FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2015, AT 10:00 A.M. EST 

Adriana Stoica 

Economic Indicators Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (15)-09 

CB15-179 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

September 2015 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in September, 

down two consecutive months, decreased $4.7 billion or 

1.0 percent to $466.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 2.1 percent August 

decrease. 

 Shipments, down five of the last six months, decreased 

$1.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $477.3 billion. This 

followed a 0.9 percent August decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, down two consecutive months, 

decreased $6.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,187.9 billion. 

This followed a 0.3 percent August decrease. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.88, down from 

6.89 in August. 

 Inventories, down three consecutive months, decreased 

$2.4 billion or 0.4 percent to $645.1 billion. This 

followed a 0.4 percent August decrease. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from 

August. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, down two consecutive months, decreased 

$2.8 billion or 1.2 percent to $231.2 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 2.9 percent August decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive 

months, led the decrease, $2.4 billion or 3.1 percent to 

$75.3 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $2.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $235.1 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

September, up three of the last four months, increased 

$0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $242.2 billion, down from 

the previously published 0.2 percent increase. This 

followed a 0.5 percent August decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four 

months, drove the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.4 percent to $80.8 billion. 

 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

three consecutive months, decreased $2.0 billion or 0.8 

percent to $235.1 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent 

August decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also 

down three consecutive months, drove the decrease, $2.5 

billion or 5.4 percent to $43.0 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, down two consecutive months, decreased 

$6.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,187.9 billion, up from 

the previously published 0.6 percent decrease. This 

followed a 0.3 percent August decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive 

months, led the decrease, $5.5 billion or 0.7 percent to 

$794.1 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

September, down four of the last five months, decreased 

$1.5 billion or 0.4 percent to $399.1 billion, down from 

the previously published 0.3 percent decrease. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, down two of the last three 

months, led the decrease, $0.9 billion or 0.7 percent to 

$131.5 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

three consecutive months, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.4 

percent to $246.1 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent 

August decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also 

down three consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.2 

billion or 3.4 percent to $33.3 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, September materials and 

supplies decreased 0.6 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in 

process decreased 0.5 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 2.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished 

goods increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 

increased 0.1 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 www.census.gov/m3. The Advance Report on durable goods for October is scheduled for release on November 25, 2015 at 

8:30 a.m. EST and the Full Report on December 3, 2015 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. To learn more about this release 

and the other indicators the U.S. Census Bureau publishes, join us for the Investigating Economic Indicators Webinar Series. For more information, 

visit www.census.gov/econ/webinar. 

“Virtually unchanged” indicates that the change is less than 0.05 percent for a percent increase or decrease. 
 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 % Change

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Sep. Aug. July 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

 All manufacturing industries.................. 477,314 479,066 483,362 -0.4 -0.9 -0.2 497,433 489,290 472,386 523,682 4,335,166 4,522,162 -4.1

 Excluding transportation................... 396,526 398,571 402,521 -0.5 -1.0 -0.8 410,851 408,209 402,289 445,410 3,634,968 3,876,274 -6.2

 Excluding defense.............................. 464,615 466,675 470,412 -0.4 -0.8 -0.2 483,337 477,092 460,917 510,680 4,227,222 4,416,708 -4.3

 With unfilled orders............................ 172,758 173,321 173,814 -0.3 -0.3 0.6 183,448 175,287 164,588 182,208 1,551,159 1,512,964 2.5

 Durable goods industries......................... 242,186 241,985 243,200 0.1 -0.5 1.0 256,592 245,702 230,210 254,641 2,164,764 2,120,853 2.1

 Wood products....................................... 8,105 7,990 8,084 1.4 -1.2 2.1 8,445 8,511 8,568 8,593 73,361 74,088 -1.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 9,787 9,718 9,799 0.7 -0.8 1.6 10,587 10,630 10,544 10,709 88,051 87,433 0.7

 Primary metals....................................... 20,140 20,346 20,710 -1.0 -1.8 -1.9 20,586 20,890 20,460 24,507 194,187 211,397 -8.1

 Iron and steel mills............................ 9,304 9,461 9,662 -1.7 -2.1 -1.6 9,487 9,726 9,552 12,260 90,287 105,885 -14.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,216 9,227 9,440 -0.1 -2.3 -2.7 9,354 9,477 9,354 10,436 89,040 90,505 -1.6

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,620 1,658 1,608 -2.3 3.1 0.3 1,745 1,687 1,554 1,811 14,860 15,007 -1.0

 Fabricated metal products....................... 29,421 29,640 29,822 -0.7 -0.6 -0.2 30,990 30,997 29,634 32,263 271,258 271,547 -0.1

 Machinery............................................. 33,392 33,411 33,656 -0.1 -0.7 -0.8 34,126 32,852 32,656 36,448 300,959 307,609 -2.2

 Farm machinery................................. 1,595 1,708 1,700 -6.6 0.5 -3.7 1,487 1,583 1,591 3,492 15,539 27,994 -44.5

 Construction machinery..................... 3,336 3,487 3,647 -4.3 -4.4 1.1 3,040 3,173 3,415 2,802 31,990 24,672 29.7

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,545 1,579 1,693 -2.2 -6.7 -2.4 1,620 1,579 1,611 2,887 16,366 24,997 -34.5

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,084 2,928 2,960 5.3 -1.1 -7.9 3,466 2,774 2,824 2,970 25,185 26,244 -4.0

 Photographic equipment...................... 506 523 538 -3.3 -2.8 -2.0 579 518 502 694 4,679 5,127 -8.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,927 3,937 3,966 -0.3 -0.7 1.6 4,084 4,103 4,423 4,130 36,202 35,806 1.1

 Metalworking machinery..................... 3,203 3,208 3,234 -0.2 -0.8 8.5 3,437 3,224 3,164 2,843 26,261 22,895 14.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 4,175 4,047 3,893 3.2 4.0 -6.8 4,133 4,086 3,775 4,385 37,079 34,859 6.4

 Material handling equipment............... 2,724 2,703 2,692 0.8 0.4 3.3 2,830 2,793 2,663 2,535 23,013 21,662 6.2

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 29,643 29,536 29,177 0.4 1.2 -0.3 32,745 29,621 27,954 31,179 259,529 252,765 2.7

 Computers........................................ 663 670 710 -1.0 -5.6 1.6 727 643 623 703 5,979 6,397 -6.5

 Computer storage devices..................... 481 465 479 3.4 -2.9 0.8 727 368 286 799 4,148 5,349 -22.5

 Other peripheral equipment................ 824 880 952 -6.4 -7.6 -4.2 1,003 731 752 1,248 8,306 8,357 -0.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,384 3,285 3,381 3.0 -2.8 -0.9 4,044 3,225 2,957 3,914 30,026 29,156 3.0

 Defense communications equipment.... 312 345 313 -9.6 10.2 10.6 350 334 293 433 3,022 3,392 -10.9

 Audio and video equipment.................... 273 256 247 6.6 3.6 -0.8 279 245 230 287 2,027 2,679 -24.3

 Electronic components......................... 4,804 4,798 4,863 0.1 -1.3 1.6 5,146 5,123 5,067 4,117 41,694 33,476 24.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,404 1,394 1,357 0.7 2.7 0.4 1,638 1,404 1,198 1,460 12,017 11,009 9.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,684 2,752 2,795 -2.5 -1.5 2.3 2,923 2,808 2,496 2,870 23,639 23,023 2.7

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,813 9,690 9,433 1.3 2.7 1.9 11,196 9,227 8,584 10,223 83,688 78,600 6.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,237 10,167 10,378 0.7 -2.0 1.7 10,855 10,378 10,078 11,483 93,210 94,414 -1.3

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,008 989 1,004 1.9 -1.5 4.6 1,063 1,025 983 1,028 8,588 8,721 -1.5

 Household appliances........................ 1,563 1,589 1,619 -1.6 -1.9 0.6 1,650 1,589 1,552 1,889 14,578 15,572 -6.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,132 3,113 3,216 0.6 -3.2 3.9 3,402 3,156 3,080 3,677 29,062 30,105 -3.5

 Batteries........................................... 818 820 840 -0.2 -2.4 -4.0 906 827 749 1,098 7,339 7,827 -6.2

 Transportation equipment........................ 80,788 80,495 80,841 0.4 -0.4 3.0 86,582 81,081 70,097 78,272 700,198 645,888 8.4

 Automobiles..................................... 8,778 8,791 8,935 -0.1 -1.6 -0.9 9,249 8,936 7,292 9,116 79,231 74,595 6.2

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 14,867 14,148 14,689 5.1 -3.7 9.6 15,873 14,679 11,979 12,368 120,661 109,410 10.3

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 3,053 3,070 3,203 -0.6 -4.2 1.8 3,214 3,102 3,186 3,190 28,096 23,811 18.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 26,747 26,747 26,844 0.0 -0.4 4.3 27,409 27,546 24,014 24,459 234,287 211,891 10.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 14,404 15,324 13,916 -6.0 10.1 -1.9 16,462 14,634 12,110 14,789 126,658 110,238 14.9

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 5,304 5,067 5,279 4.7 -4.0 -3.0 6,102 4,892 4,505 5,214 42,795 41,775 2.4

 Ships and boats................................. 2,840 2,752 2,844 3.2 -3.2 -0.5 2,849 2,691 2,597 2,940 24,829 25,675 -3.3

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,433 6,420 6,471 0.2 -0.8 1.5 6,645 6,905 6,646 6,241 57,275 53,659 6.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 14,240 14,262 14,262 -0.2 0.0 1.2 15,031 13,837 13,573 14,946 126,736 122,053 3.8

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 235,128 237,081 240,162 -0.8 -1.3 -1.4 240,841 243,588 242,176 269,041 2,170,402 2,401,309 -9.6

 Food products....................................... 66,455 66,161 66,025 0.4 0.2 0.2 68,177 66,696 63,642 68,607 589,514 596,193 -1.1

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,138 8,299 8,382 -1.9 -1.0 1.4 8,255 8,490 8,016 8,453 72,542 73,267 -1.0

 Dairy products.................................. 9,890 9,919 9,897 -0.3 0.2 -0.4 10,132 10,113 9,881 11,122 89,179 96,819 -7.9

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 19,220 18,859 18,969 1.9 -0.6 -0.1 19,544 19,018 18,684 20,368 172,509 177,855 -3.0

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,864 12,665 12,442 1.6 1.8 -0.4 13,246 13,048 12,650 12,790 112,836 111,049 1.6

 Beverages......................................... 9,082 9,005 8,950 0.9 0.6 0.7 9,464 9,388 9,158 9,383 80,824 81,288 -0.6

 Tobacco............................................ 3,782 3,660 3,492 3.3 4.8 -3.1 3,782 3,660 3,492 3,407 32,012 29,761 7.6

 Textile mills........................................... 2,569 2,562 2,559 0.3 0.1 -0.5 2,640 2,681 2,576 2,690 23,425 23,992 -2.4

 Textile products................................... 1,955 1,951 1,935 0.2 0.8 1.7 1,957 2,058 1,978 1,876 17,589 17,255 1.9

 Apparel................................................ 1,165 1,167 1,154 -0.2 1.1 2.4 1,228 1,277 1,167 1,199 9,987 9,460 5.6

 Leather and allied products...................... 451 447 463 0.9 -3.5 0.7 456 438 449 465 4,144 4,113 0.8

 Paper products...................................... 16,003 16,063 16,075 -0.4 -0.1 0.6 16,379 16,531 16,404 17,015 145,366 145,952 -0.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 7,008 7,079 7,096 -1.0 -0.2 0.5 7,174 7,346 7,237 7,248 64,285 63,496 1.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 5,243 5,224 5,200 0.4 0.5 -0.2 5,371 5,402 5,468 5,971 47,340 48,988 -3.4

 Printing................................................. 7,241 7,208 7,350 0.5 -1.9 1.2 7,589 7,237 7,072 7,354 64,217 62,051 3.5

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 42,992 45,458 48,530 -5.4 -6.3 -7.7 44,270 49,354 52,312 70,635 447,587 656,204 -31.8

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 39,436 41,838 44,834 -5.7 -6.7 -8.6 40,153 45,028 47,991 65,608 413,661 618,687 -33.1

 Chemical products..................................... 64,397 64,303 64,339 0.1 -0.1 0.8 65,534 64,618 64,327 66,385 581,104 596,977 -2.7

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,145 5,050 4,939 1.9 2.2 5.2 4,504 4,080 4,132 3,555 45,838 39,449 16.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 17,001 16,677 16,534 1.9 0.9 5.0 17,813 16,817 16,670 14,687 142,026 131,932 7.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 3,422 3,374 3,294 1.4 2.4 1.4 3,441 3,529 3,588 3,251 30,766 30,061 2.3

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 19,036 19,096 19,290 -0.3 -1.0 -0.3 19,365 19,650 19,599 20,025 174,633 178,063 -1.9

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 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 % Change

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Sep. Aug. July 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

All manufacturing industries2........................ 466,303 471,041 481,206 -1.0 -2.1 0.2 486,939 472,263 469,006 524,051 4,257,191 4,588,561 -7.2

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 390,976 393,320 397,742 -0.6 -1.1 -0.7 404,333 399,370 395,455 442,152 3,589,224 3,858,045 -7.0

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 453,395 459,648 467,585 -1.4 -1.7 -0.3 471,882 464,051 457,644 512,308 4,158,736 4,480,575 -7.2

 With unfilled orders2............................. 166,519 170,048 176,054 -2.1 -3.4 1.6 177,416 163,493 166,449 187,517 1,516,143 1,629,044 -6.9

 Durable goods industries2

......................... 231,175 233,960 241,044 -1.2 -2.9 1.9 246,098 228,675 226,830 255,010 2,086,789 2,187,252 -4.6

 Primary metals........................................ 19,640 20,286 20,513 -3.2 -1.1 -2.2 19,440 20,149 20,073 24,491 191,833 213,042 -10.0

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 8,823 9,512 9,470 -7.2 0.4 -2.3 8,531 9,341 9,200 12,205 89,075 106,671 -16.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,199 9,203 9,444 0.0 -2.6 -1.6 9,281 9,255 9,266 10,522 88,208 91,115 -3.2

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,618 1,571 1,599 3.0 -1.8 -5.8 1,628 1,553 1,607 1,764 14,550 15,256 -4.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 29,726 29,090 29,879 2.2 -2.6 -1.4 30,719 29,776 29,780 31,923 271,476 276,774 -1.9

 Machinery............................................. 32,656 32,955 33,140 -0.9 -0.6 1.5 32,919 32,162 31,721 36,178 293,762 320,820 -8.4

 Construction machinery........................ 3,142 3,376 3,361 -6.9 0.4 3.1 2,745 3,258 2,797 2,648 28,539 27,090 5.3

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,320 1,413 1,412 -6.6 0.1 2.5 1,436 1,348 1,377 2,729 14,591 25,669 -43.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,998 2,969 2,945 1.0 0.8 -2.5 3,224 2,702 2,781 3,119 24,572 27,094 -9.3

 Photographic equipment....................... 512 547 535 -6.4 2.2 16.6 595 545 529 547 4,857 5,044 -3.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,867 3,928 3,969 -1.6 -1.0 0.7 4,140 3,963 4,186 4,486 36,259 37,178 -2.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,051 3,149 3,122 -3.1 0.9 9.6 3,239 3,134 3,069 2,592 25,875 23,016 12.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 4,186 3,823 3,696 9.5 3.4 -1.6 4,091 3,725 3,609 4,523 34,156 38,790 -11.9

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,924 2,648 2,905 10.4 -8.8 -2.4 3,053 2,580 2,723 2,599 24,415 22,942 6.4

 Computers and electronic products2

........... 25,125 25,252 25,280 -0.5 -0.1 1.0 29,112 23,975 23,068 28,008 223,007 211,192 5.6

 Computers........................................ 651 660 671 -1.4 -1.6 -12.1 715 633 584 786 6,075 6,797 -10.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,631 3,503 3,726 3.7 -6.0 -0.2 4,363 3,223 3,296 4,063 32,892 33,144 -0.8

 Defense communications equipment....... 310 351 358 -11.7 -2.0 25.2 384 339 330 407 3,181 3,155 0.8

 Electronic components......................... 4,786 4,760 4,844 0.5 -1.7 0.9 5,018 5,153 5,095 4,005 42,010 33,676 24.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,605 1,682 1,598 -4.6 5.3 4.2 1,867 1,632 1,443 1,854 14,532 13,866 4.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,701 2,723 2,790 -0.8 -2.4 12.1 3,283 2,421 2,377 3,498 23,116 22,750 1.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,634 9,723 9,364 -0.9 3.8 -1.4 11,223 8,950 8,448 10,876 84,696 79,773 6.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,180 10,152 10,232 0.3 -0.8 1.2 10,625 10,243 9,509 11,807 92,783 96,785 -4.1

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 991 1,016 1,004 -2.5 1.2 5.9 1,018 1,033 985 1,035 8,576 8,747 -2.0

 Household appliances.......................... 1,557 1,493 1,517 4.3 -1.6 -5.4 1,638 1,447 1,444 2,005 14,456 15,726 -8.1

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,116 3,174 3,291 -1.8 -3.6 4.2 3,207 3,154 3,164 3,696 29,539 30,813 -4.1

 Transportation equipment........................ 75,327 77,721 83,464 -3.1 -6.9 4.9 82,606 72,893 73,551 81,899 667,967 730,516 -8.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 26,794 26,677 26,933 0.4 -1.0 4.8 27,310 27,529 23,585 24,705 233,171 213,202 9.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,123 14,245 16,051 -36.0 -11.3 -8.6 12,447 10,685 16,238 18,739 107,100 188,275 -43.1

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 6,271 5,028 4,356 24.7 15.4 -14.3 7,691 3,165 3,331 4,089 37,563 38,494 -2.4

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,274 2,332 3,342 -2.5 -30.2 20.0 2,004 1,997 2,738 2,002 21,181 32,643 -35.1

 Furniture and related products................... 6,409 6,554 6,382 -2.2 2.7 1.4 6,634 6,519 6,434 6,448 57,825 54,589 5.9

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 235,128 237,081 240,162 -0.8 -1.3 -1.4 240,841 243,588 242,176 269,041 2,170,402 2,401,309 -9.6

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 % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Sep. Aug. July 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

All manufacturing industries2...................... 1,187,945 1,194,184 1,197,457 -0.5 -0.3 0.2 1,179,886 1,185,918 1,197,712 1,205,891 -2.2

 Excluding transportation2...................... 393,798 394,576 395,075 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 391,364 393,420 397,026 396,838 -1.4

 Excluding defense2

............................. 1,005,463 1,011,911 1,014,186 -0.6 -0.2 0.2 998,341 1,005,334 1,013,142 1,012,935 -1.4

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,187,945 1,194,184 1,197,457 -0.5 -0.3 0.2 1,179,886 1,185,918 1,197,712 1,205,891 -2.2

 Primary metals........................................ 34,961 35,461 35,521 -1.4 -0.2 -0.6 33,828 34,974 35,715 36,231 -6.6

 Iron and steel mills............................... 17,831 18,312 18,261 -2.6 0.3 -1.0 17,172 18,128 18,513 19,245 -10.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 12,126 12,143 12,167 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 11,801 11,874 12,096 12,007 -1.7

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 5,004 5,006 5,093 0.0 -1.7 -0.2 4,855 4,972 5,106 4,979 -2.5

 Fabricated metal products......................... 82,068 81,763 82,313 0.4 -0.7 0.1 82,044 82,315 83,536 82,876 -1.0

 Machinery.............................................. 110,671 111,407 111,863 -0.7 -0.4 -0.5 109,982 111,189 111,879 121,281 -9.3

 Construction machinery......................... 5,943 6,137 6,248 -3.2 -1.8 -4.4 5,691 5,986 5,901 9,207 -38.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 9,217 9,442 9,608 -2.4 -1.7 -2.8 9,364 9,548 9,779 12,687 -26.2

 Industrial machinery............................. 8,364 8,450 8,409 -1.0 0.5 -0.2 8,227 8,469 8,541 9,881 -16.7

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,623 1,617 1,593 0.4 1.5 -0.2 1,652 1,636 1,609 1,622 1.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 7,581 7,641 7,650 -0.8 -0.1 0.0 7,437 7,381 7,521 7,284 2.1

 Metalworking machinery........................ 6,517 6,669 6,728 -2.3 -0.9 -1.6 6,436 6,634 6,724 7,441 -13.5

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 32,134 32,123 32,347 0.0 -0.7 -0.6 32,022 32,064 32,425 35,846 -10.7

 Material handling equipment................... 12,184 11,984 12,039 1.7 -0.5 1.8 12,152 11,929 12,142 10,272 18.3

 Computers and electronic products2............. 135,102 134,848 134,380 0.2 0.3 0.4 134,952 134,123 134,536 126,191 6.9

 Computers......................................... 2,568 2,580 2,590 -0.5 -0.4 -1.5 2,568 2,580 2,590 2,389 7.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 36,820 36,573 36,355 0.7 0.6 1.0 36,619 36,300 36,302 32,141 13.9

 Defense communications equipment........ 2,994 2,996 2,990 -0.1 0.2 1.5 3,051 3,017 3,012 3,070 -0.6

 Electronic components.......................... 10,934 10,952 10,990 -0.2 -0.3 -0.2 10,915 11,043 11,013 10,579 3.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 19,910 19,709 19,421 1.0 1.5 1.3 20,030 19,801 19,573 16,977 18.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 32,402 32,385 32,414 0.1 -0.1 0.0 32,376 32,016 32,403 33,101 -2.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 29,474 29,653 29,620 -0.6 0.1 -0.2 29,393 29,366 29,643 27,934 5.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 22,462 22,519 22,534 -0.3 -0.1 -0.6 22,132 22,362 22,497 22,227 -0.4

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,113 1,130 1,103 -1.5 2.4 0.0 1,094 1,139 1,131 1,128 -3.0

 Household appliances........................... 1,482 1,488 1,584 -0.4 -6.1 -6.0 1,402 1,414 1,556 1,440 -2.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,722 9,738 9,677 -0.2 0.6 0.8 9,579 9,774 9,776 8,898 7.7

 Transportation equipment......................... 794,147 799,608 802,382 -0.7 -0.3 0.3 788,522 792,498 800,686 809,053 -2.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 21,683 21,636 21,706 0.2 -0.3 0.4 20,914 21,013 21,030 20,231 3.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 608,001 613,282 614,361 -0.9 -0.2 0.3 604,218 608,233 612,182 613,322 -1.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 65,185 64,218 64,257 1.5 -0.1 -1.4 64,157 62,568 64,295 67,304 -4.7

 Ships and boats.................................. 27,489 28,055 28,475 -2.0 -1.5 1.8 27,305 28,150 28,844 33,641 -18.8

 Furniture and related products................... 7,707 7,731 7,597 -0.3 1.8 -1.2 7,599 7,610 7,996 7,277 4.4

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 % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Sep. Aug. July 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

 All manufacturing industries...................... 645,129 647,522 650,029 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3 644,138 652,408 653,831 655,582 -1.7

 Excluding transportation........................ 513,678 515,128 518,367 -0.3 -0.6 -0.3 513,221 519,225 521,092 530,156 -3.2

 Excluding defense............................. 617,285 618,862 622,121 -0.3 -0.5 -0.3 616,363 623,680 625,689 630,424 -2.2

 With unfilled orders............................. 325,969 327,107 327,646 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 324,225 329,998 330,715 320,216 1.3

 Durable goods industries........................ 399,052 400,531 401,297 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 397,027 403,719 404,258 391,414 1.4

 Wood products........................................ 11,230 11,197 11,261 0.3 -0.6 -0.1 11,085 11,057 11,097 10,521 5.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 13,010 13,001 13,020 0.1 -0.1 -0.6 12,784 12,927 13,037 12,635 1.2

 Primary metals......................................... 36,103 36,417 36,991 -0.9 -1.6 -0.9 35,968 36,494 36,973 38,724 -7.1

 Iron and steel mills............................... 20,649 20,951 21,349 -1.4 -1.9 -1.2 20,614 20,959 21,258 22,973 -10.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 13,491 13,482 13,631 0.1 -1.1 -0.4 13,435 13,535 13,714 13,840 -2.9

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 1,963 1,984 2,011 -1.1 -1.3 -0.4 1,919 2,000 2,001 1,911 0.4

 Fabricated metal products......................... 49,074 48,927 48,950 0.3 0.0 -0.4 48,683 49,003 49,365 47,999 1.4

 Machinery.............................................. 66,338 66,341 66,675 0.0 -0.5 -0.3 66,168 67,189 67,264 66,616 -0.7

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,167 3,253 3,287 -2.6 -1.0 -1.1 2,969 3,194 3,284 3,575 -17.0

 Construction machinery......................... 6,933 6,935 7,221 0.0 -4.0 -1.2 6,945 6,899 7,189 5,371 29.3

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 5,428 5,440 5,466 -0.2 -0.5 -0.4 5,399 5,539 5,545 7,365 -26.7

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,086 6,100 5,990 -0.2 1.8 -0.8 6,129 6,157 5,929 6,453 -5.0

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,396 1,382 1,368 1.0 1.0 -0.9 1,401 1,434 1,396 1,344 4.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 5,307 5,300 5,319 0.1 -0.4 -1.3 5,166 5,370 5,424 5,026 2.8

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,543 5,586 5,593 -0.8 -0.1 -0.9 5,660 5,702 5,662 5,562 1.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 10,120 10,003 10,033 1.2 -0.3 0.2 10,165 10,363 10,249 10,213 -0.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,245 4,215 4,183 0.7 0.8 0.8 4,364 4,339 4,303 4,004 9.0

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 45,090 45,539 46,019 -1.0 -1.0 -0.1 44,820 46,461 46,486 44,064 1.7

 Computers......................................... 1,102 1,111 1,209 -0.8 -8.1 -5.5 1,156 1,184 1,277 1,175 -1.6

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,248 1,367 1,438 -8.7 -4.9 -4.8 1,215 1,467 1,474 1,474 -17.6

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,084 1,118 1,191 -3.0 -6.1 -5.4 1,045 1,156 1,213 1,305 -19.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 4,758 4,737 4,765 0.4 -0.6 -0.4 4,706 4,796 4,745 5,138 -8.4

 Defense communications equipment........ 837 834 843 0.4 -1.1 1.4 837 834 843 787 6.4

 Audio and video equipment.................... 748 768 785 -2.6 -2.2 -5.3 841 824 794 838 0.4

 Electronic components.......................... 8,161 8,194 8,283 -0.4 -1.1 1.0 8,035 8,229 8,345 7,218 11.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,478 3,496 3,487 -0.5 0.3 0.9 3,479 3,559 3,527 3,256 6.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,207 3,233 3,186 -0.8 1.5 2.4 3,131 3,257 3,265 2,732 14.6

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 14,299 14,395 14,468 -0.7 -0.5 0.0 14,054 14,837 14,674 14,319 -1.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 16,475 16,579 16,639 -0.6 -0.4 0.3 16,216 16,842 16,902 16,196 0.1

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,854 1,849 1,834 0.3 0.8 0.3 1,852 1,879 1,891 1,858 -0.3

 Household appliances........................... 2,119 2,091 2,078 1.3 0.6 0.5 2,117 2,178 2,162 2,035 4.0

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,921 4,962 5,016 -0.8 -1.1 -0.6 4,680 4,998 5,047 4,818 -2.9

 Batteries............................................ 1,366 1,392 1,399 -1.9 -0.5 2.2 1,404 1,476 1,453 1,369 2.6

 Transportation equipment......................... 131,451 132,394 131,662 -0.7 0.6 -0.1 130,917 133,183 132,739 125,426 4.4

 Automobiles....................................... 4,487 4,629 4,549 -3.1 1.8 -8.3 4,561 4,634 4,407 4,787 -4.7

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 4,218 4,185 4,212 0.8 -0.6 4.6 4,258 4,210 4,287 3,706 14.9

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,942 1,951 1,963 -0.5 -0.6 -0.6 1,902 1,937 1,943 1,586 19.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 24,763 25,050 25,165 -1.1 -0.5 -0.7 24,636 25,190 25,311 23,675 4.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 67,427 67,090 66,984 0.5 0.2 0.4 66,837 67,478 67,723 64,788 3.2

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,956 12,784 12,427 -6.5 2.9 0.0 11,970 12,819 12,557 12,723 -5.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,200 2,246 2,216 -2.0 1.4 2.7 2,194 2,230 2,166 2,279 -3.7

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,315 7,284 7,262 0.4 0.3 0.7 7,305 7,439 7,489 6,802 7.4

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 22,966 22,852 22,818 0.5 0.1 0.2 23,081 23,124 22,906 22,431 2.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 246,077 246,991 248,732 -0.4 -0.7 -0.4 247,111 248,689 249,573 264,168 -6.5

 Food products........................................ 53,653 53,268 53,058 0.7 0.4 1.3 54,467 53,764 52,600 54,186 0.5

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,902 5,904 5,919 0.0 -0.3 -0.3 5,666 5,697 5,695 5,942 -4.6

 Dairy products.................................... 8,268 8,054 8,026 2.7 0.3 0.1 8,297 8,238 8,312 8,707 -4.7

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 9,294 9,315 9,351 -0.2 -0.4 4.7 9,327 9,470 9,375 9,520 -2.0

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 20,116 20,133 20,185 -0.1 -0.3 0.5 20,027 19,537 19,436 19,682 1.8

 Beverages......................................... 15,903 15,879 15,885 0.2 0.0 0.5 15,966 15,489 15,421 15,759 1.3

 Tobacco............................................ 4,213 4,254 4,300 -1.0 -1.1 0.4 4,061 4,048 4,015 3,923 3.5

 Textile mills............................................ 3,304 3,272 3,243 1.0 0.9 0.1 3,290 3,274 3,262 3,251 1.2

 Textile products...................................... 3,005 2,977 2,950 0.9 0.9 0.6 3,014 2,980 2,955 2,985 1.0

 Apparel................................................. 2,641 2,630 2,601 0.4 1.1 3.5 2,766 2,790 2,753 2,405 15.0

 Leather and allied products....................... 860 865 863 -0.6 0.2 -0.3 883 883 871 895 -1.3

 Paper products....................................... 16,694 16,690 16,681 0.0 0.1 0.1 16,700 16,806 16,754 16,463 1.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 7,383 7,376 7,386 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 7,311 7,368 7,362 6,468 13.0

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,676 4,684 4,660 -0.2 0.5 0.3 4,693 4,727 4,690 5,313 -11.7

 Printing.................................................. 5,769 5,726 5,714 0.8 0.2 -1.4 5,966 6,015 5,896 5,606 6.4

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 33,309 34,494 36,439 -3.4 -5.3 -5.4 34,094 35,454 37,546 51,086 -33.3

 Petroleum refineries............................. 28,534 29,822 31,804 -4.3 -6.2 -5.9 29,483 30,812 32,906 46,376 -36.4

 Chemical products..................................... 82,098 82,346 82,395 -0.3 -0.1 0.6 81,480 82,689 82,948 82,882 -1.7

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,761 4,729 4,747 0.7 -0.4 -1.0 4,429 4,455 4,409 4,478 -1.1

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 32,498 32,420 32,158 0.2 0.8 1.5 32,229 32,482 32,466 30,888 4.3

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,755 3,696 3,680 1.6 0.4 1.9 3,632 3,619 3,724 3,583 1.4

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 24,628 24,590 24,603 0.2 -0.1 -0.3 24,424 24,497 24,552 24,727 -1.2

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 Estimates of inventories for the semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products, and all other applicable aggregate totals. 

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

Industry % Change6

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Sep. Aug. July 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 477,314 479,066 483,362 -0.4 -0.9 -0.2 497,433 489,290 472,386 523,682 4,335,166 4,522,162 -4.1

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,286 46,197 46,461 0.2 -0.6 1.3 48,916 49,528 49,197 50,310 421,986 422,252 -0.1

 Information technology......................... 24,289 24,165 24,155 0.5 0.0 1.2 27,550 23,564 21,862 26,607 213,198 206,924 3.0

 Computers and related products........... 1,968 2,015 2,141 -2.3 -5.9 -1.2 2,457 1,742 1,661 2,750 18,433 20,103 -8.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 53,445 52,756 53,671 1.3 -1.7 4.6 55,745 54,263 46,471 49,133 462,275 419,707 10.1

 Capital goods...................................... 90,108 90,256 89,708 -0.2 0.6 0.1 97,675 88,636 83,585 97,757 795,648 777,652 2.3

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 79,802 80,257 79,241 -0.6 1.3 0.0 86,250 78,745 74,240 87,308 708,703 693,718 2.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 69,646 69,301 69,844 0.5 -0.8 0.4 74,365 68,147 66,119 76,727 622,073 620,584 0.2

 Defense capital goods4........................ 10,306 9,999 10,467 3.1 -4.5 0.7 11,425 9,891 9,345 10,449 86,945 83,934 3.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 188,937 189,986 193,359 -0.6 -1.7 -0.9 195,016 195,193 189,377 213,743 1,724,972 1,904,900 -9.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 37,142 36,470 37,266 1.8 -2.1 3.8 39,216 36,887 32,011 35,473 320,661 301,517 6.3

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 151,795 153,516 156,093 -1.1 -1.7 -2.0 155,800 158,306 157,366 178,270 1,404,311 1,603,383 -12.4

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 466,303 471,041 481,206 -1.0 -2.1 0.2 486,939 472,263 469,006 524,051 4,257,191 4,588,561 -7.2

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,275 46,031 46,457 0.5 -0.9 0.2 48,745 48,699 49,219 50,289 423,132 428,636 -1.3

 Information technology......................... 24,549 24,688 24,551 -0.6 0.6 1.4 28,545 23,149 21,669 28,523 218,727 216,232 1.2

 Computers and related products........... 1,956 2,005 2,102 -2.4 -4.6 -5.8 2,445 1,732 1,622 2,833 18,529 20,503 -9.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 53,492 52,686 53,760 1.5 -2.0 4.9 55,646 54,246 46,042 49,379 461,159 421,018 9.5

 Capital goods...................................... 82,083 86,794 93,280 -5.4 -7.0 3.0 89,162 80,173 86,776 100,867 766,889 873,095 -12.2

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 72,417 78,181 81,970 -7.4 -4.6 0.6 78,209 73,656 77,023 91,113 687,219 786,000 -12.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 68,826 68,863 69,875 -0.1 -1.4 1.9 72,927 66,430 65,193 78,833 619,937 646,452 -4.1

 Defense capital goods4........................ 9,666 8,613 11,310 12.2 -23.8 24.4 10,953 6,517 9,753 9,754 79,670 87,095 -8.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 188,931 190,009 193,156 -0.6 -1.6 -1.0 195,055 195,028 189,161 214,031 1,724,733 1,905,190 -9.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 37,136 36,493 37,063 1.8 -1.5 3.4 39,255 36,722 31,795 35,761 320,422 301,807 6.2

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 151,795 153,516 156,093 -1.1 -1.7 -2.0 155,800 158,306 157,366 178,270 1,404,311 1,603,383 -12.4

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 1,187,945 1,194,184 1,197,457 -0.5 -0.3 0.2 1,179,886 1,185,918 1,197,712 1,205,891 (X) (X) -2.2

 Construction materials and supplies....... 54,805 54,816 54,982 0.0 -0.3 0.0 54,788 54,959 55,788 53,934 (X) (X) 1.6

 Information technology......................... 135,936 135,676 135,153 0.2 0.4 0.3 135,746 134,751 135,166 127,995 (X) (X) 6.1

 Computers and related products........... 2,568 2,580 2,590 -0.5 -0.4 -1.5 2,568 2,580 2,590 2,389 (X) (X) 7.5

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 21,683 21,636 21,706 0.2 -0.3 0.4 20,914 21,013 21,030 20,231 (X) (X) 3.4

 Capital goods...................................... 900,692 908,717 912,179 -0.9 -0.4 0.4 895,475 903,988 912,451 918,701 (X) (X) -2.5

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 752,464 759,849 761,925 -1.0 -0.3 0.4 747,510 755,551 760,640 759,049 (X) (X) -1.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 245,319 246,139 246,577 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 244,230 245,668 247,385 247,393 (X) (X) -1.3

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 148,228 148,868 150,254 -0.4 -0.9 0.6 147,965 148,437 151,811 159,652 (X) (X) -7.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 5,253 5,259 5,236 -0.1 0.4 -3.7 5,024 4,985 5,150 4,877 (X) (X) 3.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 5,253 5,259 5,236 -0.1 0.4 -3.7 5,024 4,985 5,150 4,877 (X) (X) 3.0

 All manufacturing industries................... 645,129 647,522 650,029 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3 644,138 652,408 653,831 655,582 (X) (X) -1.7

 Construction materials and supplies....... 65,683 65,393 65,490 0.4 -0.1 -0.6 64,835 65,212 65,754 63,370 (X) (X) 2.3

 Information technology......................... 38,502 38,856 39,180 -0.9 -0.8 -0.3 38,155 39,792 39,682 38,622 (X) (X) -1.2

 Computers and related products........... 3,434 3,596 3,838 -4.5 -6.3 -5.2 3,416 3,807 3,964 3,954 (X) (X) -13.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 35,410 35,815 35,889 -1.1 -0.2 -1.1 35,357 35,971 35,948 33,754 (X) (X) 4.7

 Capital goods...................................... 198,527 199,573 199,801 -0.5 -0.1 0.0 197,449 202,032 201,904 195,039 (X) (X) 1.2

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 175,726 175,963 176,849 -0.1 -0.5 -0.1 174,731 178,389 178,848 174,770 (X) (X) 0.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 119,825 120,158 120,945 -0.3 -0.7 -0.4 119,365 122,173 122,171 120,874 (X) (X) -1.2

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 22,801 23,610 22,952 -3.4 2.9 1.0 22,718 23,643 23,056 20,269 (X) (X) 12.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 185,127 185,818 187,158 -0.4 -0.7 -0.4 186,855 187,405 187,601 199,210 (X) (X) -6.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,573 29,561 29,394 0.0 0.6 -0.4 29,737 29,899 29,422 28,303 (X) (X) 5.1

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 155,554 156,257 157,764 -0.4 -1.0 -0.4 157,118 157,506 158,179 170,907 (X) (X) -8.1

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 % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Sep. Aug. July 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 212,613 213,544 214,325 -0.4 -0.4 -0.8 212,304 214,257 215,333 217,805 -2.5

 Durable goods industries.......................... 132,384 133,221 133,331 -0.6 -0.1 -0.8 132,478 134,124 134,020 132,754 -0.2

 Wood products................................... 4,496 4,469 4,518 0.6 -1.1 -0.1 4,570 4,459 4,443 4,339 5.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 4,997 5,007 5,065 -0.2 -1.1 -0.6 4,993 5,010 5,097 4,884 2.2

 Primary metals.................................... 13,865 13,869 14,100 0.0 -1.6 -1.0 13,958 13,791 14,077 14,945 -6.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 17,440 17,551 17,640 -0.6 -0.5 -1.1 17,505 17,582 17,807 17,773 -1.5

 Machinery.......................................... 25,975 26,014 26,248 -0.1 -0.9 -0.9 25,956 26,369 26,768 25,881 0.3

 Computers and electronic products........ 18,604 18,905 18,991 -1.6 -0.5 -0.5 18,514 19,081 19,074 18,252 1.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,521 6,558 6,589 -0.6 -0.5 1.2 6,398 6,638 6,656 6,456 -0.9

 Transportation equipment..................... 28,951 29,341 28,660 -1.3 2.4 -2.0 29,051 29,570 28,434 29,055 0.0

 Furniture and related products............... 3,793 3,800 3,801 -0.2 0.0 1.4 3,787 3,828 3,872 3,524 7.5

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,742 7,707 7,719 0.5 -0.2 0.2 7,746 7,796 7,792 7,645 1.3

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 80,229 80,323 80,994 -0.1 -0.8 -0.6 79,826 80,133 81,313 85,051 -6.1

 Food products.................................... 18,213 17,973 17,889 1.3 0.5 -0.2 17,996 17,666 17,780 17,927 0.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 5,139 5,105 5,145 0.7 -0.8 0.2 4,997 4,894 4,916 4,910 1.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,205 1,198 1,181 0.6 1.4 0.9 1,200 1,204 1,188 1,149 4.4

 Textile products................................... 1,135 1,127 1,112 0.7 1.3 0.5 1,136 1,126 1,114 1,179 -3.6

 Apparel............................................. 881 885 873 -0.5 1.4 2.6 900 907 894 716 25.7

 Leather and allied products.................... 257 253 253 1.6 0.0 0.8 264 259 256 260 1.5

 Paper products.................................... 8,558 8,565 8,589 -0.1 -0.3 0.3 8,579 8,596 8,644 8,368 2.5

 Printing ............................................. 2,748 2,755 2,766 -0.3 -0.4 -1.2 2,805 2,836 2,835 2,745 2.2

 Petroleum and coal products................. 7,659 7,682 8,191 -0.3 -6.2 -4.4 7,648 7,729 8,371 11,736 -34.8

 Chemical products................................ 24,625 24,960 25,124 -1.3 -0.7 -0.3 24,498 25,111 25,364 25,846 -5.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 9,809 9,820 9,871 -0.1 -0.5 -0.6 9,803 9,805 9,951 10,215 -4.0

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 204,164 205,897 206,583 -0.8 -0.3 0.0 201,995 206,660 207,759 204,330 -1.1

 Durable goods industries.......................... 157,227 158,019 158,145 -0.5 -0.1 0.0 155,870 159,551 160,087 150,737 3.4

 Wood products................................... 2,327 2,337 2,355 -0.4 -0.8 -0.9 2,314 2,309 2,361 2,129 8.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,480 1,504 1,493 -1.6 0.7 -0.3 1,454 1,501 1,513 1,353 7.5

 Primary metals.................................... 11,040 11,238 11,403 -1.8 -1.4 -0.6 10,931 11,416 11,539 11,464 -4.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 13,061 12,991 12,987 0.5 0.0 -0.7 13,050 13,155 13,133 13,168 -0.9

 Machinery.......................................... 19,609 19,754 19,613 -0.7 0.7 0.6 19,620 20,163 19,628 19,808 -0.9

 Computers and electronic products........ 15,283 15,429 15,745 -0.9 -2.0 0.1 14,973 15,772 16,140 14,168 5.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,846 3,873 3,887 -0.7 -0.4 -2.0 3,783 3,923 3,924 3,935 -3.9

 Transportation equipment..................... 85,550 85,906 85,727 -0.4 0.2 0.2 84,665 86,237 86,849 80,161 5.6

 Furniture and related products............... 1,050 1,032 1,036 1.7 -0.4 -1.1 1,048 1,040 1,056 996 5.2

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,981 3,955 3,899 0.7 1.4 0.2 4,032 4,035 3,944 3,555 13.4

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 46,937 47,878 48,438 -2.0 -1.2 -0.3 46,125 47,109 47,672 53,593 -13.9

 Food products.................................... 5,786 5,856 5,907 -1.2 -0.9 4.3 5,251 5,361 5,334 4,922 6.7

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,317 7,398 7,372 -1.1 0.4 0.8 7,209 6,756 6,592 7,165 0.6

 Textiles.............................................. 769 762 760 0.9 0.3 -0.9 774 771 768 817 -5.3

 Textile products................................... 459 459 453 0.0 1.3 2.5 466 461 455 457 2.0

 Apparel............................................. 321 324 328 -0.9 -1.2 0.0 333 343 359 355 -6.2

 Leather and allied products.................... 107 109 99 -1.8 10.1 0.0 107 108 98 91 17.6

 Paper products.................................... 1,351 1,355 1,338 -0.3 1.3 -0.6 1,353 1,372 1,348 1,288 5.0

 Printing ............................................. 1,406 1,372 1,359 2.5 1.0 -1.9 1,471 1,518 1,422 1,271 15.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. 8,861 9,418 9,915 -5.9 -5.0 -10.4 9,008 9,746 10,211 16,385 -45.0

 Chemical products................................ 17,851 18,123 18,192 -1.5 -0.4 4.3 17,473 17,977 18,356 18,256 -4.3

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,709 2,702 2,715 0.3 -0.5 -0.2 2,680 2,696 2,729 2,586 3.6

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 228,352 228,081 229,121 0.1 -0.5 0.0 229,839 231,491 230,739 233,447 -1.5

 Durable goods industries.......................... 109,441 109,291 109,821 0.1 -0.5 0.2 108,679 110,044 110,151 107,923 0.7

 Wood products................................... 4,407 4,391 4,388 0.4 0.1 0.5 4,201 4,289 4,293 4,053 3.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,533 6,490 6,462 0.7 0.4 -0.7 6,337 6,416 6,427 6,398 -1.0

 Primary metals.................................... 11,198 11,310 11,488 -1.0 -1.5 -0.9 11,079 11,287 11,357 12,315 -10.0

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,573 18,385 18,323 1.0 0.3 0.6 18,128 18,266 18,425 17,058 6.3

 Machinery.......................................... 20,754 20,573 20,814 0.9 -1.2 -0.5 20,592 20,657 20,868 20,927 -1.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,203 11,205 11,283 0.0 -0.7 0.3 11,333 11,608 11,272 11,644 -2.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,108 6,148 6,163 -0.7 -0.2 0.7 6,035 6,281 6,322 5,805 4.0

 Transportation equipment..................... 16,950 17,147 17,275 -1.1 -0.7 1.3 17,201 17,376 17,456 16,210 6.1

 Furniture and related products............... 2,472 2,452 2,425 0.8 1.1 0.6 2,470 2,571 2,561 2,282 8.2

 Miscellaneous products......................... 11,243 11,190 11,200 0.5 -0.1 0.2 11,303 11,293 11,170 11,231 0.6

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 118,911 118,790 119,300 0.1 -0.4 -0.2 121,160 121,447 120,588 125,524 -3.5

 Food products.................................... 29,654 29,439 29,262 0.7 0.6 1.6 31,220 30,737 29,486 31,337 -0.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,660 7,630 7,668 0.4 -0.5 0.2 7,821 7,887 7,928 7,607 2.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,330 1,312 1,302 1.4 0.8 0.1 1,316 1,299 1,306 1,285 2.4

 Textile products................................... 1,411 1,391 1,385 1.4 0.4 0.1 1,412 1,393 1,386 1,349 4.7

 Apparel............................................. 1,439 1,421 1,400 1.3 1.5 4.9 1,533 1,540 1,500 1,334 14.9

 Leather and allied products.................... 496 503 511 -1.4 -1.6 -1.0 512 516 517 544 -5.9

 Paper products.................................... 6,785 6,770 6,754 0.2 0.2 -0.1 6,768 6,838 6,762 6,807 -0.6

 Printing ............................................. 1,615 1,599 1,589 1.0 0.6 -1.5 1,690 1,661 1,639 1,590 6.3

 Petroleum and coal products................. 16,789 17,394 18,333 -3.5 -5.1 -3.0 17,438 17,979 18,964 22,965 -24.1

 Chemical products................................ 39,622 39,263 39,079 0.9 0.5 -0.4 39,509 39,601 39,228 38,780 1.9

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 12,110 12,068 12,017 0.3 0.4 0.0 11,941 11,996 11,872 11,926 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 Group 1

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio2

Industry Sep Aug Jul Jun Sep Aug Jul Jun

2015p 2015r 2015 2015 2015p 2015r 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries3............................ 1.35 1.35 1.34 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries3.................................. 1.65 1.66 1.65 1.67 6.88 6.89 6.89 6.92

 Wood products.............................................. 1.39 1.40 1.39 1.42 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.33 1.34 1.33 1.36 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.79 1.79 1.79 1.77 1.74 1.74 1.72 1.69

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.67 1.65 1.64 1.64 2.88 2.84 2.84 2.84

 Machinery..................................................... 1.99 1.99 1.98 1.97 3.57 3.60 3.59 3.58

 Computers and electronic products3

................ 1.52 1.54 1.58 1.57 5.86 5.88 5.88 5.94

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.61 1.63 1.60 1.63 2.38 2.41 2.36 2.43

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.63 1.64 1.63 1.68 14.68 14.68 14.86 15.12

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.14 1.13 1.12 1.13 1.40 1.41 1.37 1.41

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.61 1.60 1.60 1.62 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 1.05 1.04 1.04 1.03 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.81 0.81 0.80 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.56 1.59 1.62 1.61 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.29 1.28 1.27 1.26 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.54 1.53 1.52 1.54 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.27 2.25 2.25 2.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.91 1.94 1.86 1.88 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.80 0.79 0.78 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.77 0.76 0.75 0.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.27 1.28 1.28 1.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.29 1.29 1.28 1.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

2

 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.

3 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Sep3 Sep3 Sep3 Sep3

Industry 2014- 2014- 2014- 2014-

Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug

2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015

 

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

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

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.5 -0.3 1.0 -0.2 0.4 -0.1 0.4

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.6 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.1 -0.3 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.1 -0.3 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.3 -0.1 0.3

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

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.7 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.3

Nondurable goods industries................... (X) 0.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Food products................................... (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textile products.................................. (X) 2.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 1.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

 Chemical products................................ (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

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

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

 publication.

3

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

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

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

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes 1

[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, which is a voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

This survey provides statistics on a calendar-month basis for 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). Data published from the M3 survey are based on a panel of approximately 

4,800 reporting units that represent approximately 3,000 companies and provide an indication of month-tomonth change for the Manufacturing Sector. These reporting units may be divisions of diversified large 

companies, large homogenous companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 92 industry categories, which are 

combined into 65 publication levels due to the small monthly panel size. The survey methodology 

assumes that the month-to-month changes of the total operations of the reporting units in the M3 panel 

effectively represent the month-to-month movements of all establishments that make up the category.

The companies for which shipments data are currently reported or imputed in the M3 survey represent 

approximately 61 percent of the total value of shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 

Economic Census, and these companies include almost two-thirds of the manufacturing companies with 

$500 million or more in shipments in the 2012 Economic Census. The companies for which shipments 

data are currently reported in the M3 survey represent approximately 54 percent of the total value of 

shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 Economic Census. Statistics based on the M3 

panel differ from the results that would be obtained from a complete enumeration of all manufacturing 

companies. The M3 panel is not based on 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.