................... 17,085 17,362 18,179 -1.6 -4.5 -2.3 16,165 17,062 18,011 17,950 -9.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 10,787 10,835 11,065 -0.4 -2.1 -1.7 10,412 10,568 10,942 11,574 -10.0

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 3,395 3,485 3,559 -2.6 -2.1 1.5 3,310 3,459 3,539 3,091 7.1

 Fabricated metal products......................... 82,976 83,046 82,864 -0.1 0.2 0.6 82,389 82,905 83,548 77,316 6.6

 Machinery.............................................. 127,830 129,917 134,597 -1.6 -3.5 -2.3 125,882 128,831 134,932 127,676 -1.4

 Construction machinery......................... 23,012 23,701 24,724 -2.9 -4.1 -5.7 21,721 22,625 24,343 25,205 -13.8

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 18,524 18,730 19,442 -1.1 -3.7 -3.5 18,517 18,984 19,748 20,496 -9.7

 Industrial machinery............................. 8,350 8,425 8,431 -0.9 -0.1 -3.6 8,113 8,380 8,532 8,875 -8.6

 Photographic equipment........................ 2,885 2,875 2,885 0.3 -0.3 0.4 2,974 2,894 2,945 2,764 7.6

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 8,425 8,362 10,296 0.8 -18.8 3.1 8,389 8,588 10,801 8,337 0.6

 Metalworking machinery........................ 7,108 7,156 7,298 -0.7 -1.9 -2.6 6,942 7,023 7,244 7,067 -1.8

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 26,151 26,878 27,709 -2.7 -3.0 -2.9 26,024 26,741 27,673 23,695 9.8

 Material handling equipment................... 8,304 8,395 8,262 -1.1 1.6 0.0 8,370 8,277 8,176 7,843 6.7

 Computers and electronic products 2

............. 136,472 136,739 136,594 -0.2 0.1 0.4 136,171 135,389 135,996 130,193 4.6

 Computers......................................... 1,189 1,163 1,108 2.2 5.0 -7.2 1,189 1,163 1,108 1,150 3.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 28,437 28,527 28,623 -0.3 -0.3 0.8 28,649 28,295 28,244 24,854 15.3

 Defense communications equipment........ 5,172 5,215 5,223 -0.8 -0.2 0.8 5,180 5,132 5,210 6,326 -18.1

 Electronic components.......................... 13,121 13,103 13,169 0.1 -0.5 -0.3 13,139 13,195 13,188 13,157 -0.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 13,451 13,120 12,738 2.5 3.0 1.6 13,478 13,097 12,837 9,648 39.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 45,980 46,352 46,281 -0.8 0.2 0.2 45,463 45,840 46,080 45,872 -0.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 29,122 29,259 29,452 -0.5 -0.7 0.2 29,073 28,667 29,329 29,186 -0.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 20,752 21,106 21,178 -1.7 -0.3 -1.8 20,546 21,158 21,273 19,836 3.6

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 999 1,019 1,044 -2.0 -2.4 -0.9 1,093 1,043 1,070 1,254 -12.8

 Household appliances........................... 666 661 664 0.8 -0.5 -5.8 643 647 637 630 2.1

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,659 9,812 9,807 -1.6 0.1 -0.9 9,527 9,910 9,975 9,216 3.4

 Transportation equipment......................... 574,392 569,559 580,582 0.8 -1.9 1.8 569,029 564,328 577,247 534,757 6.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,279 16,431 16,450 -0.9 -0.1 -0.3 15,687 15,790 16,042 16,093 -2.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 403,883 399,562 408,206 1.1 -2.1 2.4 400,692 396,446 405,474 358,391 11.8

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 61,496 60,237 60,334 2.1 -0.2 0.4 60,517 59,222 60,523 58,211 4.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 17,967 18,404 19,334 -2.4 -4.8 1.2 17,452 18,060 19,217 25,016 -30.2

 Furniture and related products................... 6,467 6,394 6,370 1.1 0.4 0.8 6,247 6,207 6,765 5,907 5.8

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.

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

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

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

 All manufacturing industries...................... 615,698 611,959 608,099 0.6 0.6 0.6 614,621 615,526 612,070 590,359 4.1

 Excluding transportation........................ 503,078 499,769 497,523 0.7 0.5 0.5 502,323 501,994 500,265 488,408 2.8

 Excluding defense............................. 589,965 585,635 582,051 0.7 0.6 0.6 589,021 589,269 585,962 564,557 4.3

 With unfilled orders............................. 302,356 301,397 299,673 0.3 0.6 0.8 301,026 304,590 302,671 284,210 5.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 372,891 371,952 369,847 0.3 0.6 0.9 371,236 375,663 372,965 351,805 5.5

 Wood products........................................ 9,053 8,973 8,924 0.9 0.5 0.3 9,100 8,924 8,760 8,605 5.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 11,625 11,692 11,624 -0.6 0.6 0.5 11,452 11,558 11,627 11,056 3.6

 Primary metals......................................... 34,201 34,105 34,096 0.3 0.0 0.1 34,325 34,343 34,513 35,152 -2.4

 Iron and steel mills............................... 19,823 19,785 19,850 0.2 -0.3 -0.5 19,980 19,933 20,202 21,208 -5.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 12,223 12,163 12,102 0.5 0.5 1.1 12,248 12,276 12,209 11,997 2.1

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,155 2,157 2,144 -0.1 0.6 -0.4 2,097 2,134 2,102 1,947 7.7

 Fabricated metal products......................... 46,096 45,966 45,892 0.3 0.2 0.1 46,011 46,263 46,440 45,008 2.2

 Machinery.............................................. 67,204 66,997 66,586 0.3 0.6 1.4 66,472 67,552 66,708 59,829 11.1

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,790 3,738 3,691 1.4 1.3 0.5 3,463 3,548 3,560 3,148 10.0

 Construction machinery......................... 6,060 6,080 6,047 -0.3 0.5 1.3 6,033 6,024 5,973 5,030 19.9

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,841 7,780 7,689 0.8 1.2 0.9 7,807 7,925 7,845 6,672 17.0

 Industrial machinery............................. 7,189 7,206 7,171 -0.2 0.5 -0.8 7,236 7,285 7,064 7,211 0.3

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,472 1,473 1,478 -0.1 -0.3 0.3 1,481 1,512 1,537 1,461 1.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,108 4,079 4,073 0.7 0.1 -0.9 4,036 4,174 4,187 4,060 -0.6

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,499 5,471 5,469 0.5 0.0 1.9 5,639 5,563 5,505 5,044 11.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 11,260 11,149 11,052 1.0 0.9 4.8 11,048 11,527 11,236 9,316 18.6

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,521 4,499 4,426 0.5 1.6 2.3 4,542 4,587 4,475 3,880 17.1

 Computers and electronic products2............ 46,658 46,503 46,453 0.3 0.1 0.8 46,241 47,351 47,001 45,432 1.8

 Computers......................................... 1,104 1,155 1,197 -4.4 -3.5 0.8 1,143 1,233 1,195 1,373 -16.8

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,042 1,080 1,082 -3.5 -0.2 0.1 1,029 1,161 1,117 1,102 -6.6

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,662 1,704 1,721 -2.5 -1.0 4.3 1,609 1,782 1,761 1,648 -2.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 7,001 6,962 7,016 0.6 -0.8 -0.1 6,885 7,060 7,042 6,693 2.9

 Defense communications equipment........ 1,616 1,591 1,555 1.6 2.3 1.4 1,616 1,591 1,555 2,141 -24.5

 Audio and video equipment.................... 679 660 648 2.9 1.9 4.5 780 728 668 676 15.4

 Electronic components.......................... 7,375 7,302 7,309 1.0 -0.1 0.2 7,265 7,274 7,432 6,867 5.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,331 3,385 3,373 -1.6 0.4 0.9 3,336 3,451 3,371 3,179 4.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,681 2,706 2,780 -0.9 -2.7 -3.1 2,616 2,720 2,829 2,672 -2.1

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 11,920 11,844 11,781 0.6 0.5 0.6 11,739 12,083 11,892 11,769 -0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,495 15,435 15,460 0.4 -0.2 0.3 15,235 15,650 15,658 14,851 2.6

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,797 1,786 1,777 0.6 0.5 1.8 1,767 1,814 1,835 1,618 9.2

 Household appliances........................... 1,664 1,652 1,658 0.7 -0.4 -0.2 1,676 1,729 1,729 1,760 -4.8

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,549 4,625 4,668 -1.6 -0.9 0.4 4,330 4,684 4,689 4,341 -0.3

 Batteries............................................ 1,057 1,063 1,057 -0.6 0.6 0.2 1,063 1,101 1,064 1,029 3.3

 Transportation equipment......................... 112,620 112,190 110,576 0.4 1.5 1.4 112,298 113,532 111,805 101,951 10.1

 Automobiles....................................... 2,881 2,811 2,650 2.5 6.1 -1.4 2,891 2,860 2,778 2,683 7.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 2,520 2,572 2,609 -2.0 -1.4 4.3 2,621 2,743 2,633 2,683 -2.3

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 2,115 2,111 2,052 0.2 2.9 4.0 2,128 2,198 2,115 2,064 3.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 17,698 17,661 17,616 0.2 0.3 1.0 17,603 17,633 17,680 16,836 4.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 61,179 60,259 59,086 1.5 2.0 1.1 60,876 61,157 59,887 52,250 16.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 13,158 13,615 13,343 -3.4 2.0 0.9 13,254 13,715 13,431 13,218 0.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,088 3,107 3,066 -0.6 1.3 -1.1 3,027 3,054 3,014 2,740 10.5

 Furniture and related products.................... 6,170 6,160 6,175 0.2 -0.2 0.7 6,191 6,263 6,342 6,070 2.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 23,769 23,931 24,061 -0.7 -0.5 1.4 23,911 24,227 24,111 23,851 0.3

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 242,807 240,007 238,252 1.2 0.7 0.2 243,385 239,863 239,105 238,554 2.0

 Food products........................................ 45,404 45,154 44,827 0.6 0.7 0.1 46,092 45,438 44,163 45,056 2.3

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,593 5,411 5,218 3.4 3.7 1.7 5,381 5,277 5,083 4,725 13.9

 Dairy products.................................... 5,823 5,819 5,785 0.1 0.6 0.2 5,861 6,002 6,013 6,076 -3.5

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 7,783 7,746 7,706 0.5 0.5 0.3 7,898 7,789 7,675 7,563 4.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 18,538 18,466 18,517 0.4 -0.3 0.2 18,394 17,795 17,938 17,545 4.8

 Beverages......................................... 14,780 14,737 14,791 0.3 -0.4 0.1 14,750 14,277 14,429 13,973 5.6

 Tobacco............................................ 3,758 3,729 3,726 0.8 0.1 0.3 3,644 3,518 3,509 3,572 2.0

 Textile mills............................................ 3,381 3,383 3,388 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 3,383 3,386 3,403 3,548 -4.7

 Textile products...................................... 3,147 3,142 3,164 0.2 -0.7 -0.6 3,168 3,170 3,186 3,251 -2.6

 Apparel................................................. 2,358 2,347 2,317 0.5 1.3 0.7 2,518 2,491 2,448 2,246 12.1

 Leather and allied products....................... 858 846 836 1.4 1.2 -0.2 862 869 857 809 6.6

 Paper products....................................... 14,012 14,129 14,251 -0.8 -0.9 -0.5 14,025 14,141 14,215 14,372 -2.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 6,067 6,184 6,293 -1.9 -1.7 -1.3 6,067 6,174 6,262 6,344 -4.4

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,078 4,078 4,064 0.0 0.3 0.5 4,052 4,067 4,035 4,019 0.8

 Printing.................................................. 5,282 5,358 5,371 -1.4 -0.2 -0.8 5,345 5,500 5,430 5,548 -3.7

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 55,903 53,666 51,676 4.2 3.9 1.3 56,046 53,204 52,749 49,768 12.6

 Petroleum refineries............................. 51,610 49,445 47,525 4.4 4.0 1.3 51,736 48,867 48,496 45,863 12.8

 Chemical products..................................... 72,428 72,154 72,535 0.4 -0.5 0.2 72,065 72,481 73,121 75,040 -4.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,160 4,153 3,996 0.2 3.9 3.0 3,802 3,778 3,642 3,780 0.6

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 24,160 23,829 23,958 1.4 -0.5 0.2 24,076 24,117 24,295 24,515 -1.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 2,897 2,914 2,945 -0.6 -1.1 1.4 2,834 2,933 3,000 2,884 -1.7

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 21,496 21,362 21,370 0.6 0.0 -0.8 21,487 21,388 21,595 21,371 0.5

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 change 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 separate

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

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Sept. Aug. July 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 481,251 477,115 478,169 0.9 -0.2 1.9 485,699 497,536 458,206 478,000 4,296,090 4,108,996 4.6

 Construction materials and supplies....... 40,436 40,569 40,412 -0.3 0.4 -0.4 41,791 45,070 41,825 42,171 372,679 354,925 5.0

 Information technology......................... 20,928 20,746 21,277 0.9 -2.5 -2.8 23,452 20,320 19,144 25,344 193,103 197,090 -2.0

 Computers and related products........... 2,785 2,669 2,936 4.3 -9.1 3.9 3,519 2,395 2,474 4,161 24,879 26,749 -7.0

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 43,358 43,516 49,279 -0.4 -11.7 12.1 43,572 47,844 35,693 40,987 390,384 346,428 12.7

 Capital goods...................................... 78,784 77,324 78,727 1.9 -1.8 -0.8 83,044 77,710 73,066 81,907 700,726 662,100 5.8

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 70,259 69,199 70,476 1.5 -1.8 -0.3 73,678 69,628 65,695 72,546 626,132 580,875 7.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,957 63,065 63,787 -0.2 -1.1 -1.6 65,881 63,448 60,235 67,113 571,457 541,117 5.6

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 8,525 8,125 8,251 4.9 -1.5 -4.7 9,366 8,082 7,371 9,361 74,594 81,225 -8.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 211,068 208,943 206,004 1.0 1.4 2.8 210,104 217,433 197,448 202,225 1,846,709 1,769,212 4.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,843 35,572 37,565 0.8 -5.3 4.6 36,185 37,937 29,046 32,466 315,131 278,231 13.3

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 175,225 173,371 168,439 1.1 2.9 2.4 173,919 179,496 168,402 169,759 1,531,578 1,490,981 2.7

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 475,386 453,411 477,711 4.8 -5.1 2.6 479,091 468,249 454,058 477,670 4,238,258 4,102,376 3.3

 Construction materials and supplies....... 40,539 38,914 41,152 4.2 -5.4 0.3 41,585 42,593 42,483 41,838 374,477 358,882 4.3

 Information technology......................... 20,467 20,898 21,587 -2.1 -3.2 -3.5 24,095 19,622 18,807 27,146 199,348 197,670 0.8

 Computers and related products........... 2,811 2,724 2,850 3.2 -4.4 0.3 3,545 2,450 2,388 4,153 24,912 26,635 -6.5

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 43,206 43,497 49,235 -0.7 -11.7 12.3 43,469 47,592 35,581 41,056 388,953 345,978 12.4

 Capital goods...................................... 80,255 63,861 86,121 25.7 -25.8 1.8 84,465 60,726 79,035 87,845 712,423 709,465 0.4

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 71,535 57,756 75,941 23.9 -23.9 4.4 75,102 55,769 71,037 77,448 638,915 620,455 3.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 60,410 60,305 60,113 0.2 0.3 -5.6 63,214 58,394 55,709 69,949 570,819 566,093 0.8

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 8,720 6,105 10,180 42.8 -40.0 -14.3 9,363 4,957 7,998 10,397 73,508 89,010 -17.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 211,125 209,000 205,999 1.0 1.5 2.8 210,130 217,275 197,597 202,162 1,846,753 1,769,059 4.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,900 35,629 37,560 0.8 -5.1 4.5 36,211 37,779 29,195 32,403 315,175 278,078 13.3

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 175,225 173,371 168,439 1.1 2.9 2.4 173,919 179,496 168,402 169,759 1,531,578 1,490,981 2.7

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 981,010 979,304 995,852 0.2 -1.7 0.7 971,005 970,768 993,117 929,098 (X) (X) 4.5

 Construction materials and supplies....... 55,750 55,647 57,302 0.2 -2.9 1.3 55,595 55,801 58,278 54,800 (X) (X) 1.5

 Information technology......................... 135,664 136,125 135,973 -0.3 0.1 0.2 135,289 134,646 135,344 128,536 (X) (X) 5.3

 Computers and related products........... 1,189 1,163 1,108 2.2 5.0 -7.2 1,189 1,163 1,108 1,150 (X) (X) 3.4

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 16,279 16,431 16,450 -0.9 -0.1 -0.3 15,687 15,790 16,042 16,093 (X) (X) -2.5

 Capital goods...................................... 748,003 746,532 759,995 0.2 -1.8 1.0 741,143 739,722 756,706 701,580 (X) (X) 5.6

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 582,170 580,894 592,337 0.2 -1.9 0.9 576,898 575,474 589,333 532,265 (X) (X) 8.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 235,289 237,836 240,596 -1.1 -1.1 -1.5 232,769 235,436 240,490 226,086 (X) (X) 3.0

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 165,833 165,638 167,658 0.1 -1.2 1.2 164,245 164,248 167,373 169,315 (X) (X) -3.0

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,026 3,969 3,912 1.4 1.5 -0.1 3,791 3,765 3,923 3,484 (X) (X) 8.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,026 3,969 3,912 1.4 1.5 -0.1 3,791 3,765 3,923 3,484 (X) (X) 8.8

 All manufacturing industries................... 615,698 611,959 608,099 0.6 0.6 0.6 614,621 615,526 612,070 590,359 (X) (X) 4.1

 Construction materials and supplies....... 59,159 59,062 59,040 0.2 0.0 0.2 59,123 59,350 59,565 58,057 (X) (X) 1.8

 Information technology......................... 39,241 39,206 39,263 0.1 -0.1 0.3 38,948 39,995 39,642 39,164 (X) (X) -0.6

 Computers and related products........... 3,808 3,939 4,000 -3.3 -1.5 2.1 3,781 4,176 4,073 4,123 (X) (X) -8.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 25,214 25,155 24,927 0.2 0.9 1.3 25,243 25,434 25,206 24,266 (X) (X) 4.0

 Capital goods...................................... 193,972 193,524 191,790 0.2 0.9 1.3 192,563 195,898 193,092 177,047 (X) (X) 8.8

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 172,922 171,930 170,498 0.6 0.8 1.2 171,742 174,471 171,828 156,647 (X) (X) 9.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 121,641 121,424 121,106 0.2 0.3 1.3 120,667 123,192 121,775 112,968 (X) (X) 6.8

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 21,050 21,594 21,292 -2.5 1.4 1.9 20,821 21,427 21,264 20,400 (X) (X) 2.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 183,295 180,589 178,529 1.5 1.2 0.5 184,298 180,637 178,949 176,467 (X) (X) 4.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 25,269 25,324 25,253 -0.2 0.3 0.7 25,461 25,784 25,433 24,996 (X) (X) 1.9

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 158,026 155,265 153,276 1.8 1.3 0.4 158,837 154,853 153,516 151,471 (X) (X) 4.9

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 adjuste

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 change

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 machine

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

material handling equipment; all other machinery; electronic computers; computer storage devices; other computer peripheral equipment; communications equipment; search and navigati

equipment; electromedical, measuring, and control instruments; electrical equipment; other electrical equipment, appliances, and components; heavy duty trucks; aircraft; railroad rolling stoc

ships and boats; office and institutional furniture; and medical equipment and supplie

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

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 Group

1 

[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

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

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

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 204,336 203,358 202,451 0.5 0.4 0.9 203,782 203,632 203,876 193,787 5.2

 Durable goods industries.......................... 121,314 120,817 120,210 0.4 0.5 0.7 121,150 121,544 121,162 115,010 5.3

 Wood products................................... 3,594 3,622 3,585 -0.8 1.0 0.4 3,685 3,618 3,458 3,419 7.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 4,721 4,688 4,697 0.7 -0.2 -0.1 4,710 4,686 4,698 4,525 4.1

 Primary metals.................................... 12,864 12,833 12,743 0.2 0.7 0.1 13,021 12,881 12,789 13,592 -4.2

 Fabricated metal products........................ 16,945 16,814 16,819 0.8 0.0 0.5 16,972 16,932 17,012 16,493 2.9

 Machinery.......................................... 26,193 26,090 25,988 0.4 0.4 1.8 26,143 26,435 26,365 23,576 10.9

 Computers and electronic products........ 17,696 17,463 17,281 1.3 1.1 -0.2 17,522 17,553 17,405 16,246 7.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,779 6,809 6,848 -0.4 -0.6 0.0 6,631 6,870 6,925 6,452 2.8

 Transportation equipment..................... 21,818 21,710 21,411 0.5 1.4 1.3 21,775 21,698 21,608 20,017 8.8

 Furniture and related products............... 2,966 2,963 2,981 0.1 -0.6 0.3 2,966 2,982 3,032 2,928 1.3

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,738 7,825 7,857 -1.1 -0.4 0.3 7,725 7,889 7,870 7,762 -0.5

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 83,022 82,541 82,241 0.6 0.4 1.1 82,632 82,088 82,714 78,777 4.9

 Food products.................................... 15,476 15,252 14,974 1.5 1.9 1.8 15,304 15,045 14,880 14,437 6.0

 Beverage and tobacco products.................. 4,973 4,946 4,953 0.5 -0.1 0.1 4,814 4,714 4,733 4,486 7.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,178 1,187 1,195 -0.8 -0.7 0.0 1,183 1,198 1,214 1,275 -7.2

 Textile products................................... 1,477 1,484 1,489 -0.5 -0.3 -2.1 1,492 1,497 1,511 1,489 0.2

 Apparel............................................. 799 763 754 4.7 1.2 -0.5 824 773 761 652 26.4

 Leather and allied products.................... 272 271 254 0.4 6.7 -3.8 277 279 260 266 4.1

 Paper products.................................... 6,968 6,979 7,070 -0.2 -1.3 -0.6 6,973 6,986 6,989 7,061 -1.2

 Printing ............................................. 2,443 2,479 2,499 -1.5 -0.8 -1.0 2,481 2,518 2,522 2,646 -6.2

 Petroleum and coal products................. 18,326 17,866 17,494 2.6 2.1 2.5 18,221 17,608 17,940 14,265 27.7

 Chemical products................................ 22,486 22,718 22,981 -1.0 -1.1 2.1 22,439 22,820 23,179 23,579 -4.8

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 8,624 8,596 8,578 0.3 0.2 -1.5 8,624 8,650 8,725 8,621 0.0

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 190,819 188,931 187,631 1.0 0.7 0.4 189,008 189,508 188,388 179,291 5.4

 Durable goods industries.......................... 144,669 144,197 143,370 0.3 0.6 1.1 143,728 145,861 144,865 134,910 6.5

 Wood products................................... 1,544 1,514 1,532 2.0 -1.2 2.7 1,540 1,507 1,527 1,430 7.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,386 1,384 1,367 0.1 1.2 1.9 1,360 1,368 1,376 1,256 8.3

 Primary metals.................................... 10,930 10,964 11,104 -0.3 -1.3 0.0 10,917 11,253 11,419 11,202 -2.5

 Fabricated metal products........................ 13,458 13,546 13,486 -0.6 0.4 0.0 13,533 13,723 13,574 12,713 6.5

 Machinery.......................................... 16,651 16,676 16,744 -0.1 -0.4 1.3 16,453 16,877 16,749 15,413 6.7

 Computers and electronic products........ 16,071 15,893 16,067 1.1 -1.1 0.3 15,817 16,126 16,361 17,149 -7.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,665 3,584 3,567 2.3 0.5 0.1 3,576 3,643 3,622 3,414 4.7

 Transportation equipment..................... 76,543 76,236 75,064 0.4 1.6 1.6 76,088 76,913 75,746 68,094 11.7

 Furniture and related products............... 1,031 1,022 1,037 0.9 -1.4 1.3 1,031 1,028 1,055 999 3.2

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,390 3,378 3,402 0.4 -0.7 2.2 3,413 3,423 3,436 3,240 5.3

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 46,150 44,734 44,261 3.2 1.1 -1.8 45,280 43,647 43,523 44,381 2.0

 Food products.................................... 4,013 4,164 4,104 -3.6 1.5 1.8 3,631 3,712 3,511 3,418 6.2

 Beverage and tobacco products.................. 5,985 5,922 5,882 1.1 0.7 0.7 5,822 5,322 5,335 5,548 4.9

 Textiles.............................................. 776 772 759 0.5 1.7 -0.4 786 782 767 808 -2.7

 Textile products................................... 420 414 421 1.4 -1.7 1.9 423 416 420 447 -5.4

 Apparel............................................. 389 389 384 0.0 1.3 2.1 404 415 417 369 9.5

 Leather and allied products.................... 115 112 124 2.7 -9.7 0.0 111 108 124 116 -4.3

 Paper products.................................... 1,251 1,248 1,249 0.2 -0.1 -2.3 1,254 1,265 1,264 1,360 -7.8

 Printing ............................................. 1,198 1,243 1,235 -3.6 0.6 0.3 1,234 1,342 1,250 1,353 -8.8

 Petroleum and coal products................. 14,504 13,275 12,608 9.3 5.3 -5.2 14,301 13,072 12,833 13,732 4.1

 Chemical products................................ 15,197 14,896 15,153 2.0 -1.7 -1.8 15,008 14,915 15,262 15,031 -0.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,302 2,299 2,342 0.1 -1.8 1.8 2,306 2,298 2,340 2,199 4.9

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 220,543 219,670 218,017 0.4 0.8 0.6 221,831 222,386 219,806 217,281 2.1

 Durable goods industries.......................... 106,908 106,938 106,267 0.0 0.6 0.8 106,358 108,258 106,938 101,885 4.4

 Wood products................................... 3,915 3,837 3,807 2.0 0.8 -0.8 3,875 3,799 3,775 3,756 3.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,518 5,620 5,560 -1.8 1.1 0.6 5,382 5,504 5,553 5,275 2.0

 Primary metals.................................... 10,407 10,308 10,249 1.0 0.6 0.2 10,387 10,209 10,305 10,358 0.3

 Fabricated metal products........................ 15,693 15,606 15,587 0.6 0.1 -0.2 15,506 15,608 15,854 15,802 -1.9

 Machinery.......................................... 24,360 24,231 23,854 0.5 1.6 0.9 23,876 24,240 23,594 20,840 14.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 12,891 13,147 13,105 -1.9 0.3 2.7 12,902 13,672 13,235 12,037 7.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 5,051 5,042 5,045 0.2 -0.1 0.8 5,028 5,137 5,111 4,985 0.9

 Transportation equipment..................... 14,259 14,244 14,101 0.1 1.0 0.3 14,435 14,921 14,451 13,840 4.3

 Furniture and related products............... 2,173 2,175 2,157 -0.1 0.8 0.9 2,194 2,253 2,255 2,143 2.4

 Miscellaneous products......................... 12,641 12,728 12,802 -0.7 -0.6 1.8 12,773 12,915 12,805 12,849 -0.6

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 113,635 112,732 111,750 0.8 0.9 0.4 115,473 114,128 112,868 115,396 0.1

 Food products.................................... 25,915 25,738 25,749 0.7 0.0 -1.2 27,157 26,681 25,772 27,201 -0.2

 Beverage and tobacco products.................. 7,580 7,598 7,682 -0.2 -1.1 -0.3 7,758 7,759 7,870 7,511 3.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,427 1,424 1,434 0.2 -0.7 -0.6 1,414 1,406 1,422 1,465 -3.5

 Textile products................................... 1,250 1,244 1,254 0.5 -0.8 0.5 1,253 1,257 1,255 1,315 -4.7

 Apparel............................................. 1,170 1,195 1,179 -2.1 1.4 0.9 1,290 1,303 1,270 1,225 5.3

 Leather and allied products.................... 471 463 458 1.7 1.1 1.8 474 482 473 427 11.0

 Paper products.................................... 5,793 5,902 5,932 -1.8 -0.5 0.0 5,798 5,890 5,962 5,951 -2.6

 Printing ............................................. 1,641 1,636 1,637 0.3 -0.1 -1.1 1,630 1,640 1,658 1,549 5.2

 Petroleum and coal products................. 23,073 22,525 21,574 2.4 4.4 4.4 23,524 22,524 21,976 21,771 8.1

 Chemical products................................ 34,745 34,540 34,401 0.6 0.4 -0.2 34,618 34,746 34,680 36,430 -5.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 10,570 10,467 10,450 1.0 0.2 -0.7 10,557 10,440 10,530 10,551 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.

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 Sep Aug Jul Jun Sep Aug Jul Jun

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

All manufacturing industries 2

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

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.66 1.67 1.61 1.63 6.24 6.28 6.23 6.28

 Wood products.............................................. 1.47 1.44 1.46 1.46 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.43 1.44 1.44 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.20 1.22 1.21 1.22 1.10 1.13 1.17 1.19

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.68 3.16 3.16 3.16 3.12

 Machinery..................................................... 2.07 2.06 2.03 1.97 4.21 4.28 4.42 4.48

 Computers and electronic products 2

................ 1.66 1.69 1.63 1.59 7.57 7.67 7.56 7.21

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.58 1.56 1.55 1.54 2.35 2.38 2.36 2.39

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.74 1.76 1.59 1.70 14.52 14.66 13.79 14.77

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.15 1.15 1.16 1.15 1.40 1.37 1.38 1.38

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.71 1.74 1.77 1.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Food products.............................................. 0.75 0.74 0.74 0.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Textiles........................................................ 1.38 1.37 1.37 1.39 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.60 1.58 1.62 1.65 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.88 1.80 1.79 1.85 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.96 1.92 1.87 1.85 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.03 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.79 0.80 0.81 0.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.72 0.72 0.74 0.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.24 1.24 1.24 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.

Sep2 Sep2 Sep2 Sep2

Industry 2011- 2011- 2011- 2011-

Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug

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....................... 0.0 0.2 -0.1 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.................................... -0.1 0.8 -0.2 1.5 0.1 0.7 0.1 0.5

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

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.8 0.0 1.4 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.7 0.8 1.4 1.1 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.2 0.4 -0.9 1.1 -0.4 0.5 0.3 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.2 0.4 -0.4 1.3 -0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.4

 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) 0.2

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

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

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.8

 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) 0.9 (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.