Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch (M3) Public Information Office

301-763-4832 301-763-3030

eid.m3.qs@census.gov pio@census.gov

FOR RELEASE AT 10:00 AM EST, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020

MONTHLY FULL REPORT ON MANUFACTURERS’ SHIPMENTS, INVENTORIES AND ORDERS 

SEPTEMBER 2020

Release Number: CB 20-158 M3-2 (20)-09

Statement Regarding COVID-19 Impact: The Census Bureau continues to monitor response and data quality 

and has determined that estimates in this release meet publication standards. For more information, see < M3 

COVID-19 FAQs>.

November 3, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau announces the September full report on manufacturers’ 

shipments, inventories and orders:

MANUFACTURED GOODS – NEW ORDERS

SEPTEMBER 2020 $475.0 billion +1.1%°

AUGUST 2020

(revised) $469.8 billion +0.6%°

Next release: December 4, 2020

Data adjusted for seasonal variation but not for price changes.

Statistical significance is not measurable for this survey. The Manufacturers' Shipments, 

Inventories, and Orders estimates are not based on a probability sample, so the sampling error 

of these estimates cannot be measured nor can the confidence intervals be computed.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders, November 3, 

2020.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in September, up five consecutive months, increased $5.2 billion or 

1.1 percent to $475.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.6 percent August

increase. Shipments, also up five consecutive months, increased $1.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $482.8

billion. This followed a 0.3 percent August increase. Unfilled orders, down six of the last seven months,

decreased $2.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,075.9 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent August decrease. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.59, down from 6.60 in August. Inventories, up four of the last five

months, increased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $686.7 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged 

August increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.42, down from 1.43 in August.

Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20

% Change 0.1% -1.1% 1.7% -0.4% 0.2% -11.0% -13.5% 7.7% 6.4% 6.5% 0.6% 1.1%

-14.0%

-13.0%

-12.0%

-11.0%

-10.0%

-9.0%

-8.0%

-7.0%

-6.0%

-5.0%

-4.0%

-3.0%

-2.0%

-1.0%

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

MANUFACTURERS' NEW ORDERS 2019-2020

Seasonally Adjusted, Month-To-Month Percentage Change

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders, 

November 3, 2020.
Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch (M3) Public Information Office

301-763-4832 301-763-3030

eid.m3.qs@census.gov pio@census.gov

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up five consecutive months, increased $4.4

billion or 1.9 percent to $237.4 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a

0.4 percent August increase. Transportation equipment, up four of the last five months, led the increase, 

$3.1 billion or 4.1 percent to $76.8 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.7

billion or 0.3 percent to $237.6 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September, up four of the last five months, increased $0.9

billion or 0.4 percent to $245.2 billion, up from the previously published 0.3 percent increase. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August decrease. Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months,

led the increase, $0.5 billion or 0.6 percent to $82.0 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable 

goods, up five consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $237.6 billion. This followed a

0.8 percent August increase. Beverage and Tobacco products, up six of the last seven months, led the 

increase, $0.3 billion or 2.0 percent to $13.8 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in September, down six of the last seven months,

decreased $2.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,075.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published

decrease. This followed a 0.6 percent August decrease. Transportation equipment, down seven

consecutive months, drove the decrease, $5.2 billion or 0.7 percent to $722.0 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in September, up following three consecutive monthly 

decreases, increased $1.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $421.8 billion, down from the previously published 0.4 

percent increase. This followed a 0.1 percent August decrease. Transportation equipment, up twenty-four 

of the last twenty-five months, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 0.6 percent to $147.8 billion. Inventories of 

manufactured nondurable goods, down two of the last three months, decreased $1.3 billion or 0.5 percent 

to $264.9 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent August increase. Petroleum and coal products, also down

two of the last three months, drove the decrease, $1.7 billion or 5.1 percent to $30.9 billion. By stage of 

fabrication, September materials and supplies decreased 0.6 percent in durable goods and 1.0 percent in

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 1.8 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.8 percent in

nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.5 percent in durable goods and were virtually unchanged

in nondurable goods.
Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch (M3) Public Information Office

301-763-4832 301-763-3030

eid.m3.qs@census.gov pio@census.gov

The Advance Report on durable goods for October is scheduled for release on November 25, 2020 at 8:30

a.m. EST and the Full Report on December 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. EST. View the full schedule in the

Economic Briefing Room: <www.census.gov/economic-indicators/>. The full text and tables of this release

can be found at <www.census.gov/m3>.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Figures in text are adjusted for seasonality, but not for inflation. Figures on new and unfilled orders 

exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. 

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

decrease. 

Description of the survey 

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

Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey, which is a voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United 

States Code. This survey provides statistics on a calendar-month basis for manufacturers' value of 

shipments, new orders (net of cancellations), end-of-month order backlog (unfilled orders), end-ofmonth total inventory (at current cost or market value), and inventories by stage of fabrication 

(materials and supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods). Data published from the M3 survey are 

based on a panel of approximately 5,000 reporting units that represent approximately 3,100 

companies and provide an indication of month-to-month change for the Manufacturing Sector. These 

reporting units may be divisions of diversified large companies, large homogenous companies, or 

single-unit manufacturers in 92 industry categories, which are combined into 65 publication levels due 

to the small monthly panel size. The survey methodology assumes that the month-to-month changes 

of the total operations of the reporting units in the M3 panel effectively represent the month-tomonth movements of all establishments that make up the category. The companies for which 

shipments data are currently reported or imputed in the M3 survey represent approximately 60

percent of the total value of shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2017 Economic 

Census, and these companies include roughly 61 percent of the manufacturing companies with $500 

million or more in shipments in the 2017 Economic Census. The companies for which shipments data 

are currently reported in the M3 survey represent approximately 51 percent of the total value of 

shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2017 Economic Census. Statistics based on the M3 

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

manufacturing companies. The M3 panel is not based on a probability sample; therefore, the sampling 
Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch (M3) Public Information Office

301-763-4832 301-763-3030

eid.m3.qs@census.gov pio@census.gov

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: <www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>.

2021 Release Dates for the M3 Survey

Survey month Advance Report 

(8:30 a.m. release time)

Full Report 

(10:00 a.m. release time)

Nov-20 Thu 12/24/2020 Wed 1/6/2021

Dec-20 Wed 1/27/2021 Thu 2/4/2021

Jan-21 Thu 2/25/2021 Thu 3/4/2021

Feb-21 Wed 3/24/2021 Mon 4/5/2021

Mar-21 Mon 4/26/2021 Tue 5/4/2021

Apr-21 Thu 5/27/2021 Fri 6/4/2021

May-21 Thu 6/24/2021 Fri 7/2/2021

Jun-21 Tue 7/27/2021 Tue 8/3/2021

Jul-21 Wed 8/25/2021 Thu 9/2/2021

Aug-21 Mon 9/27/2021 Mon 10/4/2021

Sep-21 Wed 10/27/2021 Wed 11/3/2021

Oct-21 Wed 11/24/2021 Fri 12/3/2021

Nov-21 Thu 12/23/2021 Not available at this time

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pfei_schedule_release_dates_2021.pdf 
Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch (M3) Public Information Office

301-763-4832 301-763-3030

eid.m3.qs@census.gov pio@census.gov

RESOURCES

API

The Census Bureau’s application programming interface (API) lets developers create custom apps to reach 

new users and makes key demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics more accessible than ever 

before.

<www.census.gov/developers/>.

FRED Mobile App

Receive the latest updates on the nation’s key economic indicators by downloading 

the FRED App <https://fred.stlouisfed.org/fred-mobile/> for both Apple and 

Android devices. FRED, the signature database of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. 

Louis, now incorporates the Census Bureau’s 13 economic indicators.

###
Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry % Change

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2020/

2020p 2020r 2020 Sep. Aug. July 2020p 2020r 2020 2019 2020p 2019 2019

 All manufacturing industries.................. 482,818 481,216 479,889 0.3 0.3 4.7 502,373 491,215 467,059 512,116 4,200,312 4,525,024 -7.2

 Excluding transportation................... 400,819 399,708 396,792 0.3 0.7 2.3 415,580 408,024 394,712 424,063 3,555,655 3,744,381 -5.0

 Excluding defense.............................. 469,086 467,353 465,923 0.4 0.3 4.8 487,198 477,608 454,604 496,945 4,076,600 4,400,729 -7.4

 With unfilled orders............................ 163,279 163,503 162,074 -0.1 0.9 4.0 172,618 166,043 153,952 178,549 1,451,666 1,563,548 -7.2

 Durable goods industries......................... 245,224 244,347 244,876 0.4 -0.2 7.6 259,418 249,382 231,059 256,891 2,081,073 2,249,497 -7.5

 Wood products....................................... 10,041 9,740 9,464 3.1 2.9 5.9 10,434 10,263 9,873 9,338 84,061 81,790 2.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 11,742 11,737 11,819 0.0 -0.7 1.3 12,603 12,716 12,702 12,101 104,996 103,514 1.4

 Primary metals....................................... 18,270 18,350 18,119 -0.4 1.3 1.3 18,560 18,621 17,685 19,550 167,213 183,697 -9.0

 Iron and steel mills............................ 9,263 9,189 9,187 0.8 0.0 1.3 9,311 9,335 9,016 10,005 85,215 96,709 -11.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 7,885 7,918 7,692 -0.4 2.9 0.7 8,063 8,044 7,478 8,085 70,631 73,136 -3.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,122 1,243 1,240 -9.7 0.2 6.4 1,186 1,242 1,191 1,460 11,367 13,852 -17.9

 Fabricated metal products....................... 30,086 30,031 30,187 0.2 -0.5 3.5 31,499 31,332 29,774 32,756 271,914 287,470 -5.4

 Machinery............................................. 30,875 31,146 30,548 -0.9 2.0 2.4 31,734 30,799 29,521 32,084 275,005 290,881 -5.5

 Farm machinery................................. 2,112 2,153 1,989 -1.9 8.2 12.4 1,966 1,969 1,859 1,798 17,115 18,541 -7.7

 Construction machinery..................... 2,526 2,564 2,584 -1.5 -0.8 3.2 2,496 2,536 2,550 2,916 23,284 27,867 -16.4

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,054 1,069 1,087 -1.4 -1.7 -4.6 1,121 1,045 1,018 1,383 10,801 13,059 -17.3

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,170 3,195 3,098 -0.8 3.1 -0.3 3,598 3,191 2,887 3,526 28,339 26,420 7.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 577 583 587 -1.0 -0.7 10.1 664 551 593 606 4,989 4,811 3.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,920 4,056 4,041 -3.4 0.4 9.8 4,105 4,246 4,450 3,914 34,695 35,753 -3.0

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,443 2,466 2,415 -0.9 2.1 -0.1 2,594 2,422 2,244 2,741 21,640 23,896 -9.4

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,803 3,819 3,687 -0.4 3.6 -2.9 3,798 3,869 3,559 4,064 34,153 36,918 -7.5

 Material handling equipment............... 2,711 2,669 2,591 1.6 3.0 0.3 2,760 2,683 2,477 2,723 23,975 25,719 -6.8

 Computers and electronic products2.......... 30,274 29,917 29,778 1.2 0.5 4.1 34,008 30,316 27,994 31,440 258,774 251,488 2.9

 Computers........................................ 570 552 556 3.3 -0.7 -2.8 624 623 520 685 5,037 5,603 -10.1

 Computer storage devices..................... 424 458 464 -7.4 -1.3 2.9 478 411 363 491 3,979 2,959 34.5

 Other peripheral equipment................ 785 865 840 -9.2 3.0 23.7 910 852 791 894 6,765 6,231 8.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,970 3,862 3,797 2.8 1.7 9.2 4,892 3,514 3,337 4,202 32,054 29,297 9.4

 Defense communications equipment.... 277 292 275 -5.1 6.2 -3.8 323 284 257 267 2,414 2,322 4.0

 Audio and video equipment.................... 362 352 363 2.8 -3.0 10.7 337 341 313 323 2,518 2,776 -9.3

 Electronic components......................... 4,368 4,398 4,369 -0.7 0.7 4.5 4,494 4,741 4,365 4,031 38,475 35,139 9.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,494 1,511 1,523 -1.1 -0.8 1.2 1,661 1,512 1,347 1,715 13,574 14,421 -5.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 3,039 2,962 3,061 2.6 -3.2 1.7 3,269 2,972 2,800 3,277 26,595 25,948 2.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,201 9,155 8,905 0.5 2.8 1.2 10,546 9,111 8,389 10,116 79,462 80,989 -1.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,516 10,600 10,602 -0.8 0.0 2.9 11,401 10,931 10,367 11,793 95,590 98,477 -2.9

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 980 971 978 0.9 -0.7 2.6 1,006 1,014 968 1,040 8,712 9,027 -3.5

 Household appliances........................ 1,921 2,050 2,084 -6.3 -1.6 10.5 2,170 2,083 1,927 2,091 16,848 16,836 0.1

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,857 2,871 2,874 -0.5 -0.1 -2.1 3,127 2,964 2,775 3,741 28,224 30,918 -8.7

 Batteries........................................... 755 772 741 -2.2 4.2 -1.5 845 812 693 852 6,440 6,540 -1.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 81,999 81,508 83,097 0.6 -1.9 17.7 86,793 83,191 72,347 88,053 644,657 780,643 -17.4

 Automobiles..................................... 8,254 7,572 9,220 9.0 -17.9 50.7 8,458 7,856 7,400 8,519 55,662 80,873 -31.2

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 22,662 22,820 23,463 -0.7 -2.7 32.9 24,577 23,886 19,631 21,491 143,701 184,973 -22.3

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,531 2,344 2,314 8.0 1.3 7.9 2,647 2,350 2,342 2,571 19,417 24,193 -19.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 28,885 28,554 29,155 1.2 -2.1 12.3 29,365 29,438 26,577 28,128 239,305 256,611 -6.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 4,978 5,271 3,947 -5.6 33.5 -5.6 5,734 4,933 3,430 11,306 53,428 101,468 -47.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,745 4,095 4,275 -8.5 -4.2 8.0 4,229 4,074 3,820 4,965 36,158 41,566 -13.0

 Ships and boats................................. 2,704 2,740 2,613 -1.3 4.9 9.1 2,744 2,672 2,359 2,839 23,774 27,275 -12.8

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,506 6,556 6,664 -0.8 -1.6 1.2 6,549 6,934 6,818 6,571 58,388 59,495 -1.9

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 14,915 14,762 14,598 1.0 1.1 4.9 15,837 14,279 13,978 13,205 120,475 112,042 7.5

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 237,594 236,869 235,013 0.3 0.8 1.8 242,955 241,833 236,000 255,225 2,119,239 2,275,527 -6.9

 Food products....................................... 67,534 67,316 67,773 0.3 -0.7 0.8 69,500 68,314 65,808 68,372 604,596 597,255 1.2

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 7,116 7,125 7,131 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 7,244 7,314 6,965 6,762 62,993 61,580 2.3

 Dairy products.................................. 10,461 10,507 10,696 -0.4 -1.8 0.1 10,523 10,601 10,747 10,321 94,065 91,817 2.4

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 18,032 17,957 18,171 0.4 -1.2 1.3 18,057 18,303 18,046 19,389 166,695 176,062 -5.3

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 13,767 13,499 13,317 2.0 1.4 0.9 14,198 13,967 13,531 14,115 119,121 121,339 -1.8

 Beverages......................................... 9,414 9,304 9,447 1.2 -1.5 1.6 9,845 9,772 9,661 9,766 84,119 83,620 0.6

 Tobacco............................................ 4,353 4,195 3,870 3.8 8.4 -0.8 4,353 4,195 3,870 4,349 35,002 37,719 -7.2

 Textile mills........................................... 2,199 2,165 2,108 1.6 2.7 2.6 2,216 2,290 2,095 2,317 19,375 21,306 -9.1

 Textile products................................... 1,884 1,835 1,763 2.7 4.1 -2.3 1,870 1,913 1,793 1,985 16,482 18,427 -10.6

 Apparel................................................ 880 839 870 4.9 -3.6 1.2 931 910 895 945 7,619 7,972 -4.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 439 438 417 0.2 5.0 8.0 429 433 421 374 3,468 3,641 -4.8

 Paper products...................................... 16,432 16,411 16,261 0.1 0.9 1.5 16,899 16,896 16,465 16,336 146,993 145,938 0.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,563 6,560 6,457 0.0 1.6 -0.1 6,812 6,847 6,617 6,737 59,093 59,044 0.1

 Paperboard containers........................ 6,084 6,052 5,979 0.5 1.2 3.3 6,293 6,225 6,088 5,798 53,203 52,377 1.6

 Printing................................................. 6,914 6,846 7,030 1.0 -2.6 4.0 7,256 6,888 6,774 7,471 61,713 63,366 -2.6

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 39,489 39,531 38,014 -0.1 4.0 5.6 39,273 41,717 40,838 54,636 349,767 500,467 -30.1

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 35,371 35,418 33,971 -0.1 4.3 6.4 34,596 36,872 36,200 49,737 311,821 461,419 -32.4

 Chemical products..................................... 68,302 68,210 67,859 0.1 0.5 1.3 70,061 68,278 67,413 67,996 611,345 608,904 0.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,625 2,702 2,753 -2.8 -1.9 0.3 2,564 2,298 2,335 2,755 25,808 27,399 -5.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 25,410 25,408 25,262 0.0 0.6 0.3 26,867 25,320 24,934 23,195 221,042 198,493 11.4

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 4,724 4,609 4,426 2.5 4.1 3.6 4,775 4,803 4,703 4,333 40,856 39,594 3.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 19,754 19,779 19,601 -0.1 0.9 1.0 20,322 20,227 19,967 20,678 178,760 186,912 -4.4

Year to date

p

 Preliminary 

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

1

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

data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the 

model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes. 

2

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

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/>. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>. 
Table 2. Value of Manufacturers' New Orders for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry % Change

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2020/

2020p 2020r 2020 Sep. Aug. July 2020p 2020r 2020 2019 2020p 2019 2019

All manufacturing industries2........................ 474,974 469,802 466,927 1.1 0.6 6.5 491,635 474,787 452,865 504,662 4,084,617 4,460,500 -8.4

 Excluding transportation2...................... 398,143 396,026 392,448 0.5 0.9 2.4 411,004 401,214 389,763 417,172 3,518,395 3,705,432 -5.0

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 463,551 455,300 451,279 1.8 0.9 5.8 477,646 462,528 441,840 485,350 3,959,918 4,335,561 -8.7

 With unfilled orders2............................. 160,745 157,125 154,253 2.3 1.9 9.7 167,846 155,078 144,815 176,162 1,379,750 1,541,927 -10.5

 Durable goods industries2......................... 237,380 232,933 231,914 1.9 0.4 11.8 248,680 232,954 216,865 249,437 1,965,378 2,184,973 -10.1

 Primary metals........................................ 19,266 18,526 18,189 4.0 1.9 1.6 18,988 18,505 17,519 18,869 166,679 183,115 -9.0

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,086 9,278 9,195 8.7 0.9 2.4 9,724 9,300 8,984 9,579 84,883 96,564 -12.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 8,020 8,008 7,632 0.1 4.9 0.3 8,134 7,946 7,160 7,995 70,264 73,012 -3.8

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,160 1,240 1,362 -6.5 -9.0 4.2 1,130 1,259 1,375 1,295 11,532 13,539 -14.8

 Fabricated metal products........................ 30,790 30,438 30,491 1.2 -0.2 3.8 31,544 31,239 30,321 31,397 273,579 289,528 -5.5

 Machinery............................................. 31,464 31,570 30,761 -0.3 2.6 2.8 31,874 30,673 29,842 31,655 277,777 289,793 -4.1

 Construction machinery........................ 2,610 2,726 2,644 -4.3 3.1 1.8 2,662 2,573 2,600 2,770 23,152 25,155 -8.0

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,174 1,170 1,049 0.3 11.5 1.8 1,241 1,146 980 1,380 10,639 12,559 -15.3

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,124 3,148 3,068 -0.8 2.6 1.7 3,490 3,127 2,799 3,496 28,177 26,428 6.6

 Photographic equipment....................... 537 546 540 -1.6 1.1 6.9 659 509 565 707 4,798 4,546 5.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,975 4,179 4,192 -4.9 -0.3 9.3 4,064 4,225 4,514 3,842 35,409 36,261 -2.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,545 2,533 2,487 0.5 1.8 -4.2 2,619 2,447 2,388 2,599 22,483 23,388 -3.9

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 3,865 3,670 3,740 5.3 -1.9 2.6 3,860 3,720 3,612 4,024 33,960 36,805 -7.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,757 2,726 2,565 1.1 6.3 -0.2 2,767 2,595 2,410 2,745 24,044 25,799 -6.8

 Computers and electronic products2........... 25,013 24,864 24,577 0.6 1.2 2.9 28,579 24,022 22,465 27,229 215,622 210,732 2.3

 Computers........................................ 591 534 545 10.7 -2.0 2.6 645 605 509 723 4,885 5,558 -12.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,994 3,933 3,829 1.6 2.7 10.3 4,886 3,494 3,391 4,220 32,256 29,685 8.7

 Defense communications equipment....... 260 264 257 -1.5 2.7 10.3 317 258 247 282 2,122 2,048 3.6

 Electronic components......................... 4,378 4,302 4,198 1.8 2.5 2.2 4,554 4,508 4,255 4,203 38,052 35,299 7.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,554 1,617 1,662 -3.9 -2.7 0.4 1,769 1,610 1,457 1,859 14,543 15,037 -3.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,945 2,875 3,005 2.4 -4.3 -3.9 3,392 2,609 2,439 3,575 26,501 27,384 -3.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,246 9,190 8,930 0.6 2.9 1.4 10,783 8,842 8,245 10,287 79,879 80,855 -1.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,790 10,868 10,840 -0.7 0.3 5.1 11,566 10,913 10,514 11,557 96,986 99,388 -2.4

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 983 943 983 4.2 -4.1 1.9 1,016 971 961 1,088 8,628 9,329 -7.5

 Household appliances.......................... 2,002 2,188 2,225 -8.5 -1.7 9.4 2,379 2,132 2,068 2,126 17,583 16,961 3.7

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,864 2,927 2,901 -2.2 0.9 0.1 2,939 2,933 2,830 3,520 28,265 31,075 -9.0

 Transportation equipment........................ 76,831 73,776 74,479 4.1 -0.9 35.3 80,631 73,573 63,102 87,490 566,222 755,068 -25.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 28,947 28,696 29,043 0.9 -1.2 8.8 29,538 29,662 26,270 27,963 239,401 254,977 -6.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts3................ 1,799 -3,248 -5,970 (NA) (NA) (NA) 570 -3,820 -4,074 7,123 -26,764 79,411 -133.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 2,143 3,979 4,616 -46.1 -13.8 75.2 2,701 2,994 3,764 7,285 32,269 41,729 -22.7

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,776 3,123 3,724 -11.1 -16.1 77.6 2,290 2,282 1,522 2,092 27,414 26,473 3.6

 Furniture and related products................... 6,590 6,654 6,692 -1.0 -0.6 2.4 6,686 6,773 6,545 6,571 59,039 59,927 -1.5

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 237,594 236,869 235,013 0.3 0.8 1.8 242,955 241,833 236,000 255,225 2,119,239 2,275,527 -6.9

Year to date

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. 

3

 (NA) - New Orders month-to-month percent change is not provided for Nondefense aircraft and parts because the denominator has a negative value. 

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/>. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>. 
Table 3. Value of Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2020/

2020p 2020r 2020 Sep. Aug. July 2020p 2020r 2020 2019 2019

All manufacturing industries2

...................... 1,075,897 1,078,431 1,084,809 -0.2 -0.6 -0.7 1,070,226 1,074,998 1,085,963 1,142,639 -6.3

 Excluding transportation2...................... 353,896 351,262 349,908 0.7 0.4 0.2 351,644 350,254 351,601 347,968 1.1

 Excluding defense2............................. 856,644 856,869 863,886 0.0 -0.8 -1.1 852,391 855,977 865,594 935,488 -8.9

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,075,897 1,078,431 1,084,809 -0.2 -0.6 -0.7 1,070,226 1,074,998 1,085,963 1,142,639 -6.3

 Primary metals........................................ 31,826 30,830 30,654 3.2 0.6 0.2 30,925 30,497 30,613 30,354 1.9

 Iron and steel mills............................... 13,691 12,868 12,779 6.4 0.7 0.1 13,335 12,922 12,957 13,487 -1.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 12,639 12,504 12,414 1.1 0.7 -0.5 12,167 12,096 12,194 12,122 0.4

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 5,496 5,458 5,461 0.7 -0.1 2.3 5,423 5,479 5,462 4,745 14.3

 Fabricated metal products......................... 74,107 73,403 72,996 1.0 0.6 0.4 74,115 74,070 74,163 74,974 -1.1

 Machinery.............................................. 98,250 97,661 97,237 0.6 0.4 0.2 97,500 97,360 97,486 95,974 1.6

 Construction machinery......................... 5,472 5,388 5,226 1.6 3.1 1.2 5,245 5,079 5,042 5,563 -5.7

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 3,860 3,740 3,639 3.2 2.8 -1.0 3,860 3,740 3,639 4,166 -7.3

 Industrial machinery............................. 8,504 8,550 8,597 -0.5 -0.5 -0.3 8,329 8,437 8,501 8,692 -4.2

 Photographic equipment........................ 900 940 977 -4.3 -3.8 -4.6 879 884 926 1,100 -20.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 7,379 7,324 7,201 0.8 1.7 2.1 7,210 7,251 7,272 6,651 8.4

 Metalworking machinery........................ 8,458 8,356 8,289 1.2 0.8 0.9 8,457 8,432 8,407 7,939 6.5

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 23,413 23,351 23,500 0.3 -0.6 0.2 23,413 23,351 23,500 23,874 -1.9

 Material handling equipment................... 11,109 11,063 11,006 0.4 0.5 -0.2 11,105 11,098 11,186 10,832 2.5

 Computers and electronic products2............. 118,680 118,631 118,648 0.0 0.0 -0.1 118,369 117,832 118,663 117,770 0.5

 Computers......................................... 1,856 1,835 1,853 1.1 -1.0 -0.6 1,856 1,835 1,853 1,946 -4.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 24,963 24,939 24,868 0.1 0.3 0.1 24,834 24,840 24,860 24,562 1.1

 Defense communications equipment........ 653 670 698 -2.5 -4.0 -2.5 665 671 697 990 -32.8

 Electronic components.......................... 14,437 14,427 14,523 0.1 -0.7 -1.2 14,242 14,182 14,415 14,240 0.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 22,264 22,204 22,098 0.3 0.5 0.6 22,317 22,209 22,111 21,371 4.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 30,603 30,697 30,784 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 30,627 30,504 30,867 31,175 -1.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 23,904 23,859 23,824 0.2 0.1 0.1 23,828 23,591 23,860 23,486 1.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 22,401 22,127 21,859 1.2 1.2 1.1 22,179 22,014 22,032 20,717 7.1

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,655 1,652 1,680 0.2 -1.7 0.3 1,663 1,653 1,696 1,635 1.7

 Household appliances........................... 2,226 2,145 2,007 3.8 6.9 7.6 2,291 2,082 2,033 1,471 55.7

 Electrical equipment............................. 8,651 8,644 8,588 0.1 0.7 0.3 8,458 8,646 8,677 8,489 -0.4

 Transportation equipment......................... 722,001 727,169 734,901 -0.7 -1.1 -1.2 718,582 724,744 734,362 794,671 -9.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 21,225 21,163 21,021 0.3 0.7 -0.5 20,844 20,671 20,447 20,269 2.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 481,300 484,479 492,998 -0.7 -1.7 -2.0 479,782 484,946 493,699 568,247 -15.6

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 82,360 83,962 84,078 -1.9 -0.1 0.4 81,148 82,676 83,756 80,341 1.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 49,910 49,838 49,455 0.1 0.8 2.3 48,789 49,243 49,633 41,491 17.6

 Furniture and related products................... 8,123 8,039 7,941 1.0 1.2 0.4 8,047 7,910 8,071 7,579 6.2

p

 Preliminary 

r

 Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment. 

1

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

include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the 

latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes. 

2

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

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>.
Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2020/

2020p 2020r 2020 Sep. Aug. July 2020p 2020r 2020 2019 2019

 All manufacturing industries...................... 686,652 686,479 686,399 0.0 0.0 -0.6 686,835 689,884 690,088 696,253 -1.4

 Excluding transportation........................ 538,853 539,610 540,375 -0.1 -0.1 -0.7 538,280 541,889 542,648 559,218 -3.7

 Excluding defense............................. 660,932 660,994 661,107 0.0 0.0 -0.6 661,101 664,290 664,717 671,137 -1.5

 With unfilled orders............................. 344,953 343,267 343,741 0.5 -0.1 -0.8 345,144 346,021 346,790 340,576 1.3

 Durable goods industries........................ 421,799 420,373 420,990 0.3 -0.1 -0.8 421,891 423,444 424,360 419,563 0.6

 Wood products........................................ 11,878 11,780 11,638 0.8 1.2 0.2 11,660 11,593 11,356 11,840 -1.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 14,017 14,031 14,128 -0.1 -0.7 -1.2 13,824 13,964 14,152 14,351 -3.7

 Primary metals......................................... 33,524 33,120 33,310 1.2 -0.6 -1.8 33,338 33,210 33,527 35,508 -6.1

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,381 18,227 18,551 0.8 -1.7 -2.4 18,321 18,317 18,683 20,010 -8.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 13,067 12,816 12,673 2.0 1.1 -1.0 13,015 12,840 12,767 13,350 -2.5

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,076 2,077 2,086 0.0 -0.4 -2.1 2,002 2,053 2,077 2,148 -6.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 51,080 51,174 51,434 -0.2 -0.5 -2.1 51,088 51,382 52,072 53,726 -4.9

 Machinery.............................................. 69,050 68,916 69,488 0.2 -0.8 -1.3 69,432 69,655 69,869 72,657 -4.4

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,620 3,645 3,674 -0.7 -0.8 -1.5 3,507 3,526 3,595 3,891 -9.9

 Construction machinery......................... 5,916 5,994 6,060 -1.3 -1.1 -1.2 6,007 6,030 6,056 6,588 -8.8

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 4,700 4,727 4,863 -0.6 -2.8 3.9 4,712 4,785 4,823 5,507 -14.4

 Industrial machinery............................. 9,796 9,760 9,793 0.4 -0.3 -1.1 10,174 9,998 9,733 9,538 6.7

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,418 1,414 1,427 0.3 -0.9 -0.7 1,419 1,457 1,446 1,456 -2.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,979 4,857 4,971 2.5 -2.3 -7.1 4,829 4,875 5,068 5,532 -12.7

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,770 5,790 5,905 -0.3 -1.9 -1.2 5,820 5,877 5,949 6,307 -7.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 9,280 9,259 9,295 0.2 -0.4 -1.4 9,242 9,450 9,516 9,627 -4.0

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,762 4,753 4,798 0.2 -0.9 0.1 4,899 4,843 4,893 5,312 -7.8

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 43,572 43,598 43,976 -0.1 -0.9 -0.5 43,375 44,168 44,450 43,802 -1.0

 Computers......................................... 1,803 1,849 1,849 -2.5 0.0 -0.6 1,895 1,938 1,914 1,939 -2.3

 Computer storage devices.................... 989 972 956 1.7 1.7 -0.8 1,001 1,004 1,027 985 1.6

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,059 1,044 1,050 1.4 -0.6 -2.1 1,034 1,063 1,063 1,000 3.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 4,660 4,597 4,576 1.4 0.5 0.8 4,601 4,734 4,593 4,475 2.8

 Defense communications equipment........ 673 666 670 1.1 -0.6 1.5 673 666 670 657 2.4

 Audio and video equipment.................... 488 490 517 -0.4 -5.2 -14.4 536 520 522 692 -22.5

 Electronic components.......................... 7,419 7,445 7,787 -0.3 -4.4 -1.2 7,266 7,297 7,862 7,765 -6.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,939 2,937 2,932 0.1 0.2 -0.9 2,945 2,977 2,967 2,851 3.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,695 2,686 2,675 0.3 0.4 0.4 2,625 2,714 2,711 2,627 -0.1

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 15,436 15,439 15,468 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 15,330 15,718 15,635 14,962 2.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 19,659 19,696 19,746 -0.2 -0.3 -0.2 19,348 19,899 20,057 19,481 -0.7

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 2,004 2,002 2,018 0.1 -0.8 -0.4 2,001 2,015 2,048 2,089 -4.2

 Household appliances........................... 2,453 2,353 2,362 4.2 -0.4 -0.8 2,422 2,435 2,415 2,672 -9.4

 Electrical equipment............................. 6,304 6,484 6,472 -2.8 0.2 -0.5 5,980 6,473 6,536 5,994 -0.2

 Batteries............................................ 1,825 1,830 1,844 -0.3 -0.8 -0.5 1,892 1,941 1,963 1,880 0.6

 Transportation equipment......................... 147,799 146,869 146,024 0.6 0.6 -0.2 148,555 147,995 147,440 137,035 8.4

 Automobiles....................................... 5,485 5,571 5,681 -1.5 -1.9 -2.1 5,634 5,690 5,841 6,235 -9.6

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 4,805 5,082 5,128 -5.5 -0.9 -1.7 4,990 5,260 5,359 5,386 -7.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,957 1,962 1,837 -0.3 6.8 -2.3 1,905 1,936 1,946 1,872 1.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 26,582 26,416 26,489 0.6 -0.3 -2.7 26,611 26,559 26,783 26,771 -0.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 79,247 78,381 77,726 1.1 0.8 1.0 79,538 78,660 78,058 68,271 16.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 12,421 12,431 12,327 -0.1 0.8 -1.2 12,399 12,456 12,372 12,083 2.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 4,361 4,253 4,151 2.5 2.5 1.6 4,478 4,333 4,177 4,320 3.7

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,148 7,107 7,120 0.6 -0.2 -1.3 7,086 7,190 7,229 7,427 -4.6

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 24,072 24,082 24,126 0.0 -0.2 0.2 24,185 24,388 24,208 23,736 1.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 264,853 266,106 265,409 -0.5 0.3 -0.2 264,944 266,440 265,728 276,690 -4.2

 Food products........................................ 54,517 54,574 54,597 -0.1 0.0 0.3 55,197 54,964 54,224 56,123 -1.6

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,354 5,269 5,273 1.6 -0.1 1.3 5,158 5,180 5,139 5,182 -0.5

 Dairy products.................................... 8,472 8,467 8,487 0.1 -0.2 2.0 8,520 8,595 8,747 8,428 1.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 9,286 9,302 9,210 -0.2 1.0 -0.8 9,327 9,386 9,295 10,051 -7.2

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 25,314 25,502 25,684 -0.7 -0.7 -0.1 25,077 24,863 24,997 25,468 -1.5

 Beverages......................................... 21,537 21,661 21,782 -0.6 -0.6 -0.1 21,448 21,297 21,365 21,563 -0.5

 Tobacco............................................ 3,777 3,841 3,902 -1.7 -1.6 -0.3 3,629 3,566 3,632 3,905 -7.1

 Textile mills............................................ 3,040 3,054 3,061 -0.5 -0.2 -1.4 3,052 3,074 3,083 3,246 -6.0

 Textile products...................................... 3,693 3,711 3,737 -0.5 -0.7 -0.7 3,715 3,713 3,737 4,005 -7.2

 Apparel................................................. 1,788 1,798 1,821 -0.6 -1.3 -0.9 1,844 1,896 1,901 1,931 -4.5

 Leather and allied products....................... 810 826 844 -1.9 -2.1 -1.1 809 832 853 862 -6.1

 Paper products....................................... 15,154 15,119 15,162 0.2 -0.3 -1.0 15,153 15,224 15,293 15,352 -1.3

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 5,564 5,574 5,652 -0.2 -1.4 -0.6 5,506 5,574 5,660 5,746 -4.2

 Paperboard containers......................... 5,437 5,417 5,374 0.4 0.8 -2.2 5,453 5,464 5,438 5,433 0.4

 Printing.................................................. 5,688 5,684 5,672 0.1 0.2 -0.1 5,749 5,703 5,619 5,734 0.3

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 30,926 32,596 32,214 -5.1 1.2 -0.2 31,337 32,822 32,780 39,272 -20.2

 Petroleum refineries............................. 25,601 27,279 26,713 -6.2 2.1 0.1 26,084 27,474 27,204 33,489 -22.1

 Chemical products..................................... 97,677 97,076 96,414 0.6 0.7 -0.2 96,859 97,332 97,077 97,248 -0.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 5,548 5,513 5,474 0.6 0.7 -0.9 5,159 5,252 5,200 5,248 -1.7

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 46,456 46,068 45,604 0.8 1.0 0.1 46,456 46,383 46,171 45,156 2.9

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,829 3,857 3,832 -0.7 0.7 -0.2 3,750 3,779 3,839 3,997 -6.2

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 26,246 26,166 26,203 0.3 -0.1 -0.6 26,152 26,017 26,164 27,449 -4.7

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 noncalendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. 

Estimates are not adjusted for price changes. 

2

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

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/>. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>. 
Table 5. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments, New Orders, Unfilled Orders, and Total Inventories for 

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date

Industry % Change6

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2020/

2020p 2020r 2020 Sep. Aug. July 2020p 2020r 2020 2019 2020p 2019 2019

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries......................... 482,818 481,216 479,889 0.3 0.3 4.7 502,373 491,215 467,059 512,116 4,200,312 4,525,024 -7.2

 Construction materials and supplies....... 52,667 52,270 51,887 0.8 0.7 3.8 55,311 55,742 54,517 53,986 464,724 471,808 -1.5

 Information technology......................... 25,176 25,002 24,780 0.7 0.9 3.7 28,465 24,721 23,169 27,017 216,875 213,413 1.6

 Computers and related products........... 1,779 1,875 1,860 -5.1 0.8 9.3 2,012 1,886 1,674 2,070 15,781 14,793 6.7

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 62,332 61,290 64,152 1.7 -4.5 23.7 65,047 63,530 55,950 60,709 458,085 546,650 -16.2

 Capital goods...................................... 82,371 82,340 80,146 0.0 2.7 2.2 89,120 81,203 75,401 90,426 722,977 768,904 -6.0

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 70,296 70,170 67,900 0.2 3.3 2.5 75,883 69,273 64,543 77,344 614,599 661,016 -7.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 67,617 67,308 66,255 0.5 1.6 3.0 72,534 66,593 63,228 69,732 585,338 594,665 -1.6

 Defense capital goods4........................ 12,075 12,170 12,246 -0.8 -0.6 0.6 13,237 11,930 10,858 13,082 108,378 107,888 0.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 201,895 201,059 202,058 0.4 -0.5 6.5 207,871 205,508 195,781 214,888 1,712,128 1,905,688 -10.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 44,474 44,147 46,656 0.7 -5.4 26.1 47,080 45,308 40,017 43,728 317,515 386,549 -17.9

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 157,421 156,912 155,402 0.3 1.0 1.8 160,791 160,200 155,764 171,160 1,394,613 1,519,139 -8.2

 All manufacturing industries5...................... 474,974 469,802 466,927 1.1 0.6 6.5 491,635 474,787 452,865 504,662 4,084,617 4,460,500 -8.4

 Construction materials and supplies....... 53,194 52,719 51,977 0.9 1.4 3.6 55,352 55,612 54,512 53,029 465,061 473,524 -1.8

 Information technology......................... 25,358 25,146 24,909 0.8 1.0 4.1 29,071 24,088 22,737 27,704 218,438 215,462 1.4

 Computers and related products........... 1,800 1,857 1,849 -3.1 0.4 11.3 2,033 1,868 1,663 2,108 15,629 14,748 6.0

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 62,394 61,432 64,040 1.6 -4.1 21.7 65,220 63,754 55,643 60,544 458,181 545,016 -15.9

 Capital goods...................................... 80,192 76,601 72,596 4.7 5.5 14.4 85,268 72,575 67,732 86,587 655,180 747,611 -12.4

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 69,892 63,333 58,475 10.4 8.3 11.0 72,742 61,111 57,750 70,766 541,684 639,471 -15.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 68,865 68,184 66,585 1.0 2.4 2.6 73,315 66,222 63,272 69,098 591,720 594,571 -0.5

 Defense capital goods4........................ 10,300 13,268 14,121 -22.4 -6.0 30.8 12,526 11,464 9,982 15,821 113,496 108,140 5.0

 Consumer goods.................................. 201,973 201,259 202,290 0.4 -0.5 6.6 208,141 205,624 196,027 215,000 1,713,199 1,906,062 -10.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 44,552 44,347 46,888 0.5 -5.4 26.2 47,350 45,424 40,263 43,840 318,586 386,923 -17.7

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 157,421 156,912 155,402 0.3 1.0 1.8 160,791 160,200 155,764 171,160 1,394,613 1,519,139 -8.2

 All manufacturing industries5...................... 1,075,897 1,078,431 1,084,809 -0.2 -0.6 -0.7 1,070,226 1,074,998 1,085,963 1,142,639 (X) (X) -6.3

 Construction materials and supplies....... 51,544 51,017 50,568 1.0 0.9 0.2 51,454 51,413 51,543 53,411 (X) (X) -3.7

 Information technology......................... 115,012 114,830 114,686 0.2 0.1 0.1 114,773 114,167 114,800 113,752 (X) (X) 0.9

 Computers and related products........... 1,856 1,835 1,853 1.1 -1.0 -0.6 1,856 1,835 1,853 1,946 (X) (X) -4.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 21,225 21,163 21,021 0.3 0.7 -0.5 20,844 20,671 20,447 20,269 (X) (X) 2.8

 Capital goods...................................... 773,122 775,301 781,040 -0.3 -0.7 -1.0 770,476 774,328 782,956 844,725 (X) (X) -8.8

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 593,631 594,035 600,872 -0.1 -1.1 -1.5 591,749 594,890 603,052 678,753 (X) (X) -12.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 219,564 218,316 217,440 0.6 0.4 0.2 218,516 217,735 218,106 213,321 (X) (X) 2.4

 Defense capital goods4........................ 179,491 181,266 180,168 -1.0 0.6 1.1 178,727 179,438 179,904 165,972 (X) (X) 7.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 5,698 5,620 5,420 1.4 3.7 4.5 5,761 5,491 5,375 4,593 (X) (X) 25.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 5,698 5,620 5,420 1.4 3.7 4.5 5,761 5,491 5,375 4,593 (X) (X) 25.4 

 All manufacturing industries....................... 686,652 686,479 686,399 0.0 0.0 -0.6 686,835 689,884 690,088 696,253 (X) (X) -1.4

 Construction materials and supplies....... 68,678 68,576 68,866 0.1 -0.4 -2.0 68,197 68,464 69,176 71,754 (X) (X) -5.0

 Information technology......................... 39,383 39,269 39,321 0.3 -0.1 -0.3 39,262 39,974 39,791 38,651 (X) (X) 1.6

 Computers and related products........... 3,851 3,865 3,855 -0.4 0.3 -1.1 3,930 4,005 4,004 3,924 (X) (X) 0.2

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 38,829 39,031 39,135 -0.5 -0.3 -2.5 39,140 39,445 39,929 40,264 (X) (X) -2.8

 Capital goods...................................... 215,244 214,291 213,905 0.4 0.2 0.0 215,682 216,468 215,727 206,320 (X) (X) 4.5

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 193,724 193,031 192,838 0.4 0.1 0.0 194,126 195,124 194,626 185,317 (X) (X) 4.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 127,194 127,349 127,671 -0.1 -0.3 -0.6 127,308 129,012 128,967 128,757 (X) (X) -1.1

 Defense capital goods4........................ 21,520 21,260 21,067 1.2 0.9 -0.4 21,556 21,344 21,101 21,003 (X) (X) 2.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 201,280 203,023 202,734 -0.9 0.1 -0.1 202,719 204,107 203,203 213,122 (X) (X) -4.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 30,694 30,857 31,120 -0.5 -0.8 -1.2 31,084 31,460 31,424 32,961 (X) (X) -5.7

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 170,586 172,166 171,614 -0.9 0.3 0.1 171,635 172,647 171,779 180,161 (X) (X) -4.7

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 

X

 Not Applicable 

p

 Preliminary 

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

1

 Estimates of shipments and new orders are for the duration of the period, while estimates of unfilled orders and total inventories are for the end of the period. Not seasonally adjusted estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for noncalendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates 

are not adjusted for price changes. 

2 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories. 

3

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

metalworking machinery; turbines and generators; other power transmission equipment; pumps and compressors; material handling equipment; all other machinery; electronic computers; computer storage devices; other computer peripheral equipment; 

communications equipment; search and navigation equipment; electromedical, measuring, and control instruments; electrical equipment; other electrical equipment, appliances, and components; heavy duty trucks; aircraft; railroad rolling stock; ships and 

boats; office and institutional furniture; and medical equipment and supplies. 

4

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

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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/>. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>. 
Table 6. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories, by Stage of Fabrication, by Industry Group1 

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2020/

2020p 2020r 2020 Sep. Aug. July 2020p 2020r 2020 2019 2019

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 234,427 236,195 236,862 -0.7 -0.3 -0.6 234,828 236,618 238,588 237,697 -1.2

 Durable goods industries.......................... 143,935 144,807 145,483 -0.6 -0.5 -1.1 145,001 145,869 146,857 145,643 -0.4

 Wood products................................... 5,418 5,403 5,343 0.3 1.1 -0.2 5,485 5,428 5,246 5,440 0.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,715 5,742 5,801 -0.5 -1.0 -0.7 5,701 5,748 5,825 5,683 0.3

 Primary metals.................................... 12,224 12,565 12,459 -2.7 0.9 -1.4 12,329 12,624 12,536 12,963 -4.9

 Fabricated metal products.......................... 18,985 19,133 19,270 -0.8 -0.7 -1.5 19,287 19,328 19,574 20,503 -5.9

 Machinery.......................................... 27,209 27,357 27,598 -0.5 -0.9 -0.9 27,478 27,600 27,796 28,674 -4.2

 Computers and electronic products........ 19,870 19,967 19,862 -0.5 0.5 0.0 19,873 20,115 20,110 19,352 2.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 8,726 8,742 8,831 -0.2 -1.0 -0.1 8,586 8,818 8,980 8,350 2.8

 Transportation equipment..................... 34,343 34,462 34,837 -0.3 -1.1 -2.2 34,789 34,590 35,160 33,296 4.5

 Furniture and related products............... 3,459 3,445 3,478 0.4 -0.9 -1.2 3,437 3,476 3,531 3,577 -3.9

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,986 7,991 8,004 -0.1 -0.2 0.4 8,036 8,142 8,099 7,805 3.0

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 90,492 91,388 91,379 -1.0 0.0 0.3 89,827 90,749 91,731 92,054 -2.4

 Food products.................................... 19,527 19,745 19,828 -1.1 -0.4 1.0 19,420 19,519 19,761 19,715 -1.5

 Beverage and tobacco products........................ 5,598 5,663 5,765 -1.1 -1.8 -0.8 5,452 5,371 5,500 5,710 -4.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,127 1,131 1,141 -0.4 -0.9 -1.9 1,129 1,143 1,156 1,167 -3.3

 Textile products................................... 1,183 1,185 1,192 -0.2 -0.6 -0.2 1,192 1,188 1,196 1,244 -4.2

 Apparel............................................. 555 554 556 0.2 -0.4 1.1 557 567 565 568 -1.9

 Leather and allied products.................... 274 279 279 -1.8 0.0 -1.4 275 284 288 282 -2.5

 Paper products.................................... 7,586 7,600 7,598 -0.2 0.0 -1.7 7,621 7,640 7,671 7,658 -0.5

 Printing ............................................. 2,693 2,692 2,697 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 2,712 2,701 2,701 2,720 -0.3

 Petroleum and coal products................. 9,656 10,598 10,293 -8.9 3.0 2.3 9,529 10,387 10,410 11,067 -13.9

 Chemical products................................ 31,576 31,157 31,218 1.3 -0.2 0.2 31,206 31,187 31,566 31,185 0.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 10,717 10,784 10,812 -0.6 -0.3 -0.5 10,734 10,762 10,917 10,738 0.0

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 208,871 206,401 205,445 1.2 0.5 -0.5 208,167 207,151 206,660 202,520 2.8

 Durable goods industries.......................... 162,409 159,587 158,675 1.8 0.6 -0.5 162,155 160,785 160,119 152,160 6.6

 Wood products................................... 1,987 1,978 1,980 0.5 -0.1 19.4 1,955 1,964 1,947 1,719 13.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,396 1,384 1,371 0.9 0.9 -1.8 1,367 1,368 1,382 1,426 -4.1

 Primary metals.................................... 9,317 8,984 8,859 3.7 1.4 -4.3 9,252 9,130 9,024 10,378 -10.8

 Fabricated metal products.......................... 12,765 12,823 12,925 -0.5 -0.8 -3.0 12,796 12,862 13,103 13,617 -6.0

 Machinery.......................................... 19,719 19,337 19,370 2.0 -0.2 -2.1 19,906 19,872 19,542 19,930 -0.1

 Computers and electronic products........ 12,463 12,316 12,578 1.2 -2.1 -1.4 12,152 12,310 12,704 12,238 -0.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 4,177 4,197 4,172 -0.5 0.6 -0.9 4,090 4,235 4,233 4,059 0.8

 Transportation equipment..................... 95,634 93,663 92,478 2.1 1.3 0.4 95,680 94,072 93,212 83,941 14.0

 Furniture and related products............... 1,137 1,110 1,119 2.4 -0.8 -0.1 1,131 1,117 1,120 1,163 -2.8

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,814 3,795 3,823 0.5 -0.7 1.2 3,826 3,855 3,852 3,689 3.7

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 46,462 46,814 46,770 -0.8 0.1 -0.5 46,012 46,366 46,541 50,360 -8.6

 Food products.................................... 4,889 4,956 4,897 -1.4 1.2 0.3 4,550 4,543 4,539 4,207 8.2

 Beverage and tobacco products........................ 8,966 9,060 9,136 -1.0 -0.8 -0.2 8,846 8,645 8,640 9,165 -3.5

 Textiles.............................................. 580 574 590 1.0 -2.7 -0.5 587 582 597 650 -9.7

 Textile products................................... 327 332 334 -1.5 -0.6 -0.6 333 332 333 385 -13.5

 Apparel............................................. 290 289 290 0.3 -0.3 -2.7 296 302 301 327 -9.5

 Leather and allied products.................... 83 83 88 0.0 -5.7 0.0 85 85 88 99 -14.1

 Paper products.................................... 1,434 1,411 1,405 1.6 0.4 -0.6 1,447 1,444 1,437 1,474 -1.8

 Printing ............................................. 1,228 1,230 1,208 -0.2 1.8 0.7 1,276 1,248 1,175 1,239 3.0

 Petroleum and coal products................. 6,549 6,943 7,092 -5.7 -2.1 -1.9 6,707 7,204 7,330 10,404 -35.5

 Chemical products................................ 18,942 18,892 18,708 0.3 1.0 -0.5 18,709 18,951 19,080 19,308 -3.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 3,174 3,044 3,022 4.3 0.7 1.3 3,176 3,030 3,021 3,102 2.4

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 243,354 243,883 244,092 -0.2 -0.1 -0.7 243,840 246,115 244,840 256,036 -4.8

 Durable goods industries.......................... 115,455 115,979 116,832 -0.5 -0.7 -1.0 114,735 116,790 117,384 121,760 -5.8

 Wood products................................... 4,473 4,399 4,315 1.7 1.9 -6.4 4,220 4,201 4,163 4,681 -9.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,906 6,905 6,956 0.0 -0.7 -1.6 6,756 6,848 6,945 7,242 -6.7

 Primary metals.................................... 11,983 11,571 11,992 3.6 -3.5 -0.5 11,757 11,456 11,967 12,167 -3.4

 Fabricated metal products.......................... 19,330 19,218 19,239 0.6 -0.1 -2.0 19,005 19,192 19,395 19,606 -3.1

 Machinery.......................................... 22,122 22,222 22,520 -0.5 -1.3 -1.0 22,048 22,183 22,531 24,053 -8.3

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,239 11,315 11,536 -0.7 -1.9 -0.5 11,350 11,743 11,636 12,212 -7.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,756 6,757 6,743 0.0 0.2 0.0 6,672 6,846 6,844 7,072 -5.7

 Transportation equipment..................... 17,822 18,744 18,709 -4.9 0.2 0.6 18,086 19,333 19,068 19,798 -8.6

 Furniture and related products............... 2,552 2,552 2,523 0.0 1.1 -2.0 2,518 2,597 2,578 2,687 -6.3

 Miscellaneous products......................... 12,272 12,296 12,299 -0.2 0.0 -0.3 12,323 12,391 12,257 12,242 0.7

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 127,899 127,904 127,260 0.0 0.5 -0.4 129,105 129,325 127,456 134,276 -3.9

 Food products.................................... 30,101 29,873 29,872 0.8 0.0 -0.2 31,227 30,902 29,924 32,201 -3.0

 Beverage and tobacco products........................ 10,750 10,779 10,783 -0.3 0.0 0.4 10,779 10,847 10,857 10,593 1.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,333 1,349 1,330 -1.2 1.4 -1.4 1,336 1,349 1,330 1,429 -6.5

 Textile products................................... 2,183 2,194 2,211 -0.5 -0.8 -1.0 2,190 2,193 2,208 2,376 -7.8

 Apparel............................................. 943 955 975 -1.3 -2.1 -1.5 991 1,027 1,035 1,036 -4.3

 Leather and allied products.................... 453 464 477 -2.4 -2.7 -1.0 449 463 477 481 -6.7

 Paper products.................................... 6,134 6,108 6,159 0.4 -0.8 -0.1 6,085 6,140 6,185 6,220 -2.2

 Printing ............................................. 1,767 1,762 1,767 0.3 -0.3 -0.2 1,761 1,754 1,743 1,775 -0.8

 Petroleum and coal products................. 14,721 15,055 14,829 -2.2 1.5 -1.0 15,101 15,231 15,040 17,801 -15.2

 Chemical products................................ 47,159 47,027 46,488 0.3 1.2 -0.3 46,944 47,194 46,431 46,755 0.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 12,355 12,338 12,369 0.1 -0.3 -1.1 12,242 12,225 12,226 13,609 -10.0

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 noncalendar 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. 

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/>. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>.
Table 7. Ratios of Manufacturers' Inventories to Shipments and Unfilled Orders 

 to Shipments, by Industry Group 1

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio2

Industry Sep Aug Jul Jun Sep Aug Jul Jun

2020p 2020r 2020 2020 2020p 2020r 2020 2020

All manufacturing industries3

.................................... 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.51 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries3

........................................ 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.87 6.59 6.60 6.69 7.01

 Wood products........................................................... 1.18 1.21 1.23 1.30 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products............................. 1.19 1.20 1.20 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals............................................................ 1.83 1.80 1.84 1.90 1.74 1.68 1.69 1.71

 Fabricated metal products...................................... 1.70 1.70 1.70 1.80 2.54 2.52 2.50 2.57

 Machinery..................................................................... 2.24 2.21 2.27 2.36 3.54 3.49 3.53 3.59

 Computers and electronic products3

................... 1.44 1.46 1.48 1.54 5.18 5.22 5.28 5.44

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.................................................... 1.87 1.86 1.86 1.92 2.29 2.25 2.22 2.26

 Transportation equipment..................................... 1.80 1.80 1.76 2.07 14.87 14.91 15.28 16.65

 Furniture and related products............................ 1.10 1.08 1.07 1.10 1.39 1.38 1.35 1.37

 Miscellaneous products.......................................... 1.61 1.63 1.65 1.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries................................... 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.15 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Beverage and tobacco products........................... 1.84 1.89 1.93 1.95 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................................................... 1.38 1.41 1.45 1.51 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products......................................................... 1.96 2.02 2.12 2.09 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel........................................................................ 2.03 2.14 2.09 2.14 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products................................ 1.85 1.89 2.02 2.21 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.......................................................... 0.92 0.92 0.93 0.96 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing........................................................................ 0.82 0.83 0.81 0.84 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............................... 0.78 0.82 0.85 0.90 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products................................................... 1.43 1.42 1.42 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products................................ 1.33 1.32 1.34 1.36 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Sep3 Sep3 Sep3 Sep3

Industry 2019- 2019- 2019- 2019-

Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug

2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020

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

Durable goods industries....................... 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.1

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

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals............................................. 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.1 0.7 0.0 1.0 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.2

 Machinery...................................................... 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

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

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components..................................... 0.4 0.4 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.2

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

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.6 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.4

 Miscellaneous products.......................... (X) 0.3 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.0 (X) 0.1

Nondurable goods industries................... (X) 0.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textiles.......................................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Textile products......................................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Apparel......................................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

 Printing.......................................................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Petroleum and coal products............... (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

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

X

 Not Applicable 

p

 Preliminary 

r

 Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment. 

2

 Excludes the following industries with no unfilled orders: Wood products; nonmetallic mineral products; medical equipment and supplies; office supplies; 

other miscellaneous manufacturing; cutlery and handtools; farm and garden machinery; computer storage and peripheral devices; audio and video 

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

miscellaneous furniture. 

3

 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing. 

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/>. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. Information on 

data sources and methodology can be found on our website at <www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>. 

X Not Applicable 

NA Not Available 

1

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

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

adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, 

based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes. 

2

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

3

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

monthly averages are the simple averages of the absolute values of the differences for the months specified. The advance to final percent 

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

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/>.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey, September Full Report, November 3, 2020. 

Information on data sources and methodology can be found on our website at 

<www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/how_the_data_are_collected/index.html>.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes 1

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories