Beginning with next month’s release, we will no longer issue printed reports. You can access the release at the website

shown below. If you would like a printed copy of the release, please call (301)763-4673 to purchase a monthly subscription.

2

Figures in text, other than year to date, are in seasonally adjusted current dollars and exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in March, at the highest

level since May 2001, increased $7.2 billion or 2.2 percent to

$330.0 billion, the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau

reported today. This followed a 1.0 percent February decrease. 

Year to date, new orders for 2003 were 3.6 percent above the

same period a year ago.

Shipments, at the highest level since May 2001, increased

$6.1 billion or 1.9 percent to $328.7 billion. This followed a 1.4

percent February decrease. Year to date, shipments for 2003

were 3.2 percent above the same period a year ago. 

Unfilled orders increased $1.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $477.6

billion, following a $0.2 billion February increase. The unfilled

orders-to-shipments ratio was 3.99, down from 4.01 in February.

Inventories decreased $0.1 billion to $433.1 billion, following

a 0.4 percent February increase. The inventories-to-shipments

ratio was 1.32, down from 1.34 in February.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March

increased $2.6 billion or 1.5 percent to $173.4 billion, revised

from the previously published 2.0 percent increase.

Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, had

the largest increase, $1.5 billion or 2.9 percent to $52.8 billion,

due to defense aircraft and parts, which increased by $3.2

billion. Machinery increased $0.8 billion or 3.7 percent to $22.7

billion.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased

$4.6 billion or 3.0 percent to $156.5 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March

increased $1.5 billion or 0.9 percent to $172.2 billion, revised

from the previously published 1.0 percent increase.

Computers and electronic products had the largest increase,

$0.5 billion or 2.1 percent to $26.0 billion. Machinery, with the

largest percent increase since May 2002, increased $0.4 billion

or 2.0 percent to $22.3 billion.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods increased

$4.6 billion or 3.0 percent to $156.5 billion. This is the

highest level since the current series began in 1992. Petroleum

and coal products, also at the highest level since the current

series began in 1992, had the largest increase, $1.5 billion or

6.7 percent to $23.5 billion. Basic chemicals, at the highest

level since March 2001, increased $1.1 billion or 2.9 percent

to $37.7 billion. Paper products and beverage and tobacco

products each increased $0.6 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March

increased $1.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $477.6 billion,

unrevised from the previously published 0.3 percent increase.

Transportation equipment had the largest increase, $1.2

billion or 0.5 percent to $247.5 billion. Computers and

electronic products, up four consecutive months, increased

$0.6 billion or 0.6 percent to $109.8 billion. 

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March

decreased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $264.1 billion, revised

from the previously published $0.1 billion increase. This was

the twenty-fifth decrease over the past twenty-six months.

Computers and electronic products, at the lowest level

since February 1994, had the largest decrease, $0.6 billion or

1.5 percent to $40.7 billion.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods increased

$0.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $169.0 billion. Food products

had the largest increase, $0.3 billion or 0.9 percent to $32.8

billion.

By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies

decreased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 0.7 percent in

nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.3 percent in

durable goods and increased 1.4 percent in nondurable goods. 

Finished goods increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 0.5

percent in nondurable goods. 

SEE BACK PAGE FOR SURVEY DESCRIPTION

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

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Dan Sansbury or Derrick Roy, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch,

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

The advance report on durable goods for April is scheduled for May 28, 2003 at 8:30 A.M. EDT and the full report on June 5, 2003 at 10:00

A.M. EDT. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. 
 3 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change

Mar Feb Jan Feb - Jan - Dec - Mar Feb Jan Mar 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Mar Feb Jan 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

 All manufacturing industries 2.................. 328,721 322,601 327,265 1.9 -1.4 1.9 344,299 309,768 299,447 332,852 953,514 923,864 3.2

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 277,133 270,620 275,685 2.4 -1.8 1.1 287,862 258,343 251,965 276,767 798,170 769,562 3.7

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 320,181 313,890 318,714 2.0 -1.5 1.7 334,803 301,712 292,460 324,230 928,975 902,128 3.0

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 119,751 118,902 120,784 0.7 -1.6 2.5 129,663 114,310 107,235 131,592 351,208 354,034 -0.8

 Durable goods industries 2

........................172,198 170,675 173,926 0.9 -1.9 2.5 185,711 163,936 155,655 184,912 505,302 502,576 0.5

 Wood products................................. ...... 7,406 7,131 7,269 3.9 -1.9 -2.2 7,240 6,489 6,297 7,292 20,026 20,469 -2.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 8,300 8,198 8,683 1.2 -5.6 1.8 8,062 7,420 7,768 7,555 23,250 21,047 10.5

 Primary metals............................ .......... 11,030 10,985 11,351 0.4 -3.2 1.5 11,396 10,696 11,092 11,425 33,184 32,574 1.9

 Iron and steel mills............................ 5,191 5,143 5,254 0.9 -2.1 -1.6 5,392 4,944 5,154 5,127 15,490 14,601 6.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,537 4,540 4,793 -0.1 -5.3 4.2 4,671 4,476 4,691 4,920 13,838 14,026 -1.3

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,302 1,302 1,304 0.0 -0.2 5.2 1,333 1,276 1,247 1,378 3,856 3,947 -2.3

 Fabricated metal products...................... 20,753 20,606 20,870 0.7 -1.3 -0.5 21,068 19,904 19,231 21,084 60,203 60,335 -0.2

 Machinery............................................. 22,344 21,905 22,406 2.0 -2.2 0.7 24,930 21,098 19,508 24,955 65,536 66,228 -1.0

 Farm machinery................................. 1,566 1,566 1,532 0.0 2.2 -3.3 1,969 1,748 1,370 1,868 5,087 4,751 7.1

 Construction machinery..................... 1,519 1,556 1,657 -2.4 -6.1 -6.6 1,862 1,569 1,421 2,075 4,852 5,062 -4.1

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 785 756 751 3.8 0.7 -1.7 850 737 686 752 2,273 2,194 3.6

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,267 3,252 3,207 0.5 1.4 8.3 3,660 2,953 2,909 3,282 9,522 8,596 10.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,408 1,314 1,424 7.2 -7.7 -5.3 1,417 1,165 1,188 1,424 3,770 3,727 1.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,548 2,492 2,526 2.2 -1.3 -1.9 2,738 2,250 2,125 2,919 7,113 7,499 -5.1

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,009 1,915 2,006 4.9 -4.5 3.6 2,228 1,668 1,525 2,181 5,421 5,608 -3.3

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 2,558 2,476 2,600 3.3 -4.8 21.0 2,785 2,497 2,188 3,271 7,470 8,940 -16.4

 Material handling equipment............... 1,324 1,322 1,371 0.2 -3.6 -4.1 1,497 1,302 1,353 1,565 4,152 4,286 -3.1

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 26,032 25,492 26,759 2.1 -4.7 4.2 30,468 23,390 21,899 30,727 75,757 76,613 -1.1

 Computers........................................ 3,679 3,999 4,983 -8.0 -19.7 23.8 4,395 3,369 4,217 4,485 11,981 11,045 8.5

 Computer storage devices................... 1,193 1,039 1,082 14.8 -4.0 -6.3 1,837 814 764 1,823 3,415 3,776 -9.6

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,317 1,570 1,622 -16.1 -3.2 30.5 1,677 1,387 1,208 1,983 4,272 4,344 -1.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 5,294 5,180 5,267 2.2 -1.7 8.3 6,304 4,528 4,019 6,495 14,851 15,724 -5.6

 Defense communications equipment... 332 316 321 5.1 -1.6 10.3 371 309 291 333 971 942 3.1

 Audio and video equipment.................. 644 660 707 -2.4 -6.6 -8.8 661 645 608 750 1,914 2,111 -9.3

 Semiconductors 3

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

 Electronic components........................ 3,650 3,734 3,833 -2.2 -2.6 -7.2 3,860 3,613 3,277 4,369 10,750 12,161 -11.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 718 751 720 -4.4 4.3 -4.1 765 736 617 828 2,118 2,226 -4.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,180 2,083 2,069 4.7 0.7 1.0 2,455 2,032 1,757 2,178 6,244 5,612 11.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,471 5,626 5,688 15.0 -1.1 -2.4 7,540 5,452 4,709 6,777 17,701 16,691 6.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,669 8,568 8,949 1.2 -4.3 0.0 9,325 8,142 7,726 9,777 25,193 25,998 -3.1

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,090 1,071 1,151 1.8 -7.0 5.0 1,168 1,084 984 1,157 3,236 3,175 1.9

 Household appliances........................ 2,041 1,988 2,014 2.7 -1.3 -5.8 2,179 1,888 1,678 2,104 5,745 5,762 -0.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,497 2,455 2,607 1.7 -5.8 3.1 2,835 2,295 2,176 3,024 7,306 7,468 -2.2

 Batteries........................................... 481 467 482 3.0 -3.1 3.2 476 393 386 530 1,255 1,421 -11.7

 Transportation equipment...................... 51,588 51,981 51,580 -0.8 0.8 6.8 56,437 51,425 47,482 56,085 155,344 154,302 0.7

 Automobiles..................................... 7,855 7,840 8,198 0.2 -4.4 7.9 8,600 7,922 7,991 8,269 24,513 24,236 1.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 10,380 10,349 10,619 0.3 -2.5 8.0 11,380 10,273 10,278 9,966 31,931 29,795 7.2

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,015 1,020 1,064 -0.5 -4.1 2.9 1,060 991 959 1,094 3,010 2,891 4.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 17,734 17,804 18,118 -0.4 -1.7 12.9 18,674 18,047 17,641 19,151 54,362 54,014 0.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 6,042 6,071 4,744 -0.5 28.0 -19.9 7,106 5,956 3,591 8,580 16,653 20,957 -20.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,305 3,249 3,237 1.7 0.4 26.8 3,675 2,819 2,580 3,185 9,074 7,703 17.8

 Ships and boats................................. 2,018 2,165 2,140 -6.8 1.2 -1.0 2,279 2,202 1,633 2,042 6,114 5,113 19.6

 Furniture and related products................. 5,327 5,386 5,613 -1.1 -4.0 -1.7 5,481 5,453 5,294 5,710 16,228 16,652 -2.5

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 10,749 10,423 10,446 3.1 -0.2 -2.4 11,304 9,919 9,358 10,302 30,581 28,358 7.8

 Nondurable goods industries................... 156,523 151,926 153,339 3.0 -0.9 1.3 158,588 145,832 143,792 147,940 448,212 421,288 6.4

 Food products....................................... 37,854 37,432 38,024 1.1 -1.6 -0.3 38,688 36,409 36,096 38,791 111,193 111,835 -0.6

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 4,141 4,108 4,066 0.8 1.0 -0.6 4,129 4,248 4,017 3,953 12,394 12,226 1.4

 Dairy products.................................. 5,242 5,159 5,319 1.6 -3.0 1.0 5,452 4,882 5,103 5,664 15,437 15,877 -2.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 11,049 11,205 11,213 -1.4 -0.1 2.8 11,123 10,963 10,571 11,343 32,657 33,129 -1.4

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 9,050 8,456 8,683 7.0 -2.6 1.0 9,021 7,901 7,812 9,466 24,734 26,532 -6.8

 Beverages......................................... 5,848 5,816 5,909 0.6 -1.6 -0.6 5,819 5,261 5,038 5,651 16,118 15,498 4.0

 Tobacco............................................ 3,202 2,640 2,774 21.3 -4.8 4.7 3,202 2,640 2,774 3,815 8,616 11,034 -21.9

 Textile mills........................................... 3,380 3,405 3,527 -0.7 -3.5 5.8 3,588 3,329 3,107 3,767 10,024 10,212 -1.8

 Textile products................................... 3,055 3,019 3,065 1.2 -1.5 -2.2 3,182 2,927 2,567 3,158 8,676 8,580 1.1

 Apparel................................................ 4,677 4,582 4,804 2.1 -4.6 0.2 4,777 4,720 4,313 4,677 13,810 13,749 0.4

 Leather and allied products..................... 746 762 719 -2.1 6.0 13.8 756 796 612 598 2,164 1,748 23.8

 Paper products...................................... 13,477 12,856 13,080 4.8 -1.7 0.1 13,472 12,569 12,760 12,148 38,801 35,803 8.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 5,920 5,425 5,789 9.1 -6.3 -0.1 5,912 5,435 5,701 5,639 17,048 16,574 2.9

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,775 3,751 3,701 0.6 1.4 -0.4 3,758 3,570 3,641 3,577 10,969 10,509 4.4

 Printing................................................. 7,950 7,878 7,973 0.9 -1.2 -1.3 8,099 7,460 7,388 8,121 22,947 22,909 0.2

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 23,468 22,000 21,369 6.7 3.0 5.4 21,939 19,845 19,755 16,671 61,539 45,899 34.1

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 21,856 20,471 19,765 6.8 3.6 5.6 20,450 18,630 18,628 15,233 57,708 42,302 36.4

 Basic chemicals...................................... 37,689 36,633 36,979 2.9 -0.9 2.7 39,422 35,372 35,106 35,665 109,900 101,090 8.7

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,524 1,565 1,611 -2.6 -2.9 -7.0 2,088 1,496 1,429 2,316 5,013 5,242 -4.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,146 8,807 8,959 3.8 -1.7 5.9 9,480 8,267 8,869 8,922 26,616 26,405 0.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,348 2,329 2,377 0.8 -2.0 -2.1 2,365 2,213 2,162 2,309 6,740 6,736 0.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 15,177 14,903 15,116 1.8 -1.4 -0.9 15,644 14,504 14,276 14,878 44,424 42,931 3.5

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

 Shipments and new orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 2 See footnote at end of Table 2.

3 See footnote at end of Table 2.

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.
 4

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change

Mar Feb Jan Feb - Jan - Dec - Mar Feb Jan Mar 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Mar Feb Jan 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

All manufacturing industries 2................... 329,961 322,759 326,043 2.2 -1.0 1.7 346,914 312,724 305,286 334,883 964,924 931,285 3.6

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 277,134 271,411 275,612 2.1 -1.5 1.4 288,045 261,021 256,030 274,110 805,096 768,614 4.7

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 318,334 312,209 318,356 2.0 -1.9 1.9 332,877 302,363 297,308 321,085 932,548 901,248 3.5

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 120,991 119,060 119,562 1.6 -0.4 2.0 132,278 117,266 113,074 133,623 362,618 361,455 0.3

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 173,438 170,833 172,704 1.5 -1.1 2.1 188,326 166,892 161,494 186,943 516,712 509,997 1.3

 Primary metals............................ ............ 10,419 10,871 11,183 -4.2 -2.8 2.7 10,848 11,047 11,516 11,195 33,411 33,189 0.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 4,667 5,111 4,976 -8.7 2.7 -1.2 4,937 5,270 5,193 5,233 15,400 15,432 -0.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,468 4,434 4,891 0.8 -9.3 5.1 4,613 4,451 4,978 4,628 14,042 13,784 1.9

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,284 1,326 1,316 -3.2 0.8 10.0 1,298 1,326 1,345 1,334 3,969 3,973 -0.1

 Fabricated metal products...................... 20,520 20,247 20,595 1.3 -1.7 1.0 21,052 19,866 19,327 21,442 60,245 60,519 -0.5

 Machinery............................................. 22,653 21,836 22,401 3.7 -2.5 3.2 25,232 21,376 20,603 23,624 67,211 64,515 4.2

 Construction machinery....................... 1,533 1,494 1,600 2.6 -6.6 -10.3 1,864 1,566 1,498 2,010 4,928 5,216 -5.5

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 780 684 744 14.0 -8.1 15.9 845 665 679 789 2,189 2,346 -6.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,834 2,821 3,944 35.9 -28.5 28.9 4,017 2,503 4,094 3,129 10,614 8,760 21.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,489 1,476 1,393 0.9 6.0 -10.2 1,514 1,328 1,207 1,452 4,049 3,787 6.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,515 2,536 2,416 -0.8 5.0 -4.5 2,733 2,349 2,215 2,897 7,297 7,791 -6.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,963 1,895 1,935 3.6 -2.1 -0.7 2,179 1,743 1,532 2,129 5,454 5,614 -2.9

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 2,040 2,513 2,265 -18.8 10.9 23.8 2,183 2,523 1,898 2,108 6,604 6,266 5.4

 Material handling equipment............... 1,483 1,419 1,167 4.5 21.6 -13.8 1,821 1,453 1,128 1,636 4,402 4,223 4.2

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 26,674 26,177 27,315 1.9 -4.2 4.1 31,182 24,649 24,134 30,030 79,965 76,876 4.0

 Computers........................................ 3,893 3,842 4,721 1.3 -18.6 -4.9 4,589 3,387 3,946 4,409 11,922 11,232 6.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 5,993 5,955 5,956 0.6 0.0 46.9 7,228 5,432 5,575 5,982 18,235 16,232 12.3

 Defense communications equipment... 367 416 363 -11.8 14.6 10.3 406 409 333 319 1,148 922 24.5

 Semiconductors 3................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components........................ 3,052 3,514 3,538 -13.1 -0.7 -15.1 2,893 3,456 3,406 4,342 9,755 12,118 -19.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 744 596 818 24.8 -27.1 6.9 872 611 768 832 2,251 2,222 1.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,187 2,211 2,272 -1.1 -2.7 -4.0 2,826 2,285 2,080 2,327 7,191 5,212 38.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 6,730 5,840 5,769 15.2 1.2 -1.2 7,590 5,718 5,014 6,557 18,322 16,726 9.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,822 8,574 8,724 2.9 -1.7 -1.9 9,327 8,386 7,736 9,218 25,449 25,698 -1.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,087 1,071 1,200 1.5 -10.8 14.6 1,139 1,086 1,066 1,136 3,291 3,147 4.6

 Household appliances.......................... 2,092 2,030 1,963 3.1 3.4 -7.8 2,133 1,991 1,690 1,945 5,814 5,597 3.9

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,638 2,443 2,493 8.0 -2.0 -2.2 2,936 2,399 2,138 2,698 7,473 7,278 2.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 52,827 51,348 50,431 2.9 1.8 3.5 58,869 51,703 49,256 60,773 159,828 162,671 -1.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 17,569 17,908 18,089 -1.9 -1.0 12.5 18,414 18,384 18,068 19,236 54,866 54,703 0.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 3,134 3,588 5,166 -12.7 -30.5 -24.5 4,396 3,810 4,745 8,116 12,951 18,407 -29.6

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 5,695 2,449 2,368 132.5 3.4 -11.7 6,391 2,854 2,916 7,132 12,161 14,680 -17.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,842 2,061 1,977 -10.6 4.2 10.6 2,109 1,739 1,732 1,795 5,580 6,315 -11.6

 Furniture and related products................. 5,306 5,412 5,524 -2.0 -2.0 -1.6 5,448 5,421 5,366 5,610 16,235 16,604 -2.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 156,523 151,926 153,339 3.0 -0.9 1.3 158,588 145,832 143,792 147,940 448,212 421,288 6.4

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1 Shipments and new orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 2 Aggregate estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. Due to the number of large semiconductor manufacturers choosing not to participate in this 

voluntary monthly survey, the Census Bureau cannot currently produce monthly estimates of semiconductor shipments, orders, or inventories. 3 Due to the number of large semiconductor manufacturers choosing not to participate in this voluntary monthly survey, the Census Bureau cannot currently produce monthly 

estimates of semiconductor shipments, orders, or inventories.

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

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

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

Current Industrial Reports: M3-1(01), "Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 1992-2001."
 5 

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Mar Feb Jan Feb - Jan - Dec - Mar Feb Jan Mar Mar

2003p 2003r 2003 Mar Feb Jan 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

All manufacturing industries 1................... 477,594 476,354 476,196 0.3 0.0 -0.3 483,815 481,200 478,244 509,379 -5.0

 Excluding transportation 1

................... 230,102 230,101 229,310 0.0 0.3 0.0 232,867 232,684 230,006 247,379 -5.9

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 329,665 331,512 333,193 -0.6 -0.5 -0.1 332,197 334,123 333,472 360,380 -7.8

 Durable goods industries 1........................ 477,594 476,354 476,196 0.3 0.0 -0.3 483,815 481,200 478,244 509,379 -5.0

 Primary metals........................................ 14,038 14,649 14,763 -4.2 -0.8 -1.1 14,532 15,080 14,729 16,718 -13.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 7,425 7,949 7,981 -6.6 -0.4 -3.4 7,700 8,155 7,829 8,736 -11.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,404 4,473 4,579 -1.5 -2.3 2.2 4,554 4,612 4,637 5,540 -17.8

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,209 2,227 2,203 -0.8 1.1 0.5 2,278 2,313 2,263 2,442 -6.7

 Fabricated metal products...................... 36,933 37,166 37,525 -0.6 -1.0 -0.7 36,984 37,000 37,038 39,993 -7.5

 Machinery.............................................. 44,816 44,507 44,576 0.7 -0.2 0.0 45,289 44,987 44,709 51,701 -12.4

 Construction machinery....................... 1,955 1,941 2,003 0.7 -3.1 -2.8 2,100 2,098 2,101 2,297 -8.6

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 935 940 1,012 -0.5 -7.1 -0.7 935 940 1,012 1,351 -30.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 9,854 9,287 9,718 6.1 -4.4 8.2 9,713 9,356 9,806 8,723 11.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,235 1,154 992 7.0 16.3 -3.0 1,256 1,159 996 876 43.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,231 4,264 4,220 -0.8 1.0 -2.5 4,268 4,273 4,174 4,649 -8.2

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,695 3,741 3,761 -1.2 -0.5 -1.9 3,711 3,760 3,685 3,855 -3.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 8,636 9,154 9,117 -5.7 0.4 -3.5 8,641 9,243 9,217 15,551 -44.4

 Material handling equipment............... 5,071 4,912 4,815 3.2 2.0 -4.1 5,289 4,965 4,814 5,301 -0.2

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 109,823 109,181 108,496 0.6 0.6 0.5 111,605 110,891 109,632 114,214 -2.3

 Computers......................................... 7,603 7,389 7,546 2.9 -2.1 -3.4 7,644 7,450 7,432 6,991 9.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 37,691 36,992 36,217 1.9 2.1 1.9 38,581 37,657 36,753 40,196 -4.0

 Defense communications equipment... 2,650 2,615 2,515 1.3 4.0 1.7 2,650 2,615 2,515 2,545 4.1

 Semiconductors 2

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

 Electronic components.......................... 13,230 13,828 14,048 -4.3 -1.6 -2.1 13,127 14,094 14,251 16,273 -19.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 4,114 4,088 4,243 0.6 -3.7 2.4 4,208 4,101 4,226 4,421 -4.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 30,753 30,746 30,618 0.0 0.4 0.7 31,604 31,233 30,980 31,280 1.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 13,782 13,523 13,309 1.9 1.6 0.6 13,791 13,741 13,475 12,508 10.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 14,345 14,192 14,186 1.1 0.0 -1.6 14,455 14,453 14,209 14,576 -0.8

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,637 1,640 1,640 -0.2 0.0 3.1 1,574 1,603 1,601 1,358 15.9

 Household appliances.......................... 951 900 858 5.7 4.9 -5.6 1,039 1,085 982 1,114 -6.7

 Electrical equipment............................ 8,322 8,181 8,193 1.7 -0.1 -1.4 8,358 8,257 8,153 8,747 -4.4

 Transportation equipment........................ 247,492 246,253 246,886 0.5 -0.3 -0.5 250,948 248,516 248,238 262,000 -4.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 12,228 12,393 12,289 -1.3 0.8 -0.2 12,747 13,007 12,670 12,882 -1.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 108,189 111,097 113,580 -2.6 -2.2 0.4 108,288 110,998 113,144 120,793 -10.4

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 58,005 55,615 56,415 4.3 -1.4 -1.5 59,386 56,670 56,635 58,260 1.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 20,219 20,395 20,499 -0.9 -0.5 -0.8 20,463 20,633 21,096 21,774 -6.0

 Furniture and related products................. 5,167 5,188 5,162 -0.4 0.5 -1.7 5,022 5,055 5,087 5,960 -15.7

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1 Aggregate estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. Due to the number of large semiconductor manufacturers choosing not to participate in this

voluntary monthly survey, the Census Bureau cannot currently produce monthly estimates of semiconductor shipments, orders, or inventories.

2 Due to the number of large semiconductor manufacturers choosing not to participate in this voluntary monthly survey, the Census Bureau cannot currently produce monthly

estimates of semiconductor shipments, orders, or inventories.

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Mar Feb Jan Feb - Jan - Dec - Mar Feb Jan Mar Mar

2003p 2003r 2003 Mar Feb Jan 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

 All manufacturing industries 1.................. 433,103 433,227 431,311 0.0 0.4 0.1 430,334 435,545 429,500 428,387 0.5

 Excluding transportation 1

................... 359,925 359,976 358,358 0.0 0.5 0.0 358,377 362,225 357,053 357,232 0.3

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 409,506 410,224 408,967 -0.2 0.3 0.2 407,184 412,410 407,328 406,543 0.2

 With unfilled orders 1

.......................... 214,672 214,973 215,316 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 212,743 216,246 214,219 217,987 -2.4

 Durable goods industries 1........................ 264,126 264,681 264,821 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2 262,107 266,602 263,555 266,769 -1.7

 Wood products................................. ...... 9,330 9,352 9,232 -0.2 1.3 0.4 9,457 9,608 9,337 9,655 -2.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,243 9,113 9,013 1.4 1.1 0.3 9,441 9,270 9,085 9,071 4.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 19,075 19,091 18,933 -0.1 0.8 1.0 18,850 19,092 19,096 18,186 3.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,225 11,167 11,052 0.5 1.0 0.8 10,972 11,137 11,182 10,041 9.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,045 6,126 6,088 -1.3 0.6 1.3 6,040 6,133 6,120 6,372 -5.2

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,805 1,798 1,793 0.4 0.3 1.4 1,838 1,822 1,794 1,773 3.7

 Fabricated metal products...................... 30,764 30,779 30,787 0.0 0.0 -0.2 31,044 31,008 30,728 31,506 -1.5

 Machinery.............................................. 44,122 44,101 44,304 0.0 -0.5 -1.0 44,279 44,800 44,141 46,340 -4.4

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,115 2,117 2,083 -0.1 1.6 1.1 2,209 2,258 2,185 2,046 8.0

 Construction machinery........................ 3,706 3,676 3,661 0.8 0.4 1.2 3,793 3,787 3,715 4,133 -8.2

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,158 2,205 2,227 -2.1 -1.0 1.7 2,152 2,196 2,195 2,318 -7.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,366 7,284 7,431 1.1 -2.0 -2.8 7,312 7,392 7,381 7,810 -6.4

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,977 1,968 1,945 0.5 1.2 -0.6 1,963 1,977 1,893 1,933 1.6

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,268 4,257 4,217 0.3 0.9 -0.6 4,326 4,318 4,128 4,168 3.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,261 5,294 5,271 -0.6 0.4 -0.1 5,208 5,315 5,149 5,342 -2.5

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,521 4,606 4,793 -1.8 -3.9 -2.1 4,436 4,607 4,647 5,279 -16.0

 Material handling equipment............... 2,484 2,458 2,444 1.1 0.6 -0.8 2,536 2,500 2,444 2,681 -5.4

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 40,675 41,300 41,759 -1.5 -1.1 -1.2 39,509 41,526 41,157 43,304 -8.8

 Computers......................................... 3,155 3,141 3,139 0.4 0.1 -2.7 3,006 3,204 2,995 2,982 0.8

 Computer storage devices................... 1,144 1,146 1,127 -0.2 1.7 -0.4 1,071 1,208 1,094 1,243 -13.8

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,647 2,576 2,616 2.8 -1.5 -3.4 2,527 2,557 2,587 2,569 -1.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment..................................... 7,274 7,503 7,775 -3.1 -3.5 -2.2 7,085 7,547 7,692 9,665 -26.7

 Defense communications equipment... 875 825 825 6.1 0.0 -2.5 875 825 825 709 23.4

 Audio and video equipment.................. 1,077 1,122 1,168 -4.0 -3.9 1.3 907 1,095 1,151 921 -1.5

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

 Electronic components.......................... 8,514 8,884 8,918 -4.2 -0.4 -0.1 8,384 8,923 8,822 9,167 -8.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 3,000 2,989 2,994 0.4 -0.2 -3.3 2,950 2,992 2,985 2,973 -0.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,279 3,314 3,362 -1.1 -1.4 2.3 3,196 3,280 3,264 3,290 -2.9

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 9,282 9,399 9,423 -1.2 -0.3 -1.2 9,107 9,499 9,332 9,382 -2.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 12,365 12,379 12,438 -0.1 -0.5 0.3 12,454 12,672 12,381 13,320 -6.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,489 1,481 1,484 0.5 -0.2 0.1 1,465 1,492 1,469 1,476 -0.7

 Household appliances.......................... 2,077 2,081 2,089 -0.2 -0.4 0.2 2,122 2,155 2,066 2,190 -3.1

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,251 4,240 4,243 0.3 -0.1 2.2 4,250 4,375 4,314 4,472 -5.0

 Batteries............................................ 622 623 623 -0.2 0.0 -0.8 604 606 573 712 -15.2

 Transportation equipment...................... 73,178 73,251 72,953 -0.1 0.4 0.3 71,957 73,320 72,447 71,155 1.1

 Automobiles....................................... 1,599 1,848 1,834 -13.5 0.8 6.9 1,595 1,844 1,772 1,661 -4.0

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,013 2,163 2,147 -6.9 0.7 3.4 1,906 2,079 2,011 1,791 6.4

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 846 840 824 0.7 1.9 -8.2 839 853 818 840 -0.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 16,339 16,319 16,220 0.1 0.6 1.1 16,179 16,242 16,266 15,313 5.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 29,305 29,555 30,104 -0.8 -1.8 0.6 28,784 29,553 29,851 30,128 -4.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,600 11,294 10,898 2.7 3.6 -2.3 11,350 11,517 10,817 10,452 8.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,999 2,930 2,845 2.4 3.0 -3.0 2,978 2,914 2,820 2,605 14.3

 Furniture and related products................. 7,098 7,004 7,058 1.3 -0.8 0.6 6,993 6,934 7,029 6,877 1.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 18,276 18,311 18,344 -0.2 -0.2 0.4 18,123 18,372 18,154 17,355 4.4

 Nondurable goods industries................... 168,977 168,546 166,490 0.3 1.2 0.5 168,227 168,943 165,945 161,618 4.1

 Food products........................................ 32,777 32,475 32,156 0.9 1.0 0.4 32,125 32,541 32,324 30,628 4.9

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,529 3,520 3,519 0.3 0.0 0.5 3,556 3,656 3,761 3,210 10.8

 Dairy products.................................... 3,543 3,504 3,474 1.1 0.9 -0.9 3,558 3,498 3,386 3,483 2.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,248 6,213 6,212 0.6 0.0 -0.4 6,300 6,266 6,117 6,045 4.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 14,123 14,160 14,148 -0.3 0.1 -0.3 14,187 14,427 14,469 14,482 -2.0

 Beverages......................................... 9,152 9,256 9,252 -1.1 0.0 -0.4 9,180 9,255 9,282 9,068 1.2

 Tobacco............................................ 4,971 4,904 4,896 1.4 0.2 0.1 5,007 5,172 5,187 5,414 -7.5

 Textile mills........................................... 5,001 4,971 4,937 0.6 0.7 0.6 5,012 5,013 4,932 5,253 -4.6

 Textile products...................................... 4,561 4,595 4,586 -0.7 0.2 1.3 4,559 4,607 4,562 4,341 5.0

 Apparel................................................. 7,679 7,623 7,592 0.7 0.4 1.4 7,534 7,527 7,553 7,491 0.6

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,609 1,603 1,612 0.4 -0.6 1.2 1,558 1,572 1,592 1,395 11.7

 Paper products....................................... 14,685 14,565 14,547 0.8 0.1 0.0 14,823 14,720 14,696 14,720 0.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,250 6,217 6,220 0.5 0.0 0.4 6,356 6,328 6,320 6,639 -4.3

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,178 4,175 4,221 0.1 -1.1 -0.2 4,176 4,212 4,270 4,023 3.8

 Printing.................................................. 5,922 5,954 5,945 -0.5 0.2 -0.5 5,792 5,760 5,679 5,648 2.5

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 14,067 14,231 14,008 -1.2 1.6 3.0 13,799 13,822 13,352 12,149 13.6

 Petroleum refineries............................. 12,589 12,757 12,560 -1.3 1.6 3.3 12,326 12,375 11,957 10,775 14.4

 Basic chemicals...................................... 50,339 50,379 49,248 -0.1 2.3 -0.2 50,300 50,656 48,996 48,671 3.3

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,240 2,256 2,297 -0.7 -1.8 -4.2 2,620 2,645 2,563 2,903 -9.7

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 18,363 18,607 17,517 -1.3 6.2 -0.3 18,037 18,396 17,012 17,032 5.9

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,979 2,980 2,969 0.0 0.4 0.9 3,068 3,005 2,954 2,969 3.3

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 18,214 17,990 17,711 1.2 1.6 1.2 18,538 18,298 17,790 16,840 10.1

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available. 1 See footnote at end of Table 3.

2 See footnote at end of Table 3.

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

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

 Topical Series 1

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted2

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Mar Feb Jan Feb - Jan - Dec - Mar Feb Jan Mar 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Mar Feb Jan 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 328,721 322,601 327,265 1.9 -1.4 1.9 344,299 309,768 299,447 332,852 953,514 923,864 3.2

 Construction materials and supplies...... 35,908 35,349 36,194 1.6 -2.3 -0.4 35,690 32,809 32,155 34,921 100,654 97,819 2.9

 Information technology......................... 26,350 25,659 27,045 2.7 -5.1 4.9 30,692 23,424 22,312 30,744 76,428 76,351 0.1

 Computers and related products .......... 6,189 6,608 7,687 -6.3 -14.0 19.7 7,909 5,570 6,189 8,291 19,668 19,165 2.6

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 36,984 37,013 37,999 -0.1 -2.6 10.1 39,714 37,233 36,869 38,480 113,816 110,936 2.6

 Capital goods...................................... 63,003 62,328 63,084 1.1 -1.2 2.6 71,356 58,661 53,449 72,049 183,466 183,940 -0.3

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 55,782 55,035 55,825 1.4 -1.4 1.1 63,348 51,837 47,412 64,742 162,597 165,432 -1.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 53,054 52,193 54,100 1.6 -3.5 3.1 59,946 49,139 46,186 59,811 155,271 154,394 0.6

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,221 7,293 7,259 -1.0 0.5 15.6 8,008 6,824 6,037 7,307 20,869 18,508 12.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 129,908 126,162 128,070 3.0 -1.5 2.1 132,957 121,900 120,174 124,344 375,031 356,108 5.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 33,303 33,039 34,154 0.8 -3.3 2.9 36,393 32,796 31,673 34,505 100,862 98,511 2.4

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 96,605 93,123 93,916 3.7 -0.8 1.7 96,564 89,104 88,501 89,839 274,169 257,597 6.4

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 329,961 322,759 326,043 2.2 -1.0 1.7 346,914 312,724 305,286 334,883 964,924 931,285 3.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 35,731 35,119 35,810 1.7 -1.9 -0.5 35,687 32,834 32,208 34,982 100,729 98,688 2.1

 Information technology......................... 27,635 26,702 27,756 3.5 -3.8 5.4 32,446 25,038 24,391 30,049 81,875 76,800 6.6

 Computers and related products .......... 6,403 6,451 7,425 -0.7 -13.1 0.9 8,103 5,588 5,918 8,215 19,609 19,352 1.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 36,819 37,117 37,970 -0.8 -2.2 9.9 39,454 37,570 37,296 38,565 114,320 111,625 2.4

 Capital goods...................................... 66,358 63,431 63,674 4.6 -0.4 1.4 75,769 60,734 57,462 72,781 193,965 184,511 5.1

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 55,703 54,098 56,883 3.0 -4.9 1.9 63,385 51,762 50,653 60,670 165,800 159,983 3.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 55,352 53,006 54,312 4.4 -2.4 5.2 62,360 50,814 48,581 57,029 161,755 153,301 5.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 10,655 9,333 6,791 14.2 37.4 -2.5 12,384 8,972 6,809 12,111 28,165 24,528 14.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 129,526 126,655 128,065 2.3 -1.1 2.2 132,440 122,427 120,400 124,068 375,267 355,892 5.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 32,921 33,532 34,149 -1.8 -1.8 3.3 35,876 33,323 31,899 34,229 101,098 98,295 2.9

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 96,605 93,123 93,916 3.7 -0.8 1.7 96,564 89,104 88,501 89,839 274,169 257,597 6.4

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 477,594 476,354 476,196 0.3 0.0 -0.3 483,815 481,200 478,244 509,379 (X) (X) -5.0

 Construction materials and supplies...... 31,244 31,421 31,651 -0.6 -0.7 -1.2 31,099 31,102 31,077 32,612 (X) (X) -4.6

 Information technology......................... 101,263 99,978 98,935 1.3 1.1 0.7 103,218 101,464 99,850 102,174 (X) (X) 1.0

 Computers and related products .......... 7,603 7,389 7,546 2.9 -2.1 -3.4 7,644 7,450 7,432 6,991 (X) (X) 9.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 12,228 12,393 12,289 -1.3 0.8 -0.2 12,747 13,007 12,670 12,882 (X) (X) -1.0

 Capital goods...................................... 337,609 334,254 333,151 1.0 0.3 0.2 342,156 337,743 335,670 356,009 (X) (X) -3.9

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................209,142 209,221 210,158 0.0 -0.4 0.5 210,615 210,578 210,653 225,339 (X) (X) -6.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 127,208 124,910 124,097 1.8 0.7 0.2 128,681 126,267 124,592 135,814 (X) (X) -5.3

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 128,467 125,033 122,993 2.7 1.7 -0.4 131,541 127,165 125,017 130,670 (X) (X) 0.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 11,933 12,315 11,822 -3.1 4.2 0.0 11,988 12,505 11,978 12,941 (X) (X) -7.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 11,933 12,315 11,822 -3.1 4.2 0.0 11,988 12,505 11,978 12,941 (X) (X) -7.4 

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 433,103 433,227 431,311 0.0 0.4 0.1 430,334 435,545 429,500 428,387 (X) (X) 0.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 46,312 46,134 45,852 0.4 0.6 0.2 46,924 46,768 45,924 46,156 (X) (X) 1.7

 Information technology......................... 38,064 38,338 38,785 -0.7 -1.2 -1.4 37,101 38,624 38,187 40,540 (X) (X) -8.5

 Computers and related products .......... 6,946 6,863 6,882 1.2 -0.3 -2.6 6,604 6,969 6,676 6,794 (X) (X) -2.8

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 20,797 21,170 21,025 -1.8 0.7 1.4 20,519 21,018 20,867 19,605 (X) (X) 4.7

 Capital goods...................................... 129,891 129,860 130,824 0.0 -0.7 -0.8 128,244 130,813 129,805 135,526 (X) (X) -5.4

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................110,823 110,955 112,136 -0.1 -1.1 -0.6 109,480 111,923 111,217 116,884 (X) (X) -6.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 88,297 88,468 89,107 -0.2 -0.7 -1.0 87,441 89,428 88,362 93,069 (X) (X) -6.0

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 19,068 18,905 18,688 0.9 1.2 -1.8 18,764 18,890 18,588 18,642 (X) (X) 0.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 129,322 129,809 128,176 -0.4 1.3 0.7 127,747 129,700 127,308 123,094 (X) (X) 3.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,389 26,859 26,949 -1.7 -0.3 0.9 26,079 27,028 26,696 25,644 (X) (X) 1.7

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 102,933 102,950 101,227 0.0 1.7 0.7 101,668 102,672 100,612 97,450 (X) (X) 4.3

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable.

1

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories. 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

and supplies.

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Aggregate estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. Due to the number of large semiconductor manufacturers choosing not to participate in 

this voluntary monthly survey, the Census Bureau cannot currently produce monthly estimates of semiconductor shipments, orders, or inventories.

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

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

NEW ORDERS

UNFILLED ORDERS

TOTAL INVENTORIES
 8

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

 

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Mar Feb Jan Feb - Jan - Dec - Mar Feb Jan Mar Mar

2003p 2003r 2003 Mar Feb Jan 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries 1................. 138,736 139,439 139,085 -0.5 0.3 0.5 137,636 139,765 139,635 142,123 -3.2

 Durable goods industries 1

..................... 82,436 82,770 82,866 -0.4 -0.1 -0.5 81,269 83,119 83,277 86,613 -6.2

 Wood products................................... 3,487 3,452 3,436 1.0 0.5 1.2 3,366 3,535 3,650 3,614 -6.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,277 3,227 3,222 1.5 0.2 -0.4 3,238 3,198 3,240 3,287 -1.5

 Primary metals.................................... 6,344 6,376 6,251 -0.5 2.0 0.7 6,081 6,266 6,341 5,756 5.6

 Fabricated metal products..................... 10,649 10,686 10,670 -0.3 0.1 -0.3 10,599 10,695 10,692 10,815 -2.0

 Machinery.......................................... 14,152 14,183 14,386 -0.2 -1.4 -1.6 14,082 14,275 14,473 15,923 -11.6

 Computers and electronic products 1

... 14,449 14,908 14,909 -3.1 0.0 -1.2 14,198 15,008 14,755 16,469 -13.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,379 4,409 4,460 -0.7 -1.1 1.3 4,354 4,492 4,462 4,713 -7.6

 Transportation equipment.................. 16,671 16,486 16,348 1.1 0.8 -0.3 16,362 16,628 16,518 16,876 -3.0

 Furniture and related products............ 2,923 2,881 2,972 1.5 -3.1 -0.6 2,926 2,878 2,971 3,053 -4.2

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,105 6,162 6,212 -0.9 -0.8 -0.5 6,063 6,144 6,175 6,107 -0.7

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 56,300 56,669 56,219 -0.7 0.8 2.0 56,367 56,646 56,358 55,510 1.5

 Food products.................................... 10,220 10,104 10,009 1.1 0.9 0.1 10,223 10,081 10,169 9,986 2.4

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,626 5,670 5,727 -0.8 -1.0 -2.5 5,702 5,798 5,990 6,008 -5.1

 Textiles.............................................. 1,368 1,395 1,383 -1.9 0.9 -1.4 1,363 1,405 1,383 1,468 -7.2

 Textile products.................................. 1,516 1,531 1,537 -1.0 -0.4 2.2 1,502 1,522 1,515 1,462 2.7

 Apparel............................................. 1,617 1,646 1,701 -1.8 -3.2 1.2 1,629 1,630 1,679 1,794 -9.2

 Leather and allied products................... 347 350 345 -0.9 1.4 -3.1 338 342 337 332 1.8

 Paper products................................... 7,071 7,096 7,102 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 7,142 7,186 7,177 7,055 1.2

 Printing ............................................. 2,310 2,384 2,405 -3.1 -0.9 0.7 2,314 2,345 2,378 2,335 -0.9

 Petroleum and coal products............... 3,328 3,648 3,674 -8.8 -0.7 21.9 3,321 3,540 3,456 3,204 3.7

 Basic chemicals................................... 15,816 15,813 15,435 0.0 2.4 3.0 15,767 15,750 15,417 15,200 3.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 7,081 7,032 6,901 0.7 1.9 1.5 7,066 7,047 6,857 6,666 6.0

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries 1................. 129,803 129,669 129,210 0.1 0.4 0.3 128,607 129,828 127,964 127,236 1.1

 Durable goods industries 1

..................... 99,959 100,227 100,171 -0.3 0.1 0.1 99,135 100,479 99,067 99,883 -0.7

 Wood products................................... 2,008 2,007 2,025 0.0 -0.9 -2.5 2,010 2,028 2,006 1,972 1.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,185 1,171 1,153 1.2 1.6 -0.7 1,241 1,202 1,147 1,171 6.0

 Primary metals.................................... 6,397 6,454 6,418 -0.9 0.6 2.8 6,359 6,434 6,411 6,183 2.8

 Fabricated metal products..................... 9,606 9,677 9,745 -0.7 -0.7 -1.0 9,560 9,671 9,600 9,912 -3.6

 Machinery.......................................... 13,933 13,858 13,928 0.5 -0.5 -1.2 13,748 13,792 13,451 14,248 -3.5

 Computers and electronic products 1... 16,685 17,044 17,499 -2.1 -2.6 -0.9 16,295 17,129 17,176 17,544 -7.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 2,769 2,800 2,828 -1.1 -1.0 0.2 2,778 2,831 2,798 3,036 -8.5

 Transportation equipment.................. 42,582 42,419 41,926 0.4 1.2 0.6 42,379 42,621 41,918 41,357 2.5

 Furniture and related products............ 1,482 1,424 1,404 4.1 1.4 3.5 1,484 1,423 1,403 1,478 0.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,312 3,373 3,245 -1.8 3.9 5.2 3,281 3,348 3,157 2,982 10.0

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 29,844 29,442 29,039 1.4 1.4 0.7 29,472 29,349 28,897 27,353 7.7

 Food products.................................... 2,893 2,870 2,835 0.8 1.2 1.3 2,858 2,947 2,968 2,530 13.0

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 3,974 3,962 3,957 0.3 0.1 -0.6 3,989 4,077 4,130 3,936 1.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,171 1,162 1,161 0.8 0.1 1.0 1,193 1,178 1,178 1,271 -6.1

 Textile products.................................. 787 768 768 2.5 0.0 2.1 786 764 759 810 -3.0

 Apparel............................................. 1,321 1,327 1,346 -0.5 -1.4 -2.0 1,285 1,308 1,353 1,391 -7.6

 Leather and allied products................... 131 129 127 1.6 1.6 -8.0 130 125 125 166 -21.7

 Paper products................................... 1,181 1,158 1,138 2.0 1.8 -2.0 1,159 1,142 1,166 1,245 -6.9

 Printing ............................................. 1,827 1,807 1,756 1.1 2.9 -0.1 1,749 1,711 1,645 1,740 0.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... 4,303 4,181 4,140 2.9 1.0 0.9 4,294 4,069 3,962 3,430 25.2

 Basic chemicals................................... 9,829 9,714 9,489 1.2 2.4 1.9 9,558 9,619 9,258 8,591 11.3

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,427 2,364 2,322 2.7 1.8 0.8 2,471 2,409 2,353 2,243 10.2

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries 1................. 164,564 164,119 163,016 0.3 0.7 -0.4 164,091 165,952 161,901 159,028 3.2

 Durable goods industries 1

..................... 81,731 81,684 81,784 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 81,703 83,004 81,211 80,273 1.8

 Wood products................................... 3,835 3,893 3,771 -1.5 3.2 1.3 4,081 4,045 3,681 4,069 0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,781 4,715 4,638 1.4 1.7 1.0 4,962 4,870 4,698 4,613 7.6

 Primary metals.................................... 6,334 6,261 6,264 1.2 0.0 -0.4 6,410 6,392 6,344 6,247 2.6

 Fabricated metal products..................... 10,509 10,416 10,372 0.9 0.4 0.7 10,885 10,642 10,436 10,779 1.0

 Machinery.......................................... 16,037 16,060 15,990 -0.1 0.4 -0.1 16,449 16,733 16,217 16,169 1.7

 Computers and electronic products 1

... 9,541 9,348 9,351 2.1 0.0 -1.9 9,016 9,389 9,226 9,291 -3.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,217 5,170 5,150 0.9 0.4 -0.5 5,322 5,349 5,121 5,571 -4.5

 Transportation equipment.................. 13,925 14,346 14,679 -2.9 -2.3 0.0 13,216 14,071 14,011 12,922 2.3

 Furniture and related products............ 2,693 2,699 2,682 -0.2 0.6 0.3 2,583 2,633 2,655 2,346 10.1

 Miscellaneous products........................ 8,859 8,776 8,887 0.9 -1.2 -0.7 8,779 8,880 8,822 8,266 6.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 82,833 82,435 81,232 0.5 1.5 -0.7 82,388 82,948 80,690 78,755 4.6

 Food products.................................... 19,664 19,501 19,312 0.8 1.0 0.4 19,044 19,513 19,187 18,112 5.1

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,523 4,528 4,464 -0.1 1.4 3.1 4,496 4,552 4,349 4,538 -0.9

 Textiles.............................................. 2,462 2,414 2,393 2.0 0.9 1.5 2,456 2,430 2,371 2,514 -2.3

 Textile products.................................. 2,258 2,296 2,281 -1.7 0.7 0.4 2,271 2,321 2,288 2,069 9.8

 Apparel............................................. 4,741 4,650 4,545 2.0 2.3 2.5 4,620 4,589 4,521 4,306 7.3

 Leather and allied products................... 1,131 1,124 1,140 0.6 -1.4 3.7 1,090 1,105 1,130 897 21.5

 Paper products................................... 6,433 6,311 6,307 1.9 0.1 0.6 6,522 6,392 6,353 6,420 1.6

 Printing ............................................. 1,785 1,763 1,784 1.2 -1.2 -2.3 1,729 1,704 1,656 1,573 9.9

 Petroleum and coal products............... 6,436 6,402 6,194 0.5 3.4 -4.4 6,184 6,213 5,934 5,515 12.1

 Basic chemicals................................... 24,694 24,852 24,324 -0.6 2.2 -3.0 24,975 25,287 24,321 24,880 0.4

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,706 8,594 8,488 1.3 1.2 1.1 9,001 8,842 8,580 7,931 13.5

p

 Preliminary r Revised 1 See footnote at end of Table 3.

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
 9

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio 1

Industry Mar Feb Jan Dec Mar Feb Jan Dec

2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2003r 2003 2002

 All manufacturing industries 2

...... 1.32 1.34 1.32 1.34 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries 2................... 1.53 1.55 1.52 1.56 3.99 4.01 3.94 4.05

 Wood products................................ 1.26 1.31 1.27 1.24 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.11 1.11 1.04 1.05 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.73 1.74 1.67 1.68 1.27 1.33 1.30 1.34

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.48 1.49 1.48 1.47 1.87 1.89 1.89 1.89

 Machinery....................................... 1.97 2.01 1.98 2.01 2.21 2.24 2.19 2.22

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.56 1.62 1.56 1.65 4.92 5.03 4.74 4.92

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.43 1.44 1.39 1.38 1.75 1.75 1.68 1.70

 Transportation equipment................. 1.42 1.41 1.41 1.51 7.65 7.51 7.79 8.31

 Furniture and related products........... 1.33 1.30 1.26 1.23 1.10 1.10 1.05 1.04

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.70 1.76 1.76 1.71 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.08 1.11 1.09 1.10 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.87 0.87 0.85 0.84 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.56 1.67 1.63 1.65 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.48 1.46 1.40 1.47 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.49 1.52 1.50 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.64 1.66 1.58 1.56 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 2.16 2.10 2.24 2.52 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.09 1.13 1.11 1.11 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.74 0.76 0.75 0.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.60 0.65 0.66 0.67 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Basic chemicals............................... 1.34 1.38 1.33 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.20 1.21 1.17 1.15 (X) (X) (X) (X)

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable 1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 See footnote at end of Table 2.

Mar Mar Mar Mar

Industry Mar2 2002- Mar2 2002- Mar2 2002- Mar2 2002-

Mar1 1998- Feb Mar1 1998- Feb Mar1 1998- Feb Mar1 1998- Feb

2003 2002 2003 2003 2002 2003 2003 2002 2003 2003 2002 2003

 All manufacturing industries 3

......... (X) (NA) 0.1 (X) (NA) 0.2 (X) (NA) 0.2 (X) (NA) 0.1

Durable goods industries 3...................... -0.1 (NA) 0.2 -0.5 (NA) 0.5 0.0 (NA) 0.2 -0.2 (NA) 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) (NA) 0.7 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) (NA) 1.2 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.4

 Primary metals.................................... 0.2 (NA) 0.4 0.1 (NA) 0.7 -0.1 (NA) 0.4 0.1 (NA) 0.1

 Fabricated metal products................... -0.1 (NA) 0.2 0.0 (NA) 0.8 0.1 (NA) 0.4 -0.2 (NA) 0.3

 Machinery.......................................... 0.7 (NA) 0.4 1.4 (NA) 1.0 0.4 (NA) 0.4 -0.1 (NA) 0.2

 Computers and electronic products 3

... -0.4 (NA) 0.6 -2.1 (NA) 1.1 -0.5 (NA) 0.2 -1.0 (NA) 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.2 (NA) 0.3 0.4 (NA) 0.8 0.1 (NA) 0.5 -0.1 (NA) 0.1

 Transportation equipment................... 0.1 (NA) 0.6 0.5 (NA) 1.4 0.1 (NA) 0.2 -0.2 (NA) 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) (NA) 0.4 (X) (NA) 1.2 (X) (NA) 1.0 (X) (NA) 0.1

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) (NA) 0.6 (X) (NA) 1.1 (X) (NA) 1.9 (X) (NA) 0.3

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) (NA) 1.1 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.2

 Textiles............................................. (X) (NA) 1.2 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.4

 Textile products.................................. (X) (NA) 1.0 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) (NA) 1.0 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.6

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) (NA) 5.1 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 1.1

 Paper products.................................... (X) (NA) 1.1 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.4

 Printing.............................................. (X) (NA) 0.3 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.4

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) (NA) 0.8 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.7

 Basic chemicals.................................. (X) (NA) 0.8 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.2

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

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

 Average revisions of the current month for the past five years. 3

 See footnote at end of Table 7

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision. In Table 8, the second column for each item represents the average revisions

of the current month for the past five years.

NOTE: The five year and the twelve month revisions are the differences between the month-to-month percent changes of the preliminary and

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

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

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
10

Survey Description 

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

Census Bureau’s Manufacturers’ Shipments,

Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey. This survey

provides statistics on manufacturers' value of

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

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

inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and

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

M3 includes approximately 3,500 reporting units. 

Units may be divisions of diversified large

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

the small monthly sample, these 89 categories have

been combined into 59 publication levels. The

survey methodology assumes that the month-to-month

changes of the total operations of those companies in

the monthly survey effectively represent the monthto-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 3,500 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 3,500 companies would yield different

results. The M3 panel is comprised of companies

with $500 million or more in shipments and a limited

number of smaller companies. From a statistical

perspective, the panel is not a probability sample;

therefore, the sampling errors that are normally

provided with sample surveys cannot be measured. 

Nonsampling errors are attributable to many sources. 

The use of company or divisional reports to estimate

the monthly change for establishments is one source

of nonsampling error. The use of primarily large

companies to represent the month-to-month

movement of all companies is another potential

source.

Additional survey documentation can be found on our

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