FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013, AT 10:00 A.M. EST 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (12)-12 

CB13-21 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

December 2012 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in December, up 

three of the last four months, increased $8.6 billion or 

1.8 percent to $484.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 0.3 percent November 

decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders 

increased 0.2 percent. 

 Shipments, up five of the last six months, increased 

$1.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $484.9 billion. This 

followed a 0.3 percent November increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up six of the last seven months, 

increased $7.9 billion or 0.8 percent to $991.7 billion. 

This followed a slight November increase. The unfilled 

orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.12, down from 6.13 in 

November. 

 Inventories, up following two consecutive monthly 

decreases, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $615.5 

billion. This followed a slight November decrease. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.27, unchanged from 

November. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

December, up seven of the last eight months, increased 

$9.4 billion or 4.3 percent to $230.0 billion, revised from 

the previously published 4.6 percent increase. This 

followed a 0.6 percent November increase. 

 Transportation equipment, up following two 

consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, 

$7.9 billion or 11.7 percent to $75.6 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $254.8 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

December, up five of the last six months, increased $2.6 

billion or 1.1 percent to $230.1 billion, revised from the 

previously published 1.3 percent increase. This 

followed a 1.8 percent November increase. 

 Primary metals, up three of the last four months, had 

the largest increase, $1.2 billion or 4.0 percent to $30.5 

billion. 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

two consecutive months, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3 

percent to $254.8 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent 

November decrease. Beverage and tobacco products, 

down following two consecutive monthly increases, led 

the decrease, down $0.5 billion or 4.3 percent to $12.2 

billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

December, up six of the last seven months, increased 

$7.9 billion or 0.8 percent to $991.7 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This followed a 

slight November increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up six of the last seven 

months, drove the increase, up $9.0 billion or 1.5 percent 

to $588.6 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

December, down following fourteen consecutive 

monthly increases, decreased $0.1 billion to $374.5 

billion, unchanged from the previously published 

increase. This followed a 0.1 percent November 

increase. 

 

 Machinery, down four consecutive months, drove the 

decrease, down $0.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $66.1 

billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased 

$0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $241.0 billion. This 

followed a 0.3 percent November decrease. Chemical 

products, up three of the last four months, drove the 

increase, up $0.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $72.2 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, December materials and 

supplies decreased 0.3 percent in durable goods and 

increased 0.4 percent in nondurable goods. Work in 

process increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 0.9 percent in nondurable goods. Finished 

goods decreased 0.3 percent in durable goods and 

increased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods.

Figures in text are adjusted for seasonality, but not for inflation. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. For data, call (301) 763-4673 or go to <http://www.census.gov/m3>.The advance report on durable goods for January is scheduled for release on February 27, 

2013, at 8:30 a.m. EST and the full report on March 6, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description. To receive the latest updates on the 

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

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

 All manufacturing industries.................. 484,856 483,057 481,734 0.4 0.3 0.3 465,586 469,120 496,566 457,062 5,727,500 5,491,351 4.3

 Excluding transportation................... 418,211 417,348 417,539 0.2 0.0 0.4 399,263 403,599 428,948 397,097 4,956,032 4,797,317 3.3

 Excluding defense.............................. 473,476 472,056 470,880 0.3 0.2 0.3 452,854 457,928 486,208 444,655 5,596,916 5,357,441 4.5

 With unfilled orders............................ 162,106 160,541 157,791 1.0 1.7 0.4 159,565 155,118 160,315 156,007 1,894,098 1,779,631 6.4

 Durable goods industries......................... 230,080 227,497 223,498 1.1 1.8 0.0 222,611 220,232 233,037 215,229 2,691,061 2,515,078 7.0

 Wood products....................................... 6,201 6,210 6,317 -0.1 -1.7 2.0 5,405 5,860 6,775 5,099 73,765 68,946 7.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,232 8,165 8,156 0.8 0.1 0.5 7,043 7,988 8,977 7,159 97,405 94,179 3.4

 Primary metals....................................... 30,537 29,374 28,094 4.0 4.6 -0.5 25,760 27,017 28,429 26,126 342,859 304,926 12.4

 Iron and steel mills............................ 10,855 10,906 10,705 -0.5 1.9 -0.4 9,442 9,708 10,454 10,784 133,709 138,087 -3.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 17,891 16,684 15,617 7.2 6.8 -0.7 14,779 15,673 16,186 13,721 187,516 147,289 27.3

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,791 1,784 1,772 0.4 0.7 0.1 1,539 1,636 1,789 1,621 21,634 19,550 10.7

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,277 27,387 27,286 -0.4 0.4 0.3 24,760 26,323 28,948 25,362 329,270 317,125 3.8

 Machinery............................................. 33,278 33,645 32,593 -1.1 3.2 1.2 33,755 31,908 33,052 32,601 389,244 356,866 9.1

 Farm machinery................................. 2,025 2,083 1,715 -2.8 21.5 8.3 1,655 1,599 1,605 1,875 25,061 29,023 -13.7

 Construction machinery..................... 6,047 5,944 5,571 1.7 6.7 0.1 6,118 6,087 6,229 4,192 60,931 43,897 38.8

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,993 2,072 2,119 -3.8 -2.2 0.9 2,247 1,934 2,116 2,223 24,978 23,678 5.5

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,515 3,615 3,537 -2.8 2.2 3.3 4,262 3,164 3,512 3,657 39,975 35,248 13.4

 Photographic equipment...................... 680 664 653 2.4 1.7 3.3 744 688 681 725 7,922 8,047 -1.6

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,135 3,223 3,208 -2.7 0.5 3.9 2,906 2,940 2,883 2,737 37,560 35,073 7.1

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,540 2,601 2,533 -2.3 2.7 1.5 2,711 2,604 2,673 2,655 29,663 25,225 17.6

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,384 3,499 3,389 -3.3 3.2 -1.0 3,284 3,483 3,507 4,537 43,215 42,597 1.5

 Material handling equipment............... 2,903 2,864 2,887 1.4 -0.8 1.6 2,907 2,812 2,986 2,850 33,676 30,691 9.7

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 28,700 27,795 27,948 3.3 -0.5 -0.4 30,821 26,815 29,918 30,333 338,981 340,812 -0.5

 Computers........................................ 1,198 969 866 23.6 11.9 -23.2 1,437 949 976 1,575 13,637 18,491 -26.3

 Computer storage devices..................... 628 613 662 2.4 -7.4 1.4 1,030 483 487 1,250 8,814 8,207 7.4

 Other peripheral equipment................ 916 842 842 8.8 0.0 -7.6 1,488 791 748 1,450 10,719 10,704 0.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,774 2,695 2,794 2.9 -3.5 4.8 3,647 2,666 2,569 3,411 32,716 33,113 -1.2

 Defense communications equipment.... 332 394 496 -15.7 -20.6 43.8 324 420 500 705 4,755 6,260 -24.0

 Audio and video equipment.................... 257 256 232 0.4 10.3 -10.1 412 387 263 382 3,007 2,819 6.7

 Electronic components......................... 3,438 3,453 3,477 -0.4 -0.7 0.0 3,743 3,333 3,416 3,929 42,535 43,517 -2.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,346 1,292 1,269 4.2 1.8 -3.3 1,426 1,233 1,243 1,413 15,645 15,503 0.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,964 2,930 2,983 1.2 -1.8 -1.6 3,297 2,998 2,933 3,306 35,471 35,646 -0.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,373 6,495 6,247 -1.9 4.0 -1.1 7,085 6,337 5,859 7,697 79,256 82,018 -3.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,000 9,998 9,850 0.0 1.5 0.5 9,565 9,846 10,064 9,502 119,300 116,336 2.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 888 880 884 0.9 -0.5 2.9 927 858 916 935 10,746 11,180 -3.9

 Household appliances........................ 1,559 1,593 1,609 -2.1 -1.0 0.6 1,439 1,623 1,653 1,486 18,833 18,000 4.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,065 3,008 2,965 1.9 1.5 -1.2 2,981 2,786 2,824 2,964 36,858 35,980 2.4

 Batteries........................................... 1,003 1,035 975 -3.1 6.2 -2.6 972 1,259 1,168 957 11,856 11,326 4.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 66,645 65,709 64,195 1.4 2.4 -0.3 66,323 65,521 67,618 59,965 771,468 694,034 11.2

 Automobiles..................................... 10,114 9,881 9,073 2.4 8.9 2.7 9,113 9,929 10,113 7,275 107,311 85,430 25.6

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 13,005 12,947 12,796 0.4 1.2 -6.9 12,043 12,958 14,629 11,190 160,100 139,374 14.9

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,300 2,254 2,188 2.0 3.0 0.5 2,168 2,140 2,251 2,553 29,091 26,915 8.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 19,129 19,157 18,735 -0.1 2.3 2.3 16,386 19,053 20,600 16,216 225,202 214,331 5.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 10,784 10,529 10,477 2.4 0.5 0.5 14,115 10,568 9,457 10,907 117,754 95,944 22.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,927 4,744 4,526 3.9 4.8 1.6 5,835 4,811 4,158 5,335 55,643 54,081 2.9

 Ships and boats................................. 2,286 2,251 2,276 1.6 -1.1 4.8 2,257 2,185 2,256 2,192 26,745 26,608 0.5

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,415 5,430 5,433 -0.3 -0.1 0.2 5,159 5,201 5,378 5,072 64,377 61,860 4.1

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,795 13,784 13,626 0.1 1.2 -1.5 14,020 13,753 13,878 14,010 164,392 159,994 2.7

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 254,776 255,560 258,236 -0.3 -1.0 0.5 242,975 248,888 263,529 241,833 3,036,439 2,976,273 2.0

 Food products....................................... 62,278 61,980 61,406 0.5 0.9 1.0 62,102 64,050 65,138 60,510 730,312 711,489 2.6

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,533 8,508 8,353 0.3 1.9 1.0 8,429 9,015 9,396 8,013 98,981 95,736 3.4

 Dairy products.................................. 8,546 8,581 8,473 -0.4 1.3 3.1 8,444 8,941 8,760 8,581 100,098 104,400 -4.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,058 16,884 16,811 1.0 0.4 1.2 16,808 17,083 17,237 16,450 201,241 197,515 1.9

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,224 12,772 12,591 -4.3 1.4 2.4 12,131 12,833 12,574 12,050 149,359 141,492 5.6

 Beverages......................................... 9,479 9,204 9,150 3.0 0.6 -0.5 9,386 9,265 9,133 8,956 109,508 101,620 7.8

 Tobacco............................................ 2,745 3,568 3,441 -23.1 3.7 11.1 2,745 3,568 3,441 3,094 39,851 39,872 -0.1

 Textile mills........................................... 2,510 2,498 2,486 0.5 0.5 0.8 2,174 2,377 2,526 2,142 29,775 30,196 -1.4

 Textile products................................... 1,962 1,975 1,977 -0.7 -0.1 0.8 1,716 1,902 1,997 1,706 23,523 22,543 4.3

 Apparel................................................ 1,261 1,280 1,326 -1.5 -3.5 3.8 1,180 1,474 1,538 1,202 15,321 14,644 4.6

 Leather and allied products...................... 457 444 457 2.9 -2.8 4.6 432 407 473 420 5,437 5,415 0.4

 Paper products...................................... 13,831 13,877 13,943 -0.3 -0.5 0.6 13,310 13,604 14,481 13,624 167,132 170,037 -1.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,532 6,592 6,578 -0.9 0.2 1.2 6,385 6,373 6,809 6,504 78,570 80,006 -1.8

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,046 4,047 4,055 0.0 -0.2 -0.7 3,789 3,970 4,278 3,903 48,960 50,046 -2.2

 Printing................................................. 6,544 6,613 6,733 -1.0 -1.8 1.0 6,521 6,847 7,238 6,745 80,365 81,839 -1.8

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 73,252 73,687 77,410 -0.6 -4.8 0.1 68,938 69,612 76,881 67,200 871,984 831,464 4.9

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 69,084 69,512 73,251 -0.6 -5.1 0.0 65,945 65,841 72,190 64,241 821,479 783,640 4.8

 Chemical products..................................... 62,713 62,698 62,393 0.0 0.5 -0.1 58,587 59,004 62,657 60,419 753,049 764,806 -1.5

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,471 3,618 3,374 -4.1 7.2 3.4 2,647 3,013 2,603 2,381 37,892 35,320 7.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 13,333 13,173 13,455 1.2 -2.1 -0.3 13,365 13,092 14,363 14,847 167,268 179,707 -6.9

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,902 2,786 2,740 4.2 1.7 0.1 2,323 2,433 2,794 2,322 33,987 32,276 5.3

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,744 17,736 17,514 0.0 1.3 0.8 15,884 16,778 18,026 15,815 210,182 202,348 3.9

p

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

 aggregate totals. 

Year to date
 3

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries 2........................ 484,760 476,116 477,438 1.8 -0.3 0.8 482,072 458,624 485,995 481,076 5,664,517 5,501,484 3.0

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 409,151 408,439 409,267 0.2 -0.2 1.0 392,695 392,842 416,954 397,437 4,860,273 4,761,053 2.1

 Excluding defense2.............................. 466,255 465,055 466,604 0.3 -0.3 0.8 457,721 449,410 477,300 467,342 5,527,303 5,363,012 3.1

 With unfilled orders 2............................. 169,996 160,981 161,073 5.6 -0.1 2.0 182,438 151,307 160,074 184,721 1,917,396 1,869,280 2.6

 Durable goods industries 2......................... 229,984 220,556 219,202 4.3 0.6 1.1 239,097 209,736 222,466 239,243 2,628,078 2,525,211 4.1

 Primary metals........................................ 29,554 28,650 28,645 3.2 0.0 2.4 25,504 26,903 28,677 28,425 336,573 307,778 9.4

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,224 10,560 11,210 -3.2 -5.8 6.5 9,338 9,742 10,516 12,678 129,418 137,952 -6.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 17,579 16,404 15,654 7.2 4.8 -0.7 14,625 15,602 16,377 14,018 185,648 149,551 24.1

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,751 1,686 1,781 3.9 -5.3 5.7 1,541 1,559 1,784 1,729 21,507 20,275 6.1

 Fabricated metal products........................ 28,233 27,875 27,173 1.3 2.6 0.6 25,903 25,702 27,961 25,529 333,799 323,096 3.3

 Machinery............................................. 31,343 31,694 30,976 -1.1 2.3 3.5 30,999 29,519 31,953 34,628 374,169 388,402 -3.7

 Construction machinery........................ 4,978 4,438 4,320 12.2 2.7 -9.1 5,183 4,721 5,266 4,380 52,569 50,295 4.5

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 2,450 2,203 2,032 11.2 8.4 -1.4 2,348 1,904 2,176 2,590 23,582 30,268 -22.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,290 3,407 3,161 -3.4 7.8 0.1 3,886 2,896 3,280 3,596 38,662 35,050 10.3

 Photographic equipment....................... 656 800 666 -18.0 20.1 5.9 508 795 679 477 8,274 7,981 3.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,029 3,190 3,554 -5.0 -10.2 11.1 2,677 2,695 3,023 2,816 37,178 36,454 2.0

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,510 2,454 2,568 2.3 -4.4 2.4 2,652 2,390 2,813 2,735 29,207 27,032 8.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 2,845 3,294 3,007 -13.6 9.5 11.9 3,119 3,322 3,056 5,598 40,945 51,413 -20.4

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,815 2,928 2,843 -3.9 3.0 10.7 2,875 2,827 2,736 3,069 33,854 31,606 7.1

 Computers and electronic products 2

........... 21,696 20,848 20,685 4.1 0.8 1.8 26,970 18,976 19,515 26,361 260,142 260,496 -0.1

 Computers........................................ 1,172 1,102 919 6.4 19.9 -20.4 1,411 1,082 1,029 1,563 13,830 18,383 -24.8

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,334 3,253 3,095 2.5 5.1 23.1 4,405 2,602 2,957 3,708 37,060 33,048 12.1

 Defense communications equipment....... 525 404 394 30.0 2.5 40.7 695 256 334 424 4,402 4,884 -9.9

 Electronic components......................... 3,565 3,553 3,610 0.3 -1.6 3.2 3,813 3,341 3,519 3,824 42,784 43,678 -2.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,556 1,503 1,684 3.5 -10.7 0.1 1,351 1,561 1,679 1,311 19,726 16,470 19.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,899 2,610 2,704 11.1 -3.5 1.2 4,262 2,269 2,494 4,008 34,927 34,442 1.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 6,356 6,237 6,041 1.9 3.2 -1.9 7,558 5,671 5,411 7,926 78,728 82,843 -5.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,913 10,231 9,966 -3.1 2.7 5.5 9,232 10,019 10,144 9,839 118,994 119,935 -0.8

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 910 922 916 -1.3 0.7 5.3 878 878 919 846 10,789 11,236 -4.0

 Household appliances.......................... 1,594 1,596 1,619 -0.1 -1.4 0.9 1,401 1,649 1,651 1,464 18,813 18,112 3.9

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,224 3,138 3,068 2.7 2.3 7.9 2,946 2,953 2,943 2,868 37,121 37,296 -0.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 75,609 67,677 68,171 11.7 -0.7 -0.6 89,377 65,782 69,041 83,639 804,244 740,431 8.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,715 18,933 18,635 -1.2 1.6 3.5 16,467 19,300 20,456 17,016 223,859 214,906 4.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 14,062 12,770 14,652 10.1 -12.8 0.2 27,686 11,906 12,353 32,192 150,432 140,147 7.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 7,914 5,060 5,669 56.4 -10.7 -4.3 10,387 4,766 4,997 6,753 62,142 57,300 8.5

 Ships and boats.................................. 4,875 1,609 1,686 203.0 -4.6 7.8 4,918 1,379 1,410 1,128 23,415 26,523 -11.7

 Furniture and related products................... 5,408 5,363 5,427 0.8 -1.2 -1.1 4,644 5,175 5,485 4,570 64,532 61,921 4.2

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 254,776 255,560 258,236 -0.3 -1.0 0.5 242,975 248,888 263,529 241,833 3,036,439 2,976,273 2.0

p

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

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

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

Year to date
 4 

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. Dec.

2012p 2012r 2012 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 991,736 983,846 983,406 0.8 0.0 0.3 989,221 966,348 970,159 965,923 2.4

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 403,113 404,187 405,715 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2 395,779 395,960 400,032 405,257 -2.3

 Excluding defense2............................. 794,681 793,916 793,536 0.1 0.0 0.4 793,076 781,822 783,655 776,408 2.1

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 991,736 983,846 983,406 0.8 0.0 0.3 989,221 966,348 970,159 965,923 2.4

 Primary metals........................................ 30,250 31,233 31,957 -3.1 -2.3 1.8 29,716 29,972 30,086 36,002 -17.5

 Iron and steel mills............................... 16,662 17,293 17,639 -3.6 -2.0 2.9 16,128 16,232 16,198 20,419 -21.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 10,317 10,629 10,909 -2.9 -2.6 0.3 10,358 10,512 10,583 12,226 -15.3

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 3,271 3,311 3,409 -1.2 -2.9 0.3 3,230 3,228 3,305 3,357 -3.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 84,197 83,241 82,753 1.1 0.6 -0.1 81,900 80,757 81,378 77,371 5.9

 Machinery.............................................. 122,146 124,081 126,032 -1.6 -1.5 -1.3 119,387 122,143 124,532 134,462 -11.2

 Construction machinery......................... 19,062 20,131 21,637 -5.3 -7.0 -5.5 18,457 19,392 20,758 26,819 -31.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 19,190 18,733 18,602 2.4 0.7 -0.5 18,795 18,694 18,724 20,191 -6.9

 Industrial machinery............................. 7,352 7,577 7,785 -3.0 -2.7 -4.6 7,083 7,459 7,727 8,396 -15.6

 Photographic equipment........................ 2,997 3,021 2,885 -0.8 4.7 0.5 2,814 3,050 2,943 2,462 14.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 8,681 8,787 8,820 -1.2 -0.4 4.1 8,008 8,237 8,482 8,390 -4.6

 Metalworking machinery........................ 7,026 7,056 7,203 -0.4 -2.0 0.5 6,852 6,911 7,125 7,308 -6.2

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 25,016 25,555 25,760 -2.1 -0.8 -1.5 25,227 25,392 25,553 27,497 -8.3

 Material handling equipment................... 8,054 8,142 8,078 -1.1 0.8 -0.5 7,911 7,943 7,928 7,733 2.3

 Computers and electronic products 2

............. 138,154 137,172 136,738 0.7 0.3 0.2 137,554 135,018 136,172 130,112 5.7

 Computers......................................... 1,349 1,375 1,242 -1.9 10.7 4.5 1,349 1,375 1,242 1,156 16.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 29,795 29,235 28,677 1.9 1.9 1.1 29,731 28,973 29,037 25,387 17.1

 Defense communications equipment........ 5,251 5,058 5,048 3.8 0.2 -2.0 5,221 4,850 5,014 5,574 -6.3

 Electronic components.......................... 13,485 13,358 13,258 1.0 0.8 1.0 13,317 13,247 13,239 13,068 1.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 14,326 14,116 13,905 1.5 1.5 3.1 14,158 14,233 13,905 10,077 40.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 45,328 45,393 45,713 -0.1 -0.7 -0.6 45,304 44,339 45,068 45,848 -1.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 28,620 28,637 28,895 -0.1 -0.9 -0.7 28,474 28,001 28,667 29,002 -1.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 21,015 21,102 20,869 -0.4 1.1 0.6 20,422 20,755 20,582 20,728 -1.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,126 1,104 1,062 2.0 4.0 3.1 1,078 1,127 1,107 1,035 4.2

 Household appliances........................... 713 678 675 5.2 0.4 1.5 629 667 641 649 -3.1

 Electrical equipment............................. 10,046 9,887 9,757 1.6 1.3 1.1 9,769 9,804 9,637 9,506 2.8

 Transportation equipment......................... 588,623 579,659 577,691 1.5 0.3 0.7 593,442 570,388 570,127 560,666 5.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 15,386 15,800 16,024 -2.6 -1.4 -0.6 15,775 15,694 15,447 17,118 -7.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 413,446 410,168 407,927 0.8 0.5 1.0 418,435 404,864 403,526 385,757 8.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 66,150 63,163 62,847 4.7 0.5 1.9 65,855 61,303 61,348 59,356 10.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,154 16,565 17,207 15.6 -3.7 -3.3 18,458 15,797 16,603 21,788 -15.3

 Furniture and related products................... 6,378 6,385 6,452 -0.1 -1.0 -0.1 5,827 6,342 6,368 5,672 2.7

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. Dec.

2012p 2012r 2012 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

 All manufacturing industries...................... 615,463 614,983 615,204 0.1 0.0 0.0 598,525 615,002 618,373 583,943 2.5

 Excluding transportation........................ 500,760 500,425 501,673 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 487,553 500,000 504,365 481,990 1.2

 Excluding defense............................. 589,469 588,678 589,582 0.1 -0.2 0.0 572,723 588,660 592,764 558,465 2.6

 With unfilled orders............................. 303,888 303,825 303,298 0.0 0.2 0.3 294,420 304,135 303,550 280,981 4.8

 Durable goods industries........................ 374,476 374,554 374,011 0.0 0.1 0.3 363,396 375,163 374,411 348,124 4.4

 Wood products........................................ 9,168 9,157 9,083 0.1 0.8 0.3 9,117 9,223 9,184 8,791 3.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 11,547 11,604 11,643 -0.5 -0.3 0.0 11,321 11,322 11,326 11,214 1.0

 Primary metals......................................... 34,972 34,575 34,543 1.1 0.1 0.8 34,073 33,931 34,297 34,199 -0.4

 Iron and steel mills............................... 20,382 20,133 19,993 1.2 0.7 0.6 19,628 19,617 19,825 20,292 -3.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 12,445 12,329 12,418 0.9 -0.7 1.3 12,338 12,211 12,343 11,873 3.9

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,145 2,113 2,132 1.5 -0.9 -0.8 2,107 2,103 2,129 2,034 3.6

 Fabricated metal products......................... 46,102 46,021 46,214 0.2 -0.4 0.3 45,107 45,644 46,011 44,740 0.8

 Machinery.............................................. 66,141 66,503 66,857 -0.5 -0.5 -0.2 63,465 67,089 66,780 59,511 6.6

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,824 3,807 3,798 0.4 0.2 0.5 3,807 3,657 3,433 3,573 6.5

 Construction machinery......................... 5,356 5,702 5,962 -6.1 -4.4 -1.4 5,223 5,745 5,960 5,224 0.0

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 8,029 7,948 7,900 1.0 0.6 0.8 7,627 7,886 7,779 6,702 13.8

 Industrial machinery............................. 7,123 7,170 7,185 -0.7 -0.2 0.3 6,972 7,330 7,191 7,236 -3.6

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,455 1,456 1,454 -0.1 0.1 -0.9 1,364 1,519 1,507 1,305 4.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,182 4,143 4,079 0.9 1.6 0.1 3,791 4,073 4,047 3,535 7.2

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,663 5,581 5,566 1.5 0.3 1.3 5,459 5,634 5,690 4,937 10.6

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 10,731 10,899 11,042 -1.5 -1.3 -1.5 9,865 11,320 11,367 8,586 14.9

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,304 4,387 4,484 -1.9 -2.2 0.0 4,101 4,461 4,528 3,748 9.4

 Computers and electronic products2............ 46,402 46,538 46,501 -0.3 0.1 -0.2 45,099 47,157 46,883 44,055 2.4

 Computers......................................... 1,038 1,096 1,175 -5.3 -6.7 5.5 974 1,156 1,197 1,220 -20.2

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,093 1,090 1,058 0.3 3.0 2.2 992 1,130 1,101 1,002 -1.0

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,601 1,629 1,645 -1.7 -1.0 -0.7 1,467 1,692 1,677 1,565 -6.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,878 6,915 6,937 -0.5 -0.3 -0.8 6,741 7,186 7,044 6,534 3.2

 Defense communications equipment........ 1,327 1,356 1,490 -2.1 -9.0 -7.8 1,327 1,356 1,490 1,742 -23.8

 Audio and video equipment.................... 692 605 679 14.4 -10.9 -0.1 672 666 778 598 12.4

 Electronic components.......................... 7,591 7,406 7,333 2.5 1.0 -0.3 7,364 7,424 7,400 6,784 8.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,442 3,441 3,369 0.0 2.1 1.3 3,350 3,426 3,422 3,188 5.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,783 2,795 2,717 -0.4 2.9 0.6 2,670 2,757 2,704 2,628 1.6

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 12,225 12,149 11,941 0.6 1.7 0.3 11,848 12,351 11,965 11,374 4.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,625 15,660 15,731 -0.2 -0.5 1.1 15,031 15,533 15,658 14,379 4.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,846 1,791 1,787 3.1 0.2 -0.7 1,752 1,753 1,764 1,567 11.8

 Household appliances........................... 1,707 1,677 1,667 1.8 0.6 0.1 1,542 1,622 1,701 1,540 0.1

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,568 4,605 4,617 -0.8 -0.3 1.0 4,487 4,683 4,584 4,554 -1.5

 Batteries............................................ 991 1,000 1,025 -0.9 -2.4 -2.8 910 953 1,046 962 -5.4

 Transportation equipment......................... 114,703 114,558 113,531 0.1 0.9 0.7 110,972 115,002 114,008 101,953 8.8

 Automobiles....................................... 3,277 3,130 3,024 4.7 3.5 3.8 3,182 3,225 3,120 2,591 22.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 2,689 2,667 2,677 0.8 -0.4 5.1 2,327 2,778 2,834 2,228 4.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 2,332 2,261 2,181 3.1 3.7 2.9 2,255 2,346 2,280 1,850 21.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 17,618 17,600 17,678 0.1 -0.4 -0.2 17,284 17,565 17,634 17,031 1.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 62,088 62,080 61,858 0.0 0.4 1.1 59,670 62,184 61,946 53,034 12.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 13,828 13,629 13,178 1.5 3.4 0.1 13,664 13,652 13,264 12,954 5.5

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,012 3,012 3,068 0.0 -1.8 -0.5 3,009 3,011 3,058 2,893 4.0

 Furniture and related products.................... 6,230 6,248 6,207 -0.3 0.7 0.6 6,079 6,284 6,191 5,891 3.2

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 23,586 23,690 23,701 -0.4 0.0 -0.3 23,132 23,978 24,073 23,391 -1.1

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 240,987 240,429 241,193 0.2 -0.3 -0.6 235,129 239,839 243,962 235,819 -0.3

 Food products........................................ 46,126 45,948 45,906 0.4 0.1 0.9 46,203 47,874 48,907 44,656 3.5

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,416 5,458 5,564 -0.8 -1.9 -0.3 5,608 5,546 5,936 5,251 6.8

 Dairy products.................................... 6,074 5,954 5,918 2.0 0.6 1.4 5,623 5,699 5,922 5,596 0.5

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 7,937 7,887 7,868 0.6 0.2 0.7 7,878 8,215 8,139 7,494 5.1

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 19,076 18,981 18,975 0.5 0.0 1.3 19,041 19,291 19,676 17,941 6.1

 Beverages......................................... 15,334 15,225 15,209 0.7 0.1 1.6 15,178 15,426 15,855 14,116 7.5

 Tobacco............................................ 3,742 3,756 3,766 -0.4 -0.3 0.0 3,863 3,865 3,821 3,825 1.0

 Textile mills............................................ 3,343 3,349 3,377 -0.2 -0.8 0.0 3,299 3,317 3,363 3,474 -5.0

 Textile products...................................... 3,226 3,208 3,172 0.6 1.1 0.6 3,134 3,169 3,157 3,179 -1.4

 Apparel................................................. 2,503 2,474 2,419 1.2 2.3 1.4 2,376 2,392 2,473 2,126 11.8

 Leather and allied products....................... 877 868 852 1.0 1.9 -0.1 845 868 849 782 8.1

 Paper products....................................... 14,011 13,959 13,981 0.4 -0.2 -0.2 13,954 13,895 13,921 14,107 -1.1

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 5,996 5,980 6,006 0.3 -0.4 -0.9 6,014 5,917 5,951 6,291 -4.4

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,117 4,108 4,124 0.2 -0.4 0.8 4,101 4,070 4,086 3,975 3.2

 Printing.................................................. 5,349 5,313 5,262 0.7 1.0 -0.1 5,036 5,293 5,423 5,038 0.0

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 52,633 53,094 54,203 -0.9 -2.0 -2.5 49,794 51,642 53,800 51,474 -3.3

 Petroleum refineries............................. 48,332 48,909 49,909 -1.2 -2.0 -2.7 45,565 47,522 49,502 47,359 -3.8

 Chemical products..................................... 72,168 71,586 71,438 0.8 0.2 -1.2 70,521 70,906 71,000 72,439 -2.6

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,121 4,144 4,096 -0.6 1.2 -0.3 4,335 4,027 3,805 4,415 -1.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 24,049 23,634 23,586 1.8 0.2 -2.7 23,201 23,450 23,620 23,618 -1.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,063 2,860 2,876 7.1 -0.6 -0.4 2,885 2,739 2,756 2,766 4.3

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 21,675 21,649 21,608 0.1 0.2 0.5 20,926 21,192 21,393 20,603 1.6

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

1

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

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

where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price change 2 Estimates of inventories for the semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and all other applicable aggregate totals, but are not shown separate

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 484,856 483,057 481,734 0.4 0.3 0.3 465,586 469,120 496,566 457,062 5,727,500 5,491,351 4.3

 Construction materials and supplies....... 40,945 40,939 40,846 0.0 0.2 1.2 35,394 38,989 43,696 35,435 490,559 469,764 4.4

 Information technology......................... 21,441 21,107 20,963 1.6 0.7 -0.8 24,681 20,805 20,356 25,589 259,094 265,676 -2.5

 Computers and related products........... 2,742 2,424 2,370 13.1 2.3 -12.0 3,955 2,223 2,211 4,275 33,170 37,402 -11.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 44,548 44,239 42,792 0.7 3.4 -0.6 39,710 44,080 47,593 37,234 521,704 466,050 11.9

 Capital goods...................................... 80,914 79,945 78,627 1.2 1.7 -0.1 87,918 77,719 77,841 83,948 944,201 892,865 5.7

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 71,872 71,416 70,288 0.6 1.6 0.2 78,132 69,015 69,841 74,616 843,068 786,619 7.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 64,582 64,459 63,074 0.2 2.2 0.4 68,031 61,943 63,311 67,517 764,695 729,178 4.9

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 9,042 8,529 8,339 6.0 2.3 -2.6 9,786 8,704 8,000 9,332 101,133 106,246 -4.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 208,044 208,290 210,691 -0.1 -1.1 0.1 201,508 206,280 217,831 197,116 2,472,608 2,372,325 4.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,023 35,686 34,670 0.9 2.9 -2.5 33,751 35,544 37,644 31,009 422,172 374,938 12.6

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 172,021 172,604 176,021 -0.3 -1.9 0.6 167,757 170,736 180,187 166,107 2,050,436 1,997,387 2.7

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 484,760 476,116 477,438 1.8 -0.3 0.8 482,072 458,624 485,995 481,076 5,664,517 5,501,484 3.0

 Construction materials and supplies....... 40,839 40,757 41,072 0.2 -0.8 1.5 35,103 38,067 43,314 35,191 490,708 472,718 3.8

 Information technology......................... 21,969 21,635 21,129 1.5 2.4 2.7 26,700 19,710 20,138 26,718 266,047 266,764 -0.3

 Computers and related products........... 2,716 2,557 2,423 6.2 5.5 -10.9 3,929 2,356 2,264 4,263 33,363 37,294 -10.5

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 44,134 44,015 42,692 0.3 3.1 -0.1 39,791 44,327 47,449 38,034 520,361 466,625 11.5

 Capital goods...................................... 90,030 79,047 80,406 13.9 -1.7 1.4 109,810 72,306 77,539 105,929 971,865 968,096 0.4

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 73,591 71,229 72,800 3.3 -2.2 2.6 88,797 66,277 71,737 96,109 865,420 858,049 0.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,646 63,846 61,830 -0.3 3.3 3.0 66,717 59,586 62,489 69,733 759,368 761,475 -0.3

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 16,439 7,818 7,606 110.3 2.8 -9.3 21,013 6,029 5,802 9,820 106,445 110,047 -3.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 208,046 208,289 210,737 -0.1 -1.2 0.1 201,321 206,396 217,918 197,001 2,472,674 2,372,435 4.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,025 35,685 34,716 1.0 2.8 -2.5 33,564 35,660 37,731 30,894 422,238 375,048 12.6

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 172,021 172,604 176,021 -0.3 -1.9 0.6 167,757 170,736 180,187 166,107 2,050,436 1,997,387 2.7

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 991,736 983,846 983,406 0.8 0.0 0.3 989,221 966,348 970,159 965,923 (X) (X) 2.4

 Construction materials and supplies....... 55,692 55,798 55,980 -0.2 -0.3 0.4 53,946 54,237 55,159 53,797 (X) (X) 0.3

 Information technology......................... 136,796 136,268 135,740 0.4 0.4 0.1 135,997 133,978 135,073 129,044 (X) (X) 5.4

 Computers and related products........... 1,349 1,375 1,242 -1.9 10.7 4.5 1,349 1,375 1,242 1,156 (X) (X) 16.7

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 15,386 15,800 16,024 -2.6 -1.4 -0.6 15,775 15,694 15,447 17,118 (X) (X) -7.8

 Capital goods...................................... 757,120 748,004 748,902 1.2 -0.1 0.2 757,110 735,218 740,631 729,446 (X) (X) 3.8

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 585,703 583,984 584,171 0.3 0.0 0.4 586,467 575,802 578,540 564,115 (X) (X) 4.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 232,206 233,142 233,755 -0.4 -0.3 -0.5 228,080 229,394 231,751 233,407 (X) (X) -2.3

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 171,417 164,020 164,731 4.5 -0.4 -0.4 170,643 159,416 162,091 165,331 (X) (X) 3.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,052 4,050 4,051 0.0 0.0 1.1 3,813 4,000 3,884 3,747 (X) (X) 1.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,052 4,050 4,051 0.0 0.0 1.1 3,813 4,000 3,884 3,747 (X) (X) 1.8

 All manufacturing industries................... 615,463 614,983 615,204 0.1 0.0 0.0 598,525 615,002 618,373 583,943 (X) (X) 2.5

 Construction materials and supplies....... 59,804 59,458 59,321 0.6 0.2 0.2 58,269 58,724 58,936 57,193 (X) (X) 1.9

 Information technology......................... 39,366 39,455 39,412 -0.2 0.1 0.4 38,058 40,106 39,761 37,238 (X) (X) 2.2

 Computers and related products........... 3,732 3,815 3,878 -2.2 -1.6 1.9 3,433 3,978 3,975 3,787 (X) (X) -9.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 25,916 25,658 25,560 1.0 0.4 1.1 25,048 25,914 25,868 23,700 (X) (X) 5.7

 Capital goods...................................... 194,129 195,072 194,342 -0.5 0.4 0.3 187,501 196,798 194,782 175,959 (X) (X) 6.6

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 172,950 173,578 173,455 -0.4 0.1 0.4 166,350 175,290 173,994 155,306 (X) (X) 7.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 121,077 121,557 121,682 -0.4 -0.1 0.2 116,773 123,199 122,286 111,202 (X) (X) 5.0

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 21,179 21,494 20,887 -1.5 2.9 -0.8 21,151 21,508 20,788 20,653 (X) (X) 2.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 181,734 181,212 182,197 0.3 -0.5 -0.7 177,023 182,115 186,075 175,901 (X) (X) 0.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 25,797 25,526 25,525 1.1 0.0 0.7 24,939 25,861 26,020 24,047 (X) (X) 3.7

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 155,937 155,686 156,672 0.2 -0.6 -0.9 152,084 156,254 160,055 151,854 (X) (X) 0.2

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

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

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

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

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories

3

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

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

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

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

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

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 
 7

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

1 

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. Dec.

2012p 2012r 2012 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 202,212 202,250 203,537 0.0 -0.6 -0.3 199,687 200,814 203,811 196,239 1.8

 Durable goods industries.......................... 120,802 121,135 121,383 -0.3 -0.2 0.1 119,655 121,143 121,573 116,089 3.1

 Wood products................................... 3,524 3,440 3,530 2.4 -2.5 -1.5 3,684 3,584 3,731 3,685 0.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 4,607 4,632 4,590 -0.5 0.9 -0.7 4,565 4,609 4,558 4,563 0.0

 Primary metals.................................... 13,288 13,251 13,187 0.3 0.5 2.0 13,365 13,203 13,328 13,440 -0.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 16,474 16,694 16,900 -1.3 -1.2 -0.2 16,463 16,561 16,798 16,672 -1.3

 Machinery.......................................... 25,587 25,679 25,951 -0.4 -1.0 -0.6 24,671 25,755 26,139 23,371 5.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 17,850 17,813 17,778 0.2 0.2 0.3 17,678 17,947 17,844 16,474 7.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,826 6,902 6,966 -1.1 -0.9 2.3 6,701 6,826 6,818 6,449 3.9

 Transportation equipment..................... 22,131 22,091 21,778 0.2 1.4 -0.4 22,163 22,036 21,673 20,873 6.2

 Furniture and related products............... 2,932 2,954 2,970 -0.7 -0.5 0.4 2,912 2,946 2,946 2,908 0.1

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,583 7,679 7,733 -1.3 -0.7 -0.3 7,453 7,676 7,738 7,654 -2.6

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 81,410 81,115 82,154 0.4 -1.3 -0.8 80,032 79,671 82,238 80,150 -0.1

 Food products.................................... 15,178 15,381 15,556 -1.3 -1.1 0.3 15,295 15,806 16,273 14,728 3.8

 Beverage and tobacco products.................. 4,943 4,940 4,904 0.1 0.7 -0.1 5,080 4,934 4,907 4,812 5.6

 Textiles.............................................. 1,200 1,198 1,192 0.2 0.5 1.1 1,185 1,171 1,171 1,237 -4.2

 Textile products................................... 1,526 1,508 1,498 1.2 0.7 1.2 1,496 1,488 1,492 1,475 1.4

 Apparel............................................. 827 810 831 2.1 -2.5 3.2 814 789 840 671 21.3

 Leather and allied products.................... 275 269 266 2.2 1.1 -1.1 268 262 268 252 6.3

 Paper products.................................... 6,914 6,941 6,924 -0.4 0.2 -0.5 6,931 6,933 6,917 7,069 -2.0

 Printing ............................................. 2,464 2,514 2,449 -2.0 2.7 0.7 2,383 2,511 2,481 2,456 -3.0

 Petroleum and coal products................. 16,628 16,423 17,280 1.2 -5.0 -4.8 15,720 15,279 17,114 16,019 -1.9

 Chemical products................................ 22,633 22,365 22,548 1.2 -0.8 0.4 22,255 21,955 22,228 23,039 -3.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 8,822 8,766 8,706 0.6 0.7 0.6 8,605 8,543 8,547 8,392 2.5

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 190,890 190,761 190,067 0.1 0.4 -0.3 184,853 192,311 191,996 179,266 3.1

 Durable goods industries.......................... 146,028 145,479 144,569 0.4 0.6 0.1 140,532 145,862 144,898 133,423 5.3

 Wood products................................... 1,588 1,566 1,540 1.4 1.7 -0.5 1,541 1,560 1,552 1,414 9.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,374 1,356 1,380 1.3 -1.7 -0.7 1,310 1,287 1,326 1,275 2.7

 Primary metals.................................... 11,118 11,045 10,979 0.7 0.6 0.4 10,320 10,792 10,797 10,610 -2.7

 Fabricated metal products........................ 13,784 13,691 13,608 0.7 0.6 1.0 13,404 13,767 13,695 12,893 4.0

 Machinery.......................................... 16,858 16,757 16,602 0.6 0.9 0.3 15,864 17,164 16,768 15,204 4.3

 Computers and electronic products........ 15,354 15,420 15,557 -0.4 -0.9 -2.7 14,748 15,550 15,673 16,022 -8.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,641 3,623 3,656 0.5 -0.9 -0.3 3,462 3,601 3,640 3,332 3.9

 Transportation equipment..................... 77,889 77,605 76,858 0.4 1.0 0.6 75,618 77,709 77,019 68,599 10.2

 Furniture and related products............... 1,039 1,055 1,036 -1.5 1.8 0.0 1,032 1,052 1,028 968 6.6

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,383 3,361 3,353 0.7 0.2 -0.5 3,233 3,380 3,400 3,106 4.1

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 44,862 45,282 45,498 -0.9 -0.5 -1.8 44,321 46,449 47,098 45,843 -3.3

 Food products.................................... 4,078 4,006 4,043 1.8 -0.9 0.6 4,731 5,009 5,092 4,395 7.6

 Beverage and tobacco products.................. 6,283 6,265 6,269 0.3 -0.1 3.3 6,713 6,764 6,769 6,264 7.2

 Textiles.............................................. 781 776 773 0.6 0.4 -0.4 756 780 775 782 -3.3

 Textile products................................... 415 419 418 -1.0 0.2 0.0 393 418 417 433 -9.2

 Apparel............................................. 391 384 388 1.8 -1.0 -1.3 355 370 389 334 6.3

 Leather and allied products.................... 100 107 113 -6.5 -5.3 -1.7 100 116 111 128 -21.9

 Paper products.................................... 1,298 1,282 1,286 1.2 -0.3 1.3 1,282 1,270 1,272 1,290 -0.6

 Printing ............................................. 1,210 1,146 1,178 5.6 -2.7 -1.8 1,075 1,140 1,291 1,092 -1.6

 Petroleum and coal products................. 13,115 13,924 13,966 -5.8 -0.3 -4.0 12,284 13,638 13,873 14,102 -12.9

 Chemical products................................ 14,945 14,716 14,790 1.6 -0.5 -3.0 14,478 14,711 14,858 14,925 -3.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,246 2,257 2,274 -0.5 -0.7 -0.6 2,154 2,233 2,251 2,098 2.7

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 222,361 221,972 221,600 0.2 0.2 0.4 213,985 221,877 222,566 208,438 2.7

 Durable goods industries.......................... 107,646 107,940 108,059 -0.3 -0.1 0.8 103,209 108,158 107,940 98,612 4.7

 Wood products................................... 4,056 4,151 4,013 -2.3 3.4 2.2 3,892 4,079 3,901 3,692 5.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,566 5,616 5,673 -0.9 -1.0 0.8 5,446 5,426 5,442 5,376 1.3

 Primary metals.................................... 10,566 10,279 10,377 2.8 -0.9 -0.5 10,388 9,936 10,172 10,149 2.4

 Fabricated metal products........................ 15,844 15,636 15,706 1.3 -0.4 0.2 15,240 15,316 15,518 15,175 0.4

 Machinery.......................................... 23,696 24,067 24,304 -1.5 -1.0 -0.2 22,930 24,170 23,873 20,936 9.5

 Computers and electronic products........ 13,198 13,305 13,166 -0.8 1.1 2.3 12,673 13,660 13,366 11,559 9.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 5,158 5,135 5,109 0.4 0.5 0.6 4,868 5,106 5,200 4,598 5.9

 Transportation equipment..................... 14,683 14,862 14,895 -1.2 -0.2 3.4 13,191 15,257 15,316 12,481 5.7

 Furniture and related products............... 2,259 2,239 2,201 0.9 1.7 1.1 2,135 2,286 2,217 2,015 6.0

 Miscellaneous products......................... 12,620 12,650 12,615 -0.2 0.3 -0.3 12,446 12,922 12,935 12,631 -1.5

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 114,715 114,032 113,541 0.6 0.4 0.1 110,776 113,719 114,626 109,826 0.9

 Food products.................................... 26,870 26,561 26,307 1.2 1.0 1.3 26,177 27,059 27,542 25,533 2.5

 Beverage and tobacco products.................. 7,850 7,776 7,802 1.0 -0.3 0.7 7,248 7,593 8,000 6,865 5.6

 Textiles.............................................. 1,362 1,375 1,412 -0.9 -2.6 -0.7 1,358 1,366 1,417 1,455 -6.7

 Textile products................................... 1,285 1,281 1,256 0.3 2.0 0.1 1,245 1,263 1,248 1,271 -2.0

 Apparel............................................. 1,285 1,280 1,200 0.4 6.7 1.1 1,207 1,233 1,244 1,121 7.7

 Leather and allied products.................... 502 492 473 2.0 4.0 0.9 477 490 470 402 18.7

 Paper products.................................... 5,799 5,736 5,771 1.1 -0.6 -0.3 5,741 5,692 5,732 5,748 -0.1

 Printing ............................................. 1,675 1,653 1,635 1.3 1.1 0.1 1,578 1,642 1,651 1,490 5.9

 Petroleum and coal products................. 22,890 22,747 22,957 0.6 -0.9 0.3 21,790 22,725 22,813 21,353 2.0

 Chemical products................................ 34,590 34,505 34,100 0.2 1.2 -1.3 33,788 34,240 33,914 34,475 -2.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 10,607 10,626 10,628 -0.2 0.0 0.6 10,167 10,416 10,595 10,113 0.5

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Dec Nov Oct Sep Dec Nov Oct Sep

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

All manufacturing industries 2

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

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.63 1.65 1.67 1.67 6.12 6.13 6.23 6.24

 Wood products.............................................. 1.48 1.47 1.44 1.46 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.40 1.42 1.43 1.43 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.15 1.18 1.23 1.21 0.99 1.06 1.14 1.11

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.69 1.68 1.69 1.69 3.20 3.15 3.15 3.16

 Machinery..................................................... 1.99 1.98 2.05 2.08 3.97 4.00 4.15 4.24

 Computers and electronic products 2

................ 1.62 1.67 1.66 1.66 7.50 7.53 7.54 7.46

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.56 1.57 1.60 1.59 2.34 2.35 2.35 2.36

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.72 1.74 1.77 1.75 14.28 14.27 14.39 14.47

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.15 1.15 1.14 1.14 1.37 1.36 1.37 1.38

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.71 1.72 1.74 1.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.94 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.56 1.49 1.51 1.52 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.33 1.34 1.36 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.64 1.62 1.60 1.61 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.98 1.93 1.82 1.87 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.92 1.95 1.86 1.95 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.01 1.01 1.00 1.01 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.79 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.72 0.72 0.70 0.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.15 1.14 1.14 1.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.22 1.22 1.23 1.24 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Dec2 Dec2 Dec2 Dec2

Industry 2011- 2011- 2011- 2011-

Dec1 Nov Dec1 Nov Dec1 Nov Dec1 Nov

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

 

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

Durable goods industries....................... -0.2 0.2 -0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Primary metals.................................... -0.2 0.7 -0.4 1.3 -0.1 0.8 0.1 0.5

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

 Machinery.......................................... -0.6 0.8 -1.5 1.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.7 0.4 -0.7 0.7 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.3

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.3 0.4 -0.2 1.3 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.4

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

 Food products................................... (X) 0.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 1.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

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

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

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

 publication.

2

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

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

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

3

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

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

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

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

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
9 

Survey Description 

This report is compiled from results of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, 

and Orders (M3) survey. This survey provides statistics on manufacturers' value of shipments, new 

orders (net of cancellations), end-of-month order backlog (unfilled orders), end-of-month total inventory 

(at current cost or market value), and inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and supplies, work-inprocess, and finished goods). The M3 includes approximately 4,300 reporting units. Units may be 

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

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

publication levels. The survey methodology assumes that the month-to-month changes of the total 

operations of those companies in the monthly survey effectively represent the month-to-month 

movements of all establishments that make up the category. The current coverage levels in the survey 

show that reported data in the monthly survey represent approximately 60 percent of the shipments 

estimates at the total manufacturing level. Data published represent manufacturing in a calendar month. 

The data collection is based on a voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

The data presented in this release are based on data obtained from a panel of 4,300 reporting units and 

provide an indication of the activity within the manufacturing sector. The results differ from what would 

be obtained from a complete enumeration of all manufacturing companies. In addition, a different panel 

of 4,300 companies would yield different results. The M3 panel is comprised of companies with $500 

million or more in shipments and a limited number of smaller companies. From a statistical perspective, 

the panel is not a probability sample; therefore, the sampling errors that are normally provided with 

sample surveys cannot be measured. Nonsampling errors are attributable to many sources. The use of 

company or divisional reports to estimate the monthly change for establishments is one source of 

nonsampling error. The use of primarily large companies to represent the month-to-month movement of 

all companies is another potential source. Any corrections will be published in the full report. 

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

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

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

Benchmark Notice 

Revised historical data for Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders will be issued on May 17, 

2013. These revisions reflect: 

 benchmarking the shipments and inventories data to the 2011 Annual Survey of Manufactures 

(ASM) data, as well as revised ASM benchmarks for prior years; 

 incorporating the unfilled orders to shipments ratios obtained from the 2010/2011 Manufacturers’ 

Unfilled Orders Survey by applying these ratios to the respective ASM shipments data, as well as 

incorporating revised unfilled orders to shipments ratios for prior years; 

 adjusting the new orders data to be consistent with the benchmarked shipments and unfilled orders 

data; 

 correcting monthly data for late receipts, reclassifications of reported data, and revisions to 

previously reported data; 

 migrating the data processing environment from a server having a Linux Red Hat 4 operating system 

that supports SAS® 9.1.3 to a server having a Linux Red Hat 5 operating system that supports SAS® 

9.2; and 

 updating the seasonally adjusted data, based on the results of benchmarking and the recent annual 

review of the seasonal adjustment models. 

An accompanying press release will include the revised 2013 January through March data. Please call 

Jessica Young on (301) 763-4832 with any questions.