Manufacturers' Shipments,

 Inventories, and Orders: September 2003 Issued November 2003

 M3-1(03)-09

 For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. E.S.T., November 5, 2003 Current 

 Industrial

 Reports

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

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

The advance report on durable goods for October is scheduled for November 26, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on December 5, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. 

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

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

Total Manufacturing Shipments

and Three Month Moving Average

300

320

340

360

380

Sep-01

Nov-01

Jan-02

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

300

320

340

360

380

 Shipments Average

Billions Of Dollars

Total Manufacturing Inventories

and Three Month Moving Average

420

440

460

480

500

Sep-01

Nov-01

Jan-02

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

420

440

460

480

500

 Inventories Average

Billions Of Dollars
2

Figures in text, other than year-to-date, are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data

for semiconductor manufacturing.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in September

increased $1.7 billion or 0.5 percent to $331.1 billion, the

Department of Commerce, Census Bureau reported today. 

This is the fourth increase in the last five months and follows

a 0.3 percent August decrease. Year to date, new orders for

2003 were 2.5 percent above the same period a year ago.

Shipments increased $4.5 billion or 1.4 percent to $336.2

billion. This is the fourth increase in the last five months and

follows a 1.7 percent August decrease. Year to date,

shipments for 2003 were 1.8 percent above the same period a

year ago. 

Unfilled orders, up seven of the past eight months,

increased $0.7 billion or 0.1 percent to $490.8 billion. This

followed a 0.8 percent August increase. The unfilled ordersto-shipments ratio was 4.00, down from 4.09 in August.

Inventories, down five consecutive months, decreased $1.9

billion or 0.4 percent to $437.8 billion, following a 0.3

percent August decrease. This was the lowest level since July

1997. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.30, down

from 1.33 in August.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September,

up four of the last five months, increased $1.9 billion or 1.1

percent to $176.8 billion, revised from the previously

published $176.3 billion.

Computers and electronic products, up five consecutive

months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion or 3.6 percent to

$31.8 billion.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased

$0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $154.2 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September,

up four of the last five months, increased $4.8 billion or 2.7

percent to $182.0 billion, revised from the previously

published $181.6 billion.

Transportation equipment had the largest increase, $3.1

billion or 6.2 percent to $53.0 billion, led by light trucks and

utility vehicles, which increased $1.0 billion. This was the

largest percent increase in transportation equipment since

April 2002.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods decreased

$0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $154.2 billion. Petroleum and

coal products had the largest decrease, $0.8 billion or 3.9

percent to $20.0 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods in

September, up seven of the past eight months, increased

$0.7 billion or 0.1 percent to $490.8 billion, revised from

the previously published $490.7 billion.

Computers and electronic products, up five consecutive

months, had the largest increase, $1.9 billion or 1.5 percent

to $127.2 billion. This was the largest percent increase in

computers and electronic products since June 2000. 

Transportation equipment decreased $1.6 billion or 0.7

percent to $246.3 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in

September, at the lowest level since April 1995,

decreased $1.8 billion or 0.7 percent to $261.2 billion,

revised from the previously published $261.3 billion. 

This was the thirty-first decrease over the past thirty-two

months.

Primary metals, down seven consecutive months and

at the lowest level since February 1992, had the largest

decrease, $0.4 billion or 2.3 percent to $17.4 billion, led

by iron and steel mills, which decreased $0.4 billion. 

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods

decreased slightly to $176.6 billion. Basic chemicals had

the largest decrease, $0.2 billion or 0.4 percent to $52.7

billion.

By stage of fabrication, September materials and

supplies decreased 0.7 percent in durable goods and

increased 1.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in

process decreased 1.1 percent in both durable goods and

nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.2 percent

in durable goods and 0.4 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 October is scheduled for November 26, 2003 at 8:30 A.M. EST and the full report on December 5,

2003 at 10:00 A.M. EST. 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

Industry Percent

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Sept. Aug. July 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

 All manufacturing industries .................. 336,164 331,676 337,248 1.4 -1.7 2.6 357,094 335,985 310,025 343,319 2,962,908 2,911,583 1.8

 Excluding transportation ................... 283,203 281,829 284,054 0.5 -0.8 2.3 300,056 285,603 271,286 288,040 2,504,557 2,441,872 2.6

 Excluding defense .............................. 326,752 322,515 327,706 1.3 -1.6 2.5 346,862 327,088 301,600 334,337 2,883,783 2,842,294 1.5

 With unfilled orders ........................... 122,574 119,669 123,463 2.4 -3.1 3.2 132,467 119,157 109,110 131,599 1,077,675 1,101,173 -2.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 181,950 177,187 181,761 2.7 -2.5 2.8 197,390 177,143 158,160 190,546 1,589,651 1,599,619 -0.6

 Wood products................................. ...... 8,273 7,925 7,623 4.4 4.0 2.0 8,874 8,457 7,993 7,423 68,494 66,453 3.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 7,399 7,312 7,350 1.2 -0.5 1.5 7,956 7,927 7,666 7,649 65,974 67,333 -2.0

 Primary metals............................ .......... 10,720 10,577 10,826 1.4 -2.3 3.2 11,035 10,758 10,157 11,640 99,017 103,327 -4.2

 Iron and steel mills............................ 4,775 4,731 4,880 0.9 -3.1 4.7 4,896 4,771 4,584 5,457 45,119 46,836 -3.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,681 4,624 4,675 1.2 -1.1 2.2 4,811 4,724 4,431 4,843 42,295 44,238 -4.4

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,264 1,222 1,271 3.4 -3.9 1.5 1,328 1,263 1,142 1,340 11,603 12,253 -5.3

 Fabricated metal products...................... 20,336 19,977 20,883 1.8 -4.3 3.5 21,292 20,848 19,867 21,987 184,047 190,136 -3.2

 Machinery............................................. 21,299 21,057 21,264 1.1 -1.0 2.0 22,069 20,304 19,807 22,454 189,647 193,989 -2.2

 Farm machinery................................. 1,401 1,390 1,339 0.8 3.8 -0.1 1,425 1,285 1,258 1,408 13,120 12,553 4.5

 Construction machinery..................... 1,776 1,764 1,812 0.7 -2.6 3.8 1,706 1,678 1,739 1,556 15,733 15,468 1.7

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 785 705 728 11.3 -3.2 6.9 827 685 702 661 6,378 5,773 10.5

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,955 3,023 2,907 -2.2 4.0 -4.0 3,070 2,678 2,790 2,829 26,074 23,786 9.6

 Photographic equipment...................... 783 840 859 -6.8 -2.2 6.0 866 831 802 924 7,079 7,058 0.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,547 2,537 2,619 0.4 -3.1 4.2 2,682 2,718 2,542 2,630 22,915 23,638 -3.1

 Metalworking machinery..................... 1,579 1,756 1,739 -10.1 1.0 6.1 1,826 1,710 1,464 2,419 15,150 17,941 -15.6

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 2,553 2,576 2,709 -0.9 -4.9 5.2 2,795 2,538 2,270 3,669 23,811 29,471 -19.2

 Material handling equipment............... 1,348 1,317 1,317 2.4 0.0 0.8 1,384 1,247 1,317 1,317 11,964 12,151 -1.5

 Computers and electronic products ......... 35,660 35,343 35,125 0.9 0.6 0.7 41,763 33,241 30,233 38,158 301,547 288,910 4.4

 Computers........................................ 5,142 5,212 5,520 -1.3 -5.6 25.1 6,036 4,634 5,305 5,171 41,560 36,478 13.9

 Computer storage devices................... 1,476 1,282 1,484 15.1 -13.6 -13.7 2,323 1,008 866 1,743 11,730 10,822 8.4

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,487 1,482 1,579 0.3 -6.1 5.3 1,912 1,320 1,195 1,728 12,930 12,403 4.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 5,997 6,072 6,123 -1.2 -0.8 -1.8 7,306 5,538 4,992 7,256 51,070 56,071 -8.9

 Defense communications equipment... 437 458 441 -4.6 3.9 4.3 479 460 404 374 3,817 3,318 15.0

 Audio and video equipment.................. 672 669 706 0.4 -5.2 4.1 757 653 635 753 5,686 6,154 -7.6

 Semiconductors ................................. 5,830 6,352 5,296 -8.2 19.9 -12.8 6,653 6,181 4,411 6,026 51,666 42,229 22.3

 Electronic components........................ 4,127 4,081 4,077 1.1 0.1 -1.3 4,440 4,127 3,753 4,847 36,344 41,205 -11.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 861 819 865 5.1 -5.3 1.8 996 831 803 992 7,567 7,606 -0.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,421 2,492 2,823 -2.8 -11.7 20.3 2,545 2,392 2,517 2,278 21,370 18,869 13.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,704 5,938 5,733 12.9 3.6 -3.8 7,746 5,612 4,916 6,356 53,469 48,597 10.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,477 8,300 8,546 2.1 -2.9 3.1 9,567 8,188 7,767 9,467 75,269 77,717 -3.1

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,058 986 1,044 7.3 -5.6 0.1 1,169 945 879 1,111 9,208 9,132 0.8

 Household appliances........................ 2,043 2,032 2,000 0.5 1.6 3.1 2,228 2,048 1,847 2,017 17,503 16,941 3.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,454 2,411 2,510 1.8 -3.9 1.6 2,870 2,400 2,313 2,929 22,278 23,084 -3.5

 Batteries........................................... 492 479 548 2.7 -12.6 25.1 601 450 433 568 4,032 4,376 -7.9

 Transportation equipment...................... 52,961 49,847 53,194 6.2 -6.3 4.3 57,038 50,382 38,739 55,279 458,351 469,711 -2.4

 Automobiles..................................... 7,427 6,848 7,701 8.5 -11.1 9.7 7,998 6,987 4,931 7,380 64,282 66,235 -2.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 11,240 10,219 11,063 10.0 -7.6 8.0 12,257 10,438 6,840 11,151 94,656 95,726 -1.1

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,127 1,010 1,056 11.6 -4.4 -7.4 1,145 1,057 1,010 1,220 9,673 10,145 -4.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,194 17,576 18,329 3.5 -4.1 3.6 18,972 17,989 13,477 19,149 161,146 168,862 -4.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 5,640 5,332 5,902 5.8 -9.7 -2.2 6,219 5,048 4,723 6,961 49,540 57,371 -13.6

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,519 3,413 3,448 3.1 -1.0 4.0 3,858 3,358 2,918 3,593 29,071 25,666 13.3

 Ships and boats................................. 2,315 2,156 2,185 7.4 -1.3 0.1 2,455 2,294 1,813 1,912 19,054 15,730 21.1

 Furniture and related products................. 5,824 5,899 6,020 -1.3 -2.0 4.4 6,075 6,367 5,661 5,988 51,935 52,695 -1.4

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 11,001 10,950 10,930 0.5 0.2 2.8 11,721 10,671 10,270 10,501 95,370 89,348 6.7

 Nondurable goods industries................... 154,214 154,489 155,487 -0.2 -0.6 2.4 159,704 158,842 151,865 152,773 1,373,257 1,311,964 4.7

 Food products....................................... 39,183 38,946 38,776 0.6 0.4 0.2 40,552 39,689 36,762 38,286 340,214 333,166 2.1

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 4,233 4,180 4,098 1.3 2.0 2.3 4,227 4,235 4,010 3,812 36,482 35,172 3.7

 Dairy products.................................. 5,703 5,652 5,583 0.9 1.2 4.0 5,917 5,684 5,429 5,032 48,291 45,616 5.9

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 11,454 11,302 11,284 1.3 0.2 -2.0 11,380 11,803 10,986 10,476 99,923 98,789 1.1

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 8,621 8,770 8,896 -1.7 -1.4 -0.8 8,735 9,123 9,154 9,103 79,593 84,000 -5.2

 Beverages......................................... 5,676 5,618 5,662 1.0 -0.8 -1.9 5,790 5,971 5,920 5,720 51,709 50,922 1.5

 Tobacco............................................ 2,945 3,152 3,234 -6.6 -2.5 1.2 2,945 3,152 3,234 3,383 27,884 33,078 -15.7

 Textile mills........................................... 3,210 3,202 3,221 0.2 -0.6 0.4 3,528 3,401 2,940 3,857 29,917 32,850 -8.9

 Textile products................................... 2,934 2,913 2,910 0.7 0.1 2.6 3,068 3,156 2,952 2,987 26,142 25,893 1.0

 Apparel................................................ 4,334 4,264 4,286 1.6 -0.5 -1.4 4,714 4,772 4,477 4,830 39,080 40,331 -3.1

 Leather and allied products..................... 882 923 944 -4.4 -2.2 3.1 882 1,009 886 986 8,084 7,470 8.2

 Paper products...................................... 13,097 13,113 13,421 -0.1 -2.3 -0.3 13,542 13,390 13,264 13,257 119,378 112,741 5.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 5,536 5,571 5,817 -0.6 -4.2 0.8 5,677 5,755 5,794 6,129 51,868 52,273 -0.8

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,555 3,582 3,624 -0.8 -1.2 -2.6 3,651 3,707 3,595 3,798 33,004 33,431 -1.3

 Printing................................................. 7,965 7,822 7,754 1.8 0.9 -2.5 8,398 8,041 7,242 8,607 70,481 71,822 -1.9

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 19,965 20,767 19,922 -3.9 4.2 3.7 20,520 22,357 20,650 18,589 179,469 152,177 17.9

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 18,290 19,100 18,214 -4.2 4.9 3.3 18,550 20,372 18,640 16,686 164,086 137,294 19.5

 Basic chemicals...................................... 38,614 38,508 39,868 0.3 -3.4 8.0 40,036 38,241 38,284 37,149 341,731 317,038 7.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,614 1,650 1,568 -2.2 5.2 1.2 1,205 1,258 1,343 1,068 14,645 15,570 -5.9

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,524 9,746 11,653 -2.3 -16.4 25.4 10,378 9,496 10,477 11,003 87,669 86,784 1.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,593 2,385 2,362 8.7 1.0 1.6 2,543 2,491 2,544 2,342 21,839 21,579 1.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 15,409 15,261 15,489 1.0 -1.5 1.0 15,729 15,663 15,254 15,122 139,168 134,476 3.5

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Year to date
 4

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Sept. Aug. July 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

All manufacturing industries 2................... 331,057 329,401 330,551 0.5 -0.3 2.0 348,630 329,567 302,764 327,290 2,915,110 2,845,005 2.5

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 279,735 278,153 278,351 0.6 -0.1 2.4 293,835 279,617 266,663 277,459 2,458,009 2,380,354 3.3

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 322,274 317,667 321,517 1.5 -1.2 2.2 339,941 320,021 297,103 318,461 2,830,928 2,773,177 2.1

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 123,297 123,746 122,062 -0.4 1.4 0.7 130,656 118,920 106,260 121,596 1,081,543 1,076,824 0.4

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 176,843 174,912 175,064 1.1 -0.1 1.6 188,926 170,725 150,899 174,517 1,541,853 1,533,041 0.6

 Primary metals............................ ............ 10,646 11,000 10,885 -3.2 1.1 2.7 10,680 11,107 10,136 11,145 98,846 102,696 -3.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 4,700 5,168 5,019 -9.1 3.0 7.4 4,663 5,226 4,583 5,196 45,161 47,747 -5.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,629 4,619 4,573 0.2 1.0 -2.0 4,670 4,620 4,417 4,648 42,052 42,969 -2.1

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,317 1,213 1,293 8.6 -6.2 2.7 1,347 1,261 1,136 1,301 11,633 11,980 -2.9

 Fabricated metal products...................... 20,549 20,531 20,695 0.1 -0.8 4.1 21,274 20,926 20,258 21,169 183,970 189,080 -2.7

 Machinery............................................. 21,320 21,102 21,191 1.0 -0.4 3.4 21,761 20,240 19,781 21,211 188,158 185,178 1.6

 Construction machinery....................... 1,833 1,795 2,042 2.1 -12.1 22.1 1,651 1,689 1,871 1,320 15,789 15,159 4.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 776 918 696 -15.5 31.9 1.3 818 898 670 676 6,442 5,714 12.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,182 2,884 2,681 10.3 7.6 -8.3 3,016 2,388 2,788 2,346 26,079 23,973 8.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 817 850 851 -3.9 -0.1 1.6 888 841 821 908 7,307 7,115 2.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,588 2,715 2,809 -4.7 -3.3 15.5 2,605 2,876 2,680 2,391 23,385 23,506 -0.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,635 1,740 1,699 -6.0 2.4 -4.8 1,874 1,643 1,479 2,395 15,173 17,780 -14.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 2,318 2,437 2,527 -4.9 -3.6 10.7 2,557 2,486 2,160 2,739 21,205 21,265 -0.3

 Material handling equipment............... 1,338 1,194 1,274 12.1 -6.3 4.9 1,522 1,054 1,166 1,623 11,673 11,912 -2.0

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 31,762 30,663 30,085 3.6 1.9 2.6 36,302 27,155 25,148 30,106 255,913 239,122 7.0

 Computers........................................ 5,356 5,533 5,108 -3.2 8.3 9.2 6,043 5,200 4,606 5,523 42,269 36,278 16.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,946 6,604 6,716 5.2 -1.7 13.4 8,248 4,685 5,366 4,959 56,100 51,895 8.1

 Defense communications equipment... 401 375 419 6.9 -10.5 -9.1 443 377 382 441 3,874 3,152 22.9

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

 Electronic components........................ 4,183 4,195 3,822 -0.3 9.8 -2.0 4,412 4,298 3,588 3,614 34,095 39,411 -13.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 845 864 928 -2.2 -6.9 7.7 915 800 857 878 7,711 7,117 8.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,532 3,261 2,888 -22.4 12.9 24.1 2,660 2,813 1,870 3,704 22,049 17,789 23.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,358 5,912 5,957 24.5 -0.8 -11.4 8,019 5,516 5,347 6,129 55,131 48,943 12.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,570 8,429 8,342 1.7 1.0 -0.6 9,375 8,273 7,870 9,310 75,286 77,301 -2.6

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,079 1,161 1,000 -7.1 16.1 -5.0 1,120 1,114 848 1,219 9,312 9,391 -0.8

 Household appliances.......................... 1,987 1,954 1,950 1.7 0.2 3.7 2,127 1,962 1,931 1,972 17,426 16,609 4.9

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,605 2,411 2,449 8.0 -1.6 -5.0 2,928 2,377 2,330 2,789 22,675 22,558 0.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 51,322 51,248 52,200 0.1 -1.8 -0.2 54,795 49,950 36,101 49,831 457,101 464,651 -1.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,607 17,554 18,483 6.0 -5.0 4.5 19,220 17,694 13,888 18,739 161,058 168,641 -4.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 4,721 4,912 5,555 -3.9 -11.6 -11.0 5,786 4,628 4,001 4,274 42,622 48,135 -11.5

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 3,593 3,537 3,196 1.6 10.7 -18.5 3,287 2,511 1,852 2,923 32,562 30,973 5.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,528 4,004 1,868 -61.8 114.3 -12.2 1,733 3,772 1,104 2,163 17,696 16,165 9.5

 Furniture and related products................. 5,875 5,798 5,751 1.3 0.8 -2.0 6,062 6,065 5,664 5,823 52,152 52,051 0.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 154,214 154,489 155,487 -0.2 -0.6 2.4 159,704 158,842 151,865 152,773 1,373,257 1,311,964 4.7

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

 New orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 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. Further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations are contained in our most recent annual benchmark publication,

Current Industrial Reports: M3-1(02), "Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 1992-2002."

Year to date
 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

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

2003p 2003r 2003 Sept. Aug. July 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

All manufacturing industries 1................... 490,759 490,036 485,959 0.1 0.8 -0.3 484,547 486,358 486,595 488,171 -0.7

 Excluding transportation 1................... 244,482 242,120 239,444 1.0 1.1 -0.2 241,381 240,949 240,754 241,784 -0.2

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 338,034 336,682 335,178 0.4 0.4 -0.3 334,945 335,213 336,099 343,960 -2.6

 Durable goods industries 1

........................ 490,759 490,036 485,959 0.1 0.8 -0.3 484,547 486,358 486,595 488,171 -0.7

 Primary metals........................................ 14,485 14,559 14,136 -0.5 3.0 0.4 14,288 14,643 14,294 15,669 -8.8

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 7,885 7,960 7,523 -0.9 5.8 1.9 7,842 8,075 7,620 8,826 -11.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,326 4,378 4,383 -1.2 -0.1 -2.3 4,238 4,379 4,483 4,686 -9.6

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,274 2,221 2,230 2.4 -0.4 1.0 2,208 2,189 2,191 2,157 2.4

 Fabricated metal products...................... 36,696 36,483 35,929 0.6 1.5 -0.5 36,823 36,841 36,763 38,668 -4.8

 Machinery.............................................. 41,426 41,405 41,360 0.1 0.1 -0.2 40,931 41,239 41,303 44,701 -8.4

 Construction machinery....................... 2,286 2,229 2,198 2.6 1.4 11.7 2,065 2,120 2,109 1,819 13.5

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 962 971 758 -0.9 28.1 -4.1 962 971 758 997 -3.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,752 7,525 7,664 3.0 -1.8 -2.9 7,477 7,531 7,821 7,605 -1.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 774 740 730 4.6 1.4 -1.1 782 760 750 520 50.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,550 4,509 4,331 0.9 4.1 4.6 4,466 4,543 4,385 4,131 8.1

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,689 3,633 3,649 1.5 -0.4 -1.1 3,666 3,618 3,685 3,652 0.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 8,067 8,302 8,441 -2.8 -1.6 -2.1 8,124 8,362 8,414 12,495 -35.0

 Material handling equipment............... 4,623 4,633 4,756 -0.2 -2.6 -0.9 4,598 4,460 4,653 4,966 -7.4

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 127,220 125,288 123,616 1.5 1.4 0.2 124,849 123,657 123,562 118,924 5.0

 Computers......................................... 8,937 8,723 8,402 2.5 3.8 -4.7 8,833 8,826 8,260 6,975 26.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 48,063 47,114 46,582 2.0 1.1 1.3 46,835 45,893 46,746 42,741 9.6

 Defense communications equipment... 2,999 3,035 3,118 -1.2 -2.7 -0.7 2,999 3,035 3,118 2,876 4.3

 Semiconductors 1................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 13,217 13,161 13,047 0.4 0.9 -1.9 13,235 13,263 13,092 16,113 -17.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 4,733 4,749 4,704 -0.3 1.0 1.4 4,633 4,714 4,745 4,385 5.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 34,923 34,812 34,043 0.3 2.3 0.2 34,313 34,198 33,777 33,815 1.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 14,348 13,694 13,720 4.8 -0.2 1.7 14,001 13,728 13,824 12,019 16.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 14,015 13,922 13,793 0.7 0.9 -1.5 13,809 14,001 13,916 14,036 -1.6

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,584 1,563 1,388 1.3 12.6 -3.1 1,559 1,608 1,439 1,587 -1.8

 Household appliances.......................... 910 966 1,044 -5.8 -7.5 -4.6 822 923 1,009 853 -3.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 8,534 8,383 8,383 1.8 0.0 -0.7 8,468 8,410 8,433 8,280 2.3

 Transportation equipment........................ 246,277 247,916 246,515 -0.7 0.6 -0.4 243,166 245,409 245,841 246,387 -1.3

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 12,459 12,046 12,068 3.4 -0.2 1.3 12,045 11,797 12,092 11,865 1.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 104,747 105,666 106,086 -0.9 -0.4 -0.3 104,576 105,009 105,429 113,562 -7.9

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 60,493 60,419 60,295 0.1 0.2 -0.4 59,455 60,026 60,873 56,311 5.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,935 20,722 18,874 -3.8 9.8 -1.7 19,290 20,012 18,534 20,664 -6.6

 Furniture and related products................. 5,430 5,379 5,480 0.9 -1.8 -4.7 5,471 5,484 5,786 5,650 -3.2

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

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

2003p 2003r 2003 Sept. Aug. July 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

 All manufacturing industries..................... 437,768 439,632 440,767 -0.4 -0.3 -0.4 437,869 443,020 442,188 443,808 -1.3

 Excluding transportation...................... 370,572 372,179 373,050 -0.4 -0.2 -0.4 370,145 374,506 373,951 376,848 -1.8

 Excluding defense............................. 414,877 416,798 417,721 -0.5 -0.2 -0.5 414,662 419,619 418,912 422,439 -1.8

 With unfilled orders............................. 204,519 205,891 207,478 -0.7 -0.8 -0.8 203,987 207,963 208,280 212,913 -4.2

 Durable goods industries........................ 261,173 262,949 264,638 -0.7 -0.6 -0.6 260,262 265,538 265,774 270,641 -3.8

 Wood products........................................ 9,229 9,322 9,404 -1.0 -0.9 -0.9 9,209 9,211 9,250 9,822 -6.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,759 9,783 9,905 -0.2 -1.2 0.2 9,591 9,752 9,953 9,199 4.3

 Primary metals........................................ 17,389 17,803 17,989 -2.3 -1.0 -1.3 17,352 17,782 17,963 18,650 -7.0

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,343 9,701 9,796 -3.7 -1.0 -2.5 9,373 9,717 9,788 10,587 -11.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,348 6,409 6,481 -1.0 -1.1 0.2 6,348 6,414 6,481 6,447 -1.5

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,698 1,693 1,712 0.3 -1.1 0.1 1,631 1,651 1,694 1,616 0.9

 Fabricated metal products......................... 30,859 31,058 31,115 -0.6 -0.2 -1.2 30,698 31,048 31,165 31,783 -3.4

 Machinery.............................................. 41,268 41,485 41,897 -0.5 -1.0 -0.3 40,937 41,654 41,690 43,066 -4.9

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,157 2,157 2,181 0.0 -1.1 -0.1 2,056 2,079 2,106 2,011 2.2

 Construction machinery........................ 3,478 3,489 3,445 -0.3 1.3 -0.3 3,415 3,427 3,375 3,595 -5.0

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,245 2,263 2,298 -0.8 -1.5 0.8 2,257 2,299 2,300 2,248 0.4

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,601 6,600 6,634 0.0 -0.5 -1.2 6,526 6,641 6,610 7,188 -9.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,383 1,397 1,408 -1.0 -0.8 1.4 1,402 1,404 1,408 1,402 0.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,096 4,101 4,080 -0.1 0.5 0.6 4,030 4,139 4,094 3,817 5.6

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,242 4,222 4,487 0.5 -5.9 -1.8 4,316 4,402 4,591 4,914 -12.2

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,121 4,115 4,091 0.1 0.6 -2.1 4,159 4,214 4,121 4,518 -7.9

 Material handling equipment............... 2,356 2,356 2,332 0.0 1.0 -0.3 2,337 2,357 2,295 2,386 -2.1

 Computers and electronic products......... 46,870 46,949 47,496 -0.2 -1.2 -0.6 46,407 48,132 48,091 52,014 -10.8

 Computers......................................... 2,668 2,633 2,558 1.3 2.9 -6.7 2,707 2,759 2,503 2,659 1.8

 Computer storage devices................... 1,208 1,222 1,200 -1.1 1.8 1.5 1,116 1,312 1,231 1,152 -3.1

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,321 2,337 2,330 -0.7 0.3 -1.5 2,322 2,457 2,388 2,675 -13.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 9,650 9,654 9,881 0.0 -2.3 -1.9 9,608 9,818 10,068 12,466 -22.9

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,374 1,297 1,283 5.9 1.1 -0.1 1,374 1,297 1,283 1,191 15.4

 Audio and video equipment.................. 980 978 989 0.2 -1.1 3.5 1,056 1,034 1,024 1,215 -13.1

 Semiconductors1

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

 Electronic components.......................... 6,935 7,320 7,756 -5.3 -5.6 1.5 6,842 7,563 7,799 8,037 -14.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,604 2,619 2,644 -0.6 -0.9 -0.8 2,574 2,636 2,689 2,716 -5.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,757 2,749 2,731 0.3 0.7 -3.3 2,772 2,832 2,789 3,061 -9.4

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,283 10,175 10,179 1.1 0.0 0.3 10,093 10,375 10,194 10,344 -2.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 12,211 12,364 12,400 -1.2 -0.3 -1.0 11,881 12,307 12,406 12,747 -6.8

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,421 1,492 1,495 -4.8 -0.2 -0.8 1,402 1,508 1,518 1,536 -8.7

 Household appliances.......................... 2,027 2,043 2,064 -0.8 -1.0 1.0 1,924 1,998 2,074 2,032 -5.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,013 4,038 4,008 -0.6 0.7 -1.6 3,884 4,036 3,946 3,983 -2.5

 Batteries............................................ 544 547 552 -0.5 -0.9 0.9 550 578 578 627 -12.3

 Transportation equipment...................... 67,196 67,453 67,717 -0.4 -0.4 -0.7 67,724 68,514 68,237 66,960 1.1

 Automobiles....................................... 1,900 1,858 1,860 2.3 -0.1 -4.4 1,938 1,900 1,975 2,043 -5.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,204 2,413 2,357 -8.7 2.4 5.1 2,269 2,560 2,456 2,325 -2.4

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 738 744 736 -0.8 1.1 2.1 765 771 738 974 -21.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 15,207 15,351 15,337 -0.9 0.1 -0.9 15,300 15,393 15,447 15,672 -2.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 25,045 24,988 25,065 0.2 -0.3 -2.4 25,097 25,242 25,048 25,509 -1.6

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 10,804 10,627 10,875 1.7 -2.3 0.6 10,971 11,008 11,012 9,818 11.7

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,811 2,763 2,746 1.7 0.6 -1.2 2,803 2,778 2,770 2,449 14.5

 Furniture and related products................. 7,629 7,798 7,864 -2.2 -0.8 0.0 7,626 7,882 8,036 7,789 -2.1

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 18,763 18,934 18,851 -0.9 0.4 0.8 18,837 19,256 18,983 18,611 1.2

 Nondurable goods industries................... 176,595 176,683 176,129 0.0 0.3 -0.2 177,607 177,482 176,414 173,167 2.6

 Food products........................................ 33,114 33,157 33,042 -0.1 0.3 -0.3 33,544 33,226 32,401 33,020 1.6

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,631 3,616 3,537 0.4 2.2 -1.2 3,459 3,445 3,359 3,333 3.8

 Dairy products.................................... 3,493 3,495 3,488 -0.1 0.2 -1.7 3,487 3,550 3,606 3,479 0.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,019 6,028 5,998 -0.1 0.5 0.7 6,027 5,936 5,942 5,794 4.0

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 14,839 14,692 14,610 1.0 0.6 0.3 15,043 14,195 14,043 14,931 0.8

 Beverages......................................... 9,977 9,843 9,751 1.4 0.9 0.8 10,195 9,560 9,512 9,832 3.7

 Tobacco........................................... 4,862 4,849 4,859 0.3 -0.2 -0.7 4,848 4,635 4,531 5,099 -4.9

 Textile mills........................................... 5,004 5,028 5,055 -0.5 -0.5 -1.3 4,914 5,082 5,147 4,916 0.0

 Textile products...................................... 5,046 5,011 4,984 0.7 0.5 -0.2 5,083 5,041 5,043 4,972 2.2

 Apparel................................................. 7,259 7,331 7,407 -1.0 -1.0 1.1 7,360 7,535 7,773 7,098 3.7

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,643 1,606 1,616 2.3 -0.6 -3.3 1,687 1,664 1,681 1,609 4.8

 Paper products....................................... 14,885 14,871 14,905 0.1 -0.2 -0.6 14,756 14,800 14,879 14,461 2.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,725 6,673 6,688 0.8 -0.2 0.6 6,622 6,635 6,674 6,367 4.0

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,133 4,177 4,227 -1.1 -1.2 -1.3 4,141 4,149 4,219 4,161 -0.5

 Printing.................................................. 6,227 6,243 6,238 -0.3 0.1 1.2 6,492 6,632 6,499 6,479 0.2

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 15,824 15,728 15,262 0.6 3.1 -1.0 16,353 16,043 15,580 15,701 4.2

 Petroleum refineries............................. 14,273 14,192 13,728 0.6 3.4 -1.1 14,788 14,453 13,982 14,213 4.0

 Basic chemicals...................................... 52,664 52,859 52,777 -0.4 0.2 0.5 52,562 53,250 53,076 51,086 2.9

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,284 2,338 2,358 -2.3 -0.8 -2.4 2,044 2,010 2,032 2,192 -6.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 21,042 20,954 20,822 0.4 0.6 1.8 21,238 21,471 21,166 19,897 6.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,785 2,764 2,739 0.8 0.9 -0.1 2,739 2,762 2,786 2,658 3.0

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 20,090 20,157 20,233 -0.3 -0.4 -1.7 19,813 20,014 20,292 18,894 4.9

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1 Inventories for semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and total durable goods industries, but are not shown separately. 

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

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Sept. Aug. July 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 336,164 331,676 337,248 1.4 -1.7 2.6 357,094 335,985 310,025 343,319 2,962,908 2,911,583 1.8

 Construction materials and supplies...... 35,790 34,922 35,524 2.5 -1.7 3.2 38,039 37,232 35,627 36,539 315,572 317,485 -0.6

 Information technology......................... 28,916 28,142 29,055 2.8 -3.1 4.2 34,235 26,109 25,166 31,051 242,864 236,718 2.6

 Computers and related products .......... 8,105 7,976 8,583 1.6 -7.1 12.5 10,271 6,962 7,366 8,642 66,220 59,703 10.9

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 37,988 35,653 38,149 6.5 -6.5 5.7 40,372 36,471 26,258 38,900 329,757 340,968 -3.3

 Capital goods...................................... 66,181 64,267 66,381 3.0 -3.2 3.2 73,632 61,570 59,372 69,578 568,220 562,481 1.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 58,215 56,487 58,133 3.1 -2.8 2.2 65,112 53,890 52,007 62,190 500,889 504,019 -0.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 55,530 54,085 55,277 2.7 -2.2 2.5 62,308 51,781 49,813 58,912 478,514 474,683 0.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,966 7,780 8,248 2.4 -5.7 10.6 8,520 7,680 7,365 7,388 67,331 58,462 15.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 128,109 127,433 130,412 0.5 -2.3 4.0 134,110 130,911 119,340 128,136 1,131,753 1,095,937 3.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,186 32,669 34,350 4.6 -4.9 5.8 36,696 33,004 25,717 34,217 295,287 296,998 -0.6

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 93,923 94,764 96,062 -0.9 -1.4 3.4 97,414 97,907 93,623 93,919 836,466 798,939 4.7

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 331,057 329,401 330,551 0.5 -0.3 2.0 348,630 329,567 302,764 327,290 2,915,110 2,845,005 2.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 36,124 35,715 35,447 1.1 0.8 4.0 38,083 37,592 36,027 35,965 316,043 318,044 -0.6

 Information technology......................... 30,803 29,742 29,509 3.6 0.8 2.8 35,377 26,068 24,709 30,162 250,966 231,193 8.6

 Computers and related products .......... 8,319 8,297 8,171 0.3 1.5 3.5 10,278 7,528 6,667 8,994 66,929 59,503 12.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 38,401 35,631 38,303 7.8 -7.0 6.1 40,620 36,176 26,669 38,490 329,669 340,747 -3.3

 Capital goods...................................... 67,003 67,386 65,656 -0.6 2.6 -0.2 73,114 61,425 56,435 64,936 576,324 538,734 7.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 59,577 57,229 58,188 4.1 -1.6 1.5 65,821 53,039 51,690 57,329 503,664 481,673 4.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 57,464 54,907 55,017 4.7 -0.2 0.5 63,103 51,010 49,556 55,157 486,457 460,749 5.6

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,426 10,157 7,468 -26.9 36.0 -11.3 7,293 8,386 4,745 7,607 72,660 57,061 27.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 128,078 127,176 130,210 0.7 -2.3 3.9 133,978 130,577 119,474 128,345 1,131,452 1,094,734 3.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,155 32,412 34,148 5.4 -5.1 5.4 36,564 32,670 25,851 34,426 294,986 295,795 -0.3

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 93,923 94,764 96,062 -0.9 -1.4 3.4 97,414 97,907 93,623 93,919 836,466 798,939 4.7

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 490,759 490,036 485,959 0.1 0.8 -0.3 484,547 486,358 486,595 488,171 (X) (X) -0.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 31,488 31,154 30,361 1.1 2.6 -0.3 31,604 31,560 31,200 32,417 (X) (X) -2.5

 Information technology......................... 117,764 115,877 114,277 1.6 1.4 0.4 115,356 114,214 114,255 106,647 (X) (X) 8.2

 Computers and related products .......... 8,937 8,723 8,402 2.5 3.8 -4.7 8,833 8,826 8,260 6,975 (X) (X) 26.6

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 12,459 12,046 12,068 3.4 -0.2 1.3 12,045 11,797 12,092 11,865 (X) (X) 1.5

 Capital goods...................................... 352,043 351,221 348,102 0.2 0.9 -0.2 346,815 347,333 347,478 340,854 (X) (X) 1.7

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................218,621 217,259 216,517 0.6 0.3 0.0 216,177 215,468 216,319 216,385 (X) (X) -0.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 138,487 136,553 135,731 1.4 0.6 -0.2 136,214 135,419 136,190 131,008 (X) (X) 4.0

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 133,422 133,962 131,585 -0.4 1.8 -0.6 130,638 131,865 131,159 124,469 (X) (X) 5.0

 Consumer goods.................................. 11,675 11,706 11,963 -0.3 -2.1 -1.7 11,566 11,698 12,032 12,041 (X) (X) -3.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 11,675 11,706 11,963 -0.3 -2.1 -1.7 11,566 11,698 12,032 12,041 (X) (X) -3.9 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 437,768 439,632 440,767 -0.4 -0.3 -0.4 437,869 443,020 442,188 443,808 (X) (X) -1.3

 Construction materials and supplies...... 46,273 46,654 46,928 -0.8 -0.6 -0.7 45,860 46,573 46,895 46,495 (X) (X) -1.4

 Information technology......................... 39,884 39,752 39,939 0.3 -0.5 -1.2 39,612 40,571 40,330 43,923 (X) (X) -9.8

 Computers and related products .......... 6,197 6,192 6,088 0.1 1.7 -3.2 6,145 6,528 6,122 6,486 (X) (X) -5.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 20,049 20,366 20,290 -1.6 0.4 -0.4 20,272 20,624 20,616 21,014 (X) (X) -3.5

 Capital goods...................................... 124,344 124,707 125,278 -0.3 -0.5 -1.1 123,929 126,455 125,636 130,759 (X) (X) -5.2

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................105,831 106,178 106,594 -0.3 -0.4 -1.2 105,226 107,506 106,840 112,981 (X) (X) -6.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 88,049 88,445 88,853 -0.4 -0.5 -0.6 87,341 89,591 89,167 93,702 (X) (X) -6.8

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 18,513 18,529 18,684 -0.1 -0.8 -1.0 18,703 18,949 18,796 17,778 (X) (X) 5.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 135,632 135,588 134,971 0.0 0.5 0.2 137,072 136,620 135,218 134,405 (X) (X) 2.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,888 27,219 27,340 -1.2 -0.4 0.3 26,908 27,622 27,696 27,764 (X) (X) -3.1

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 108,744 108,369 107,631 0.3 0.7 0.2 110,164 108,998 107,522 106,641 (X) (X) 3.3

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 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
 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

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

2003p 2003r 2003 Sept. Aug. July 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 143,257 143,185 144,123 0.1 -0.7 -1.3 143,410 143,598 144,541 150,656 -4.8

 Durable goods industries ........................ 83,502 84,068 85,203 -0.7 -1.3 -1.2 83,658 84,771 85,594 91,171 -8.2

 Wood products................................... 3,469 3,524 3,562 -1.6 -1.1 -0.6 3,589 3,517 3,425 3,754 -4.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,354 3,346 3,446 0.2 -2.9 1.5 3,386 3,382 3,455 3,405 -0.6

 Primary metals.................................... 5,830 5,805 5,925 0.4 -2.0 -3.1 5,901 5,835 5,932 6,513 -9.4

 Fabricated metal products..................... 11,032 11,014 11,032 0.2 -0.2 -1.3 11,063 11,064 11,093 11,564 -4.3

 Machinery.......................................... 12,451 12,545 12,982 -0.7 -3.4 -0.7 12,405 12,641 13,036 13,860 -10.5

 Computers and electronic products ...... 16,442 16,800 17,051 -2.1 -1.5 -1.7 16,388 17,097 17,126 19,782 -17.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,603 4,670 4,696 -1.4 -0.6 -1.7 4,526 4,648 4,696 4,915 -7.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 16,919 16,940 17,063 -0.1 -0.7 -1.4 17,011 17,048 17,255 17,576 -3.2

 Furniture and related products............ 3,197 3,278 3,274 -2.5 0.1 0.3 3,184 3,276 3,316 3,300 -3.5

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,205 6,146 6,172 1.0 -0.4 -0.6 6,205 6,263 6,260 6,502 -4.6

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 59,755 59,117 58,920 1.1 0.3 -1.4 59,752 58,827 58,947 59,485 0.4

 Food products.................................... 10,472 10,316 10,279 1.5 0.4 -1.6 10,289 10,120 10,210 10,417 -1.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,598 5,513 5,424 1.5 1.6 -1.5 5,510 5,345 5,236 5,749 -4.2

 Textiles.............................................. 1,382 1,390 1,394 -0.6 -0.3 -3.3 1,364 1,393 1,412 1,556 -12.3

 Textile products.................................. 1,701 1,703 1,710 -0.1 -0.4 -1.3 1,745 1,728 1,740 1,783 -2.1

 Apparel............................................. 1,638 1,701 1,715 -3.7 -0.8 -0.5 1,622 1,684 1,714 1,766 -8.2

 Leather and allied products................... 433 434 432 -0.2 0.5 -1.6 439 448 451 419 4.8

 Paper products................................... 6,847 6,844 6,897 0.0 -0.8 -1.6 6,845 6,788 6,845 6,861 -0.2

 Printing ............................................. 2,747 2,739 2,777 0.3 -1.4 -0.1 2,854 2,793 2,830 2,941 -3.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... 5,194 4,638 4,425 12.0 4.8 -0.7 5,250 4,670 4,466 3,884 35.2

 Basic chemicals................................... 16,606 16,524 16,554 0.5 -0.2 -2.8 16,672 16,527 16,610 16,894 -1.3

 Plastics and rubber products............... 7,137 7,315 7,313 -2.4 0.0 1.3 7,162 7,331 7,433 7,215 -0.7

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 126,290 127,710 127,885 -1.1 -0.1 0.4 127,197 129,102 128,246 127,783 -0.5

 Durable goods industries ........................ 95,194 96,258 96,383 -1.1 -0.1 0.1 95,612 97,477 96,736 96,217 -0.6

 Wood products................................... 1,936 1,951 1,958 -0.8 -0.4 -0.7 1,936 1,952 1,956 2,157 -10.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,196 1,195 1,208 0.1 -1.1 -0.9 1,162 1,195 1,222 1,179 -1.4

 Primary metals.................................... 5,758 6,027 6,057 -4.5 -0.5 -0.1 5,769 6,024 6,073 6,210 -7.1

 Fabricated metal products..................... 9,213 9,319 9,192 -1.1 1.4 -1.6 9,280 9,461 9,285 9,543 -2.8

 Machinery.......................................... 14,568 14,478 14,049 0.6 3.1 -0.3 14,622 14,770 14,103 14,469 1.1

 Computers and electronic products ...... 17,439 17,886 18,125 -2.5 -1.3 0.7 17,455 18,277 18,345 19,429 -10.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 2,868 2,892 2,894 -0.8 -0.1 -0.3 2,796 2,909 2,927 2,961 -5.6

 Transportation equipment.................. 37,793 37,447 37,772 0.9 -0.9 -0.4 38,134 37,745 37,612 35,761 6.6

 Furniture and related products............ 1,545 1,547 1,585 -0.1 -2.4 1.6 1,539 1,546 1,605 1,584 -2.8

 Miscellaneous products........................ 2,878 3,516 3,543 -18.1 -0.8 11.7 2,919 3,598 3,608 2,924 -0.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 31,096 31,452 31,502 -1.1 -0.2 1.1 31,585 31,625 31,510 31,566 0.1

 Food products.................................... 2,871 3,010 3,001 -4.6 0.3 1.6 2,762 2,771 2,776 2,560 7.9

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,714 4,588 4,530 2.7 1.3 2.4 4,936 4,212 4,150 4,571 8.0

 Textiles.............................................. 1,278 1,288 1,293 -0.8 -0.4 -0.2 1,277 1,290 1,305 1,187 7.6

 Textile products.................................. 724 707 711 2.4 -0.6 -0.4 731 710 717 747 -2.1

 Apparel............................................. 1,216 1,222 1,228 -0.5 -0.5 -1.8 1,170 1,238 1,289 1,320 -11.4

 Leather and allied products................... 159 156 159 1.9 -1.9 1.3 167 160 169 206 -18.9

 Paper products................................... 1,183 1,156 1,157 2.3 -0.1 -1.2 1,185 1,180 1,179 1,257 -5.7

 Printing ............................................. 1,729 1,767 1,745 -2.2 1.3 1.8 1,824 1,985 1,899 1,960 -6.9

 Petroleum and coal products............... 4,133 4,345 4,429 -4.9 -1.9 6.2 4,297 4,497 4,535 4,535 -5.2

 Basic chemicals................................... 10,610 10,792 10,760 -1.7 0.3 0.3 10,768 11,181 11,018 10,869 -0.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,479 2,421 2,489 2.4 -2.7 -3.9 2,468 2,401 2,473 2,354 4.8

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 168,221 168,737 168,759 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 167,262 170,320 169,401 165,369 1.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 82,477 82,623 83,052 -0.2 -0.5 -0.7 80,992 83,290 83,444 83,253 -2.7

 Wood products................................... 3,824 3,847 3,884 -0.6 -1.0 -1.4 3,684 3,742 3,869 3,911 -5.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,209 5,242 5,251 -0.6 -0.2 -0.5 5,043 5,175 5,276 4,615 9.3

 Primary metals.................................... 5,801 5,971 6,007 -2.8 -0.6 -0.6 5,682 5,923 5,958 5,927 -4.1

 Fabricated metal products..................... 10,614 10,725 10,891 -1.0 -1.5 -0.6 10,355 10,523 10,787 10,676 -3.0

 Machinery.......................................... 14,249 14,462 14,866 -1.5 -2.7 -0.1 13,910 14,243 14,551 14,737 -5.6

 Computers and electronic products ...... 12,989 12,263 12,320 5.9 -0.5 -1.0 12,564 12,758 12,620 12,803 -1.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,740 4,802 4,810 -1.3 -0.2 -0.8 4,559 4,750 4,783 4,871 -6.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 12,484 13,066 12,882 -4.5 1.4 -0.4 12,579 13,721 13,370 13,623 -7.7

 Furniture and related products............ 2,887 2,973 3,005 -2.9 -1.1 -1.0 2,903 3,060 3,115 2,905 -0.1

 Miscellaneous products........................ 9,680 9,272 9,136 4.4 1.5 -2.0 9,713 9,395 9,115 9,185 5.7

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 85,744 86,114 85,707 -0.4 0.5 0.2 86,270 87,030 85,957 82,116 5.1

 Food products.................................... 19,771 19,831 19,762 -0.3 0.3 0.1 20,493 20,335 19,415 20,043 2.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,527 4,591 4,656 -1.4 -1.4 0.6 4,597 4,638 4,657 4,611 -0.3

 Textiles.............................................. 2,344 2,350 2,368 -0.3 -0.8 -0.8 2,273 2,399 2,430 2,173 4.6

 Textile products.................................. 2,621 2,601 2,563 0.8 1.5 0.6 2,607 2,603 2,586 2,442 6.8

 Apparel............................................. 4,405 4,408 4,464 -0.1 -1.3 2.5 4,568 4,613 4,770 4,012 13.9

 Leather and allied products................... 1,051 1,016 1,025 3.4 -0.9 -4.7 1,081 1,056 1,061 984 9.9

 Paper products................................... 6,855 6,871 6,851 -0.2 0.3 0.6 6,726 6,832 6,855 6,343 6.0

 Printing ............................................. 1,751 1,737 1,716 0.8 1.2 2.9 1,814 1,854 1,770 1,578 15.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... 6,497 6,745 6,408 -3.7 5.3 -5.7 6,806 6,876 6,579 7,282 -6.5

 Basic chemicals................................... 25,448 25,543 25,463 -0.4 0.3 2.8 25,122 25,542 25,448 23,323 7.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,474 10,421 10,431 0.5 -0.1 -3.3 10,183 10,282 10,386 9,325 9.2

p

 Preliminary r Revised

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 Sept Aug Jul Jun Sept Aug Jul Jun

2003p 2003r 2003 2003 2003p 2003r 2003 2003

 All manufacturing industries 2

...... 1.30 1.33 1.31 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries 2................... 1.44 1.48 1.46 1.51 4.00 4.09 3.94 4.07

 Wood products................................ 1.12 1.18 1.23 1.27 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.32 1.34 1.35 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.62 1.68 1.66 1.74 1.35 1.38 1.31 1.34

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.52 1.55 1.49 1.56 1.89 1.92 1.81 1.88

 Machinery....................................... 1.94 1.97 1.97 2.02 2.16 2.18 2.14 2.19

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.31 1.33 1.35 1.37 4.95 5.00 4.83 5.07

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.44 1.49 1.45 1.51 1.76 1.78 1.72 1.78

 Transportation equipment................. 1.27 1.35 1.27 1.34 7.43 7.80 7.39 7.60

 Furniture and related products........... 1.31 1.32 1.31 1.36 1.06 1.03 1.03 1.13

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.71 1.73 1.72 1.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.15 1.14 1.13 1.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.86 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.72 1.68 1.64 1.62 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.56 1.57 1.57 1.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.72 1.72 1.71 1.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.67 1.72 1.73 1.69 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 1.86 1.74 1.71 1.83 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.14 1.13 1.11 1.11 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.78 0.80 0.80 0.77 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.79 0.76 0.77 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Basic chemicals............................... 1.36 1.37 1.32 1.42 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.30 1.32 1.31 1.34 (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 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Sept Sept Sept Sept

Industry Sept

2 2002- Sept2 2002- Sept2 2002- Sept2 2002-

Sept

1 1998- Aug Sept1 1998- Aug Sept1 1998- Aug Sept1 1998- Aug

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

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

Durable goods industries ...................... 0.2 (NA) 0.3 0.3 (NA) 0.4 0.0 (NA) 0.1 0.0 (NA) 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) (NA) 0.9 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) (NA) 0.4 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... 0.3 (NA) 0.5 0.2 (NA) 0.8 -0.1 (NA) 0.4 0.1 (NA) 0.5

 Fabricated metal products................... 0.4 (NA) 0.4 0.2 (NA) 1.1 0.0 (NA) 0.5 0.1 (NA) 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 0.1 (NA) 0.3 0.0 (NA) 0.8 0.0 (NA) 0.3 0.0 (NA) 0.3

 Computers and electronic products ..... -0.2 (NA) 0.5 1.0 (NA) 1.0 0.2 (NA) 0.2 0.0 (NA) 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.6 (NA) 0.4 0.3 (NA) 0.7 -0.2 (NA) 0.3 0.0 (NA) 0.1

 Transportation equipment................... 0.2 (NA) 0.5 0.2 (NA) 1.1 0.0 (NA) 0.2 0.0 (NA) 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) (NA) 0.8 (X) (NA) 1.5 (X) (NA) 1.1 (X) (NA) 0.1

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) (NA) 0.7 (X) (NA) 0.9 (X) (NA) 1.2 (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) 0.5 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) (NA) 0.5 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.3

 Textiles............................................. (X) (NA) 1.8 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.3

 Textile products.................................. (X) (NA) 0.8 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.2

 Apparel.............................................. (X) (NA) 0.9 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.5

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) (NA) 2.1 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.9

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

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

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) (NA) 1.0 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.7

 Basic chemicals.................................. (X) (NA) 0.6 (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) (NA) (X) (NA) 0.2

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

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.