FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012, AT 10:00 A.M. EST 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (11)-11 

CB12-01 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

November 2011 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in November, up 

following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased 

$8.2 billion or 1.8 percent to $459.2 billion, the U.S. 

Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.2 

percent October decrease. Excluding transportation, 

new orders increased 0.3 percent. 

 Shipments, up six consecutive months, increased $0.1 

billion to $455.0 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent 

October increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up nineteen of the last twenty months, 

increased $11.1 billion or 1.3 percent to $898.3 billion. 

This followed a 0.4 percent October increase. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.16, up from 

6.07 in October. 

 Inventories, up twenty five of the last twenty six 

months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.5 percent to $609.8 

billion. This was at the highest level since the series was 

first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 

0.9 percent October increase. The inventories-toshipments ratio was 1.34, up from 1.33 in October. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

November, up four of the last five months, increased 

$7.4 billion or 3.7 percent to $207.1 billion, revised from 

the previously published 3.8 percent increase. This 

followed a 0.1 percent October increase. 

 Transportation equipment, up following two 

consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, 

$7.0 billion or 14.7 percent to $54.4 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $252.1 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

November, down two of the last three months, decreased 

$0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $202.9 billion, revised from 

the previously published 0.4 percent decrease. This 

followed a 1.5 percent October increase. 

 Transportation equipment, down three of the last four 

months, had the largest decrease, $1.2 billion or 

 

 

2.5 percent to $47.2 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up five 

of the last six months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 

percent to $252.1 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent 

October decrease. Petroleum and coal products, up two 

of the last three months, led the increase, up $0.6 billion 

or 0.8 percent to $72.2 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

November, up nineteen of the last twenty months, 

increased $11.1 billion or 1.3 percent to $898.3 billion, 

unchanged from the previously published increase. This 

followed a 0.4 percent October increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up ten of the last eleven 

months, had the largest increase, $7.2 billion or 1.4 

percent to $518.2 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent 

October decrease. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

November, up twenty three consecutive months, 

increased $2.1 billion or 0.6 percent to $369.0 billion, 

unchanged from the previously published increase. This 

was at the highest level since the series was first 

published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.4 percent 

October increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up twenty three 

consecutive months, had the largest increase, $1.0 billion 

or 0.9 percent to $114.3 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 

percent to $240.8 billion. This followed a 1.6 percent 

October increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up 

three consecutive months, drove the increase, up $1.6 

billion or 2.9 percent to $55.6 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, November materials and 

supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in 

process increased 1.0 percent in durable goods and 0.4 

percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 

0.2 percent in durable goods and 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 December is scheduled for release on January 26, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. EST and the full report on February 3, 2012, 

at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description. 
 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

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

 All manufacturing industries.................. 455,028 454,918 452,874 0.0 0.5 0.3 441,539 460,462 466,684 402,538 4,910,921 4,403,627 11.5

 Excluding transportation................... 407,787 406,462 406,818 0.3 -0.1 0.6 394,763 410,912 416,196 359,700 4,398,161 3,913,113 12.4

 Excluding defense.............................. 445,742 445,847 443,135 0.0 0.6 0.4 432,199 451,644 456,005 391,640 4,803,156 4,273,434 12.4

 With unfilled orders............................ 145,912 146,056 145,446 -0.1 0.4 0.4 140,193 146,428 155,020 129,894 1,564,607 1,448,337 8.0

 Durable goods industries......................... 202,919 203,613 200,700 -0.3 1.5 -0.4 195,598 208,296 212,699 180,259 2,176,185 2,015,812 8.0

 Wood products....................................... 5,392 5,419 5,314 -0.5 2.0 0.3 5,084 5,671 5,603 5,021 59,034 60,779 -2.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,139 8,111 7,934 0.3 2.2 0.5 7,896 8,569 8,529 7,443 87,962 85,360 3.0

 Primary metals....................................... 26,567 25,569 24,575 3.9 4.0 1.5 24,365 25,503 25,307 18,064 263,721 203,164 29.8

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,719 11,318 10,930 3.5 3.5 0.0 10,350 11,026 11,169 9,038 123,999 104,423 18.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 13,060 12,507 11,953 4.4 4.6 2.9 12,337 12,753 12,311 7,665 121,363 83,598 45.2

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,788 1,744 1,692 2.5 3.1 1.1 1,678 1,724 1,827 1,361 18,359 15,143 21.2

 Fabricated metal products....................... 25,393 25,221 25,310 0.7 -0.4 1.0 24,485 26,066 26,873 22,889 275,882 260,128 6.1

 Machinery............................................. 30,463 30,284 31,140 0.6 -2.7 -1.0 28,212 29,928 32,226 24,973 321,591 285,820 12.5

 Farm machinery................................. 2,604 2,785 2,719 -6.5 2.4 -26.1 1,932 2,652 2,686 1,739 28,803 24,496 17.6

 Construction machinery..................... 4,396 4,275 4,269 2.8 0.1 -0.7 4,340 4,523 4,414 3,157 42,823 30,774 39.2

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,586 1,608 1,680 -1.4 -4.3 -7.5 1,536 1,622 1,666 1,495 17,872 16,699 7.0

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,324 3,588 3,572 -7.4 0.4 5.3 2,726 3,398 3,931 2,511 34,747 29,156 19.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 634 635 640 -0.2 -0.8 -0.3 678 638 701 698 7,147 7,457 -4.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,378 2,410 2,475 -1.3 -2.6 -4.4 2,186 2,167 2,684 2,503 28,213 30,192 -6.6

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,059 2,054 1,916 0.2 7.2 -1.8 2,048 2,142 2,056 1,748 21,060 20,273 3.9

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 4,115 3,621 4,619 13.6 -21.6 18.2 4,074 3,741 4,568 3,203 41,733 35,300 18.2

 Material handling equipment............... 2,670 2,710 2,625 -1.5 3.2 -0.2 2,581 2,671 2,690 2,188 27,778 23,663 17.4

 Computers and electronic products2.......... 30,580 31,264 30,921 -2.2 1.1 -0.8 29,797 33,733 32,918 31,062 336,211 331,019 1.6

 Computers........................................ 4,197 4,661 4,248 -10.0 9.7 3.8 3,780 5,598 4,402 4,071 45,673 41,472 10.1

 Computer storage devices..................... 770 752 793 2.4 -5.2 3.3 628 557 1,140 534 7,356 6,391 15.1

 Other peripheral equipment................ 972 1,024 985 -5.1 4.0 5.5 900 906 1,275 840 9,717 8,880 9.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,312 2,442 2,572 -5.3 -5.1 -0.1 2,419 2,151 3,125 3,407 27,939 34,063 -18.0

 Defense communications equipment.... 508 467 593 8.8 -21.2 19.8 541 452 672 551 5,533 6,083 -9.0

 Audio and video equipment.................... 238 231 233 3.0 -0.9 -6.4 364 280 228 415 2,635 2,690 -2.0

 Electronic components......................... 3,290 3,254 3,231 1.1 0.7 -3.2 3,234 3,180 3,475 3,382 36,238 37,545 -3.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,147 1,147 1,123 0.0 2.1 -5.2 1,132 1,087 1,268 1,097 12,805 11,786 8.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,598 2,580 2,768 0.7 -6.8 -0.4 2,700 2,540 2,932 2,942 29,625 32,943 -10.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 7,120 7,136 7,259 -0.2 -1.7 -1.4 6,919 6,853 8,371 7,364 79,491 77,158 3.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,062 10,180 10,275 -1.2 -0.9 -0.3 9,905 10,230 11,089 9,796 111,225 105,123 5.8

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 982 984 998 -0.2 -1.4 -2.4 977 999 1,053 1,001 10,977 10,740 2.2

 Household appliances........................ 1,506 1,537 1,520 -2.0 1.1 1.4 1,534 1,517 1,591 1,615 17,042 17,411 -2.1

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,698 3,772 3,857 -2.0 -2.2 -2.3 3,454 3,594 4,296 3,461 40,885 37,968 7.7

 Batteries........................................... 904 882 883 2.5 -0.1 1.1 1,076 1,053 1,000 992 9,601 9,220 4.1

 Transportation equipment........................ 47,241 48,456 46,056 -2.5 5.2 -1.9 46,776 49,550 50,488 42,838 512,760 490,514 4.5

 Automobiles..................................... 5,389 5,634 5,102 -4.3 10.4 1.4 5,388 6,184 5,549 4,787 57,753 54,632 5.7

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 8,017 8,152 7,252 -1.7 12.4 -5.6 8,030 9,089 8,265 6,800 87,341 74,763 16.8

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,204 2,084 2,018 5.8 3.3 0.7 2,125 2,148 2,214 1,418 20,572 16,874 21.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 14,239 14,371 13,990 -0.9 2.7 -1.2 13,909 15,154 14,923 13,140 158,273 148,592 6.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 7,725 8,721 8,049 -11.4 8.3 3.1 7,856 7,655 8,693 6,289 78,840 70,703 11.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,797 3,704 3,792 2.5 -2.3 -6.4 3,728 3,590 4,335 4,456 43,849 53,503 -18.0

 Ships and boats................................. 2,253 2,229 2,322 1.1 -4.0 -0.5 2,171 2,200 2,382 2,184 25,164 26,206 -4.0

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,403 5,436 5,499 -0.6 -1.1 -1.4 5,186 5,409 5,649 5,158 60,564 56,796 6.6

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,679 13,673 13,676 0.0 0.0 0.8 13,892 13,637 14,017 13,015 147,235 137,109 7.4

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 252,109 251,305 252,174 0.3 -0.3 0.9 245,941 252,166 253,985 222,279 2,734,736 2,387,815 14.5

 Food products....................................... 62,521 62,655 62,538 -0.2 0.2 0.4 64,292 65,509 64,096 58,711 672,795 606,202 11.0

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,411 8,559 8,382 -1.7 2.1 -0.6 8,685 9,165 8,465 7,719 91,028 77,697 17.2

 Dairy products.................................. 9,261 9,289 9,436 -0.3 -1.6 -0.7 9,556 9,397 9,651 8,853 101,224 89,912 12.6

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,510 17,541 17,617 -0.2 -0.4 0.4 17,732 17,950 17,508 16,839 189,601 177,200 7.0

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,429 12,169 12,390 2.1 -1.8 1.1 12,674 12,159 12,449 11,922 133,097 120,889 10.1

 Beverages......................................... 9,643 9,558 9,689 0.9 -1.4 3.7 9,888 9,548 9,748 9,283 104,208 92,352 12.8

 Tobacco............................................ 2,786 2,611 2,701 6.7 -3.3 -7.3 2,786 2,611 2,701 2,639 28,889 28,537 1.2

 Textile mills........................................... 2,537 2,548 2,596 -0.4 -1.8 0.3 2,403 2,615 2,661 2,374 28,779 27,381 5.1

 Textile products................................... 1,894 1,866 1,865 1.5 0.1 1.3 1,810 1,893 1,865 1,722 20,517 20,003 2.6

 Apparel................................................ 1,435 1,417 1,402 1.3 1.1 2.0 1,623 1,603 1,500 1,393 14,721 13,593 8.3

 Leather and allied products...................... 306 306 307 0.0 -0.3 -1.3 290 313 348 295 3,469 3,436 1.0

 Paper products...................................... 14,186 14,278 14,215 -0.6 0.4 -0.7 13,929 14,457 14,523 14,245 158,420 157,535 0.6

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,667 6,717 6,724 -0.7 -0.1 -0.3 6,456 6,816 6,866 6,525 74,125 73,123 1.4

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,241 4,234 4,212 0.2 0.5 0.1 4,150 4,323 4,284 4,319 47,594 47,282 0.7

 Printing................................................. 6,892 6,869 6,979 0.3 -1.6 -1.3 7,124 7,190 7,381 7,228 76,694 76,875 -0.2

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 72,185 71,626 71,806 0.8 -0.3 3.3 68,119 70,780 70,924 54,434 773,512 572,853 35.0

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 68,144 67,482 67,694 1.0 -0.3 3.9 64,524 66,220 66,106 51,435 727,949 536,683 35.6

 Chemical products..................................... 61,355 61,197 61,753 0.3 -0.9 -0.5 58,065 59,083 61,491 55,240 674,633 621,046 8.6

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,863 5,657 5,536 3.6 2.2 1.8 4,302 4,023 4,639 3,393 57,546 45,186 27.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 15,319 14,925 15,304 2.6 -2.5 -0.4 15,859 15,052 15,425 16,159 169,692 173,362 -2.1

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,630 2,617 2,576 0.5 1.6 2.3 2,317 2,636 2,712 2,145 28,111 27,812 1.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 16,369 16,374 16,323 0.0 0.3 0.6 15,612 16,564 16,747 14,715 178,099 168,002 6.0

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.

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

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

All manufacturing industries2...................... 459,177 450,932 451,636 1.8 -0.2 -0.1 443,419 448,923 464,693 398,065 4,891,329 4,356,773 12.3

 Excluding transportation2...................... 404,728 403,478 401,940 0.3 0.4 0.9 389,453 403,733 411,431 356,853 4,357,012 3,874,218 12.5

 Excluding defense2.............................. 450,136 442,218 440,931 1.8 0.3 -0.2 435,987 441,954 453,367 388,104 4,781,233 4,231,846 13.0

 With unfilled orders2

............................. 157,007 149,157 150,847 5.3 -1.1 -1.1 148,693 144,435 158,522 131,403 1,619,290 1,468,731 10.3

 Durable goods industries2........................ 207,068 199,627 199,462 3.7 0.1 -1.4 197,478 196,757 210,708 175,786 2,156,593 1,968,958 9.5

 Primary metals........................................ 27,567 26,355 24,889 4.6 5.9 1.9 25,220 25,065 25,096 20,161 264,069 209,363 26.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 12,504 11,667 11,202 7.2 4.2 2.9 11,016 10,272 11,095 11,023 121,984 109,394 11.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 13,250 12,820 12,015 3.4 6.7 2.2 12,463 12,961 12,252 7,742 123,050 84,466 45.7

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,813 1,868 1,672 -2.9 11.7 -6.2 1,741 1,832 1,749 1,396 19,035 15,503 22.8

 Fabricated metal products........................ 26,004 25,867 25,818 0.5 0.2 1.3 24,523 25,950 27,046 22,653 281,619 260,762 8.0

 Machinery............................................. 31,779 31,638 31,398 0.4 0.8 -1.9 28,876 31,590 31,753 26,165 344,551 301,529 14.3

 Construction machinery....................... 4,383 4,771 4,621 -8.1 3.2 21.8 4,382 5,039 4,708 3,618 45,241 32,222 40.4

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,131 1,379 1,934 -18.0 -28.7 25.1 1,225 1,551 1,712 1,757 21,866 18,881 15.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,142 2,813 3,214 11.7 -12.5 -7.3 2,495 2,983 3,326 2,294 34,436 31,829 8.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 680 623 630 9.1 -1.1 -2.2 694 592 751 687 7,290 7,395 -1.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 2,677 2,604 1,728 2.8 50.7 -19.8 1,935 2,254 1,571 2,348 30,732 33,199 -7.4

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,096 2,153 2,015 -2.6 6.8 0.7 2,066 2,255 2,126 1,910 22,424 20,302 10.5

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 5,588 5,271 5,295 6.0 -0.5 11.4 5,592 5,295 5,158 3,725 50,532 37,997 33.0

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,580 2,663 2,690 -3.1 -1.0 -5.4 2,434 2,474 2,986 2,204 28,525 24,533 16.3

 Computers and electronic products2......... 23,856 24,921 24,602 -4.3 1.3 2.2 22,300 24,749 28,711 24,416 261,305 263,709 -0.9

 Computers........................................ 4,320 4,632 4,367 -6.7 6.1 7.3 3,903 5,569 4,521 4,282 45,530 41,624 9.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,428 2,774 2,701 -12.5 2.7 11.0 2,110 2,760 3,436 2,759 27,359 33,061 -17.2

 Defense communications equipment...... 390 369 400 5.7 -7.8 -19.4 258 305 603 343 4,532 5,972 -24.1

 Electronic components......................... 3,330 3,413 3,342 -2.4 2.1 1.4 3,177 3,270 3,540 3,346 36,530 38,346 -4.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,391 1,349 1,318 3.1 2.4 7.8 1,472 1,241 1,503 1,163 13,799 11,523 19.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,330 2,601 2,664 -10.4 -2.4 -3.8 2,146 2,423 2,976 2,784 28,319 32,522 -12.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,205 7,293 7,322 -1.2 -0.4 -0.1 6,782 6,855 8,952 7,473 80,604 77,940 3.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,618 10,663 10,694 -0.4 -0.3 1.4 10,360 10,683 11,152 10,354 115,299 109,511 5.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 947 993 1,009 -4.6 -1.6 1.6 903 994 1,048 995 10,980 10,842 1.3

 Household appliances.......................... 1,549 1,539 1,520 0.6 1.3 0.2 1,613 1,510 1,602 1,683 17,202 17,518 -1.8

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,118 3,914 3,760 5.2 4.1 -3.5 3,923 3,749 3,921 3,815 42,862 40,107 6.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 54,449 47,454 49,696 14.7 -4.5 -7.5 53,966 45,190 53,262 41,212 534,317 482,555 10.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 14,324 14,201 14,014 0.9 1.3 -2.1 14,184 15,122 15,003 13,389 158,151 147,912 6.9

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 15,155 8,717 10,127 73.9 -13.9 -26.7 16,102 5,296 10,456 5,440 101,409 76,096 33.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 4,223 3,823 3,331 10.5 14.8 -34.5 3,813 3,262 3,535 4,429 45,708 53,317 -14.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,637 1,779 3,025 -8.0 -41.2 65.4 1,386 1,393 2,739 2,217 25,188 20,391 23.5

 Furniture and related products................. 5,478 5,417 5,446 1.1 -0.5 3.3 5,254 5,544 5,544 5,311 61,133 57,759 5.8

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 252,109 251,305 252,174 0.3 -0.3 0.9 245,941 252,166 253,985 222,279 2,734,736 2,387,815 14.5

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.

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

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. Nov.

2011p 2011r 2011 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

All manufacturing industries2...................... 898,328 887,233 884,132 1.3 0.4 0.6 884,141 875,641 877,634 819,067 7.9

 Excluding transportation2...................... 380,175 376,288 372,185 1.0 1.1 0.5 373,324 372,014 369,647 333,112 12.1

 Excluding defense2............................. 727,138 715,798 712,340 1.6 0.5 0.6 718,406 707,998 708,142 660,370 8.8

 Durable goods industries2

........................ 898,328 887,233 884,132 1.3 0.4 0.6 884,141 875,641 877,634 819,067 7.9

 Primary metals........................................ 33,915 32,915 32,129 3.0 2.4 1.0 32,009 31,154 31,592 29,900 7.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 18,936 18,151 17,802 4.3 2.0 1.6 17,507 16,841 17,595 18,320 -4.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,368 11,178 10,865 1.7 2.9 0.6 10,947 10,821 10,613 8,726 25.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 3,611 3,586 3,462 0.7 3.6 -0.6 3,555 3,492 3,384 2,854 24.6

 Fabricated metal products......................... 66,565 65,954 65,308 0.9 1.0 0.8 65,025 64,987 65,103 59,289 9.7

 Machinery.............................................. 118,437 117,121 115,767 1.1 1.2 0.2 117,238 116,574 114,912 91,991 27.4

 Construction machinery....................... 10,607 10,620 10,124 -0.1 4.9 3.6 10,366 10,324 9,808 7,537 37.5

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 12,445 12,900 13,129 -3.5 -1.7 2.0 12,680 12,991 13,062 8,801 44.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 13,649 13,831 14,606 -1.3 -5.3 -2.4 13,577 13,808 14,223 13,468 0.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,029 1,983 1,995 2.3 -0.6 -0.5 2,022 2,006 2,052 2,159 -6.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 20,258 19,959 19,765 1.5 1.0 -3.6 19,599 19,850 19,763 16,605 18.0

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,702 5,665 5,566 0.7 1.8 1.8 5,632 5,614 5,501 4,144 35.9

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 23,706 22,233 20,583 6.6 8.0 3.4 23,484 21,966 20,412 13,452 74.6

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,465 8,555 8,602 -1.1 -0.5 0.8 8,310 8,457 8,654 7,251 14.6

 Computers and electronic products2......... 125,041 124,819 124,075 0.2 0.6 0.3 123,240 124,117 123,555 120,579 2.2

 Computers......................................... 3,511 3,388 3,417 3.6 -0.8 3.6 3,511 3,388 3,417 3,696 -5.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 22,805 22,689 22,357 0.5 1.5 0.6 22,664 22,973 22,364 22,408 1.1

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,592 5,710 5,808 -2.1 -1.7 -3.2 5,346 5,629 5,776 6,050 -11.6

 Electronic components.......................... 11,813 11,773 11,614 0.3 1.4 1.0 11,723 11,780 11,690 11,395 2.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 9,472 9,228 9,026 2.6 2.2 2.2 9,519 9,179 9,025 8,731 9.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 43,665 43,933 43,912 -0.6 0.0 -0.2 42,724 43,278 43,395 42,096 1.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 28,183 28,098 27,941 0.3 0.6 0.2 27,753 27,890 27,888 26,203 5.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 27,743 27,187 26,704 2.0 1.8 1.6 27,326 26,871 26,418 23,019 18.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,041 1,076 1,067 -3.3 0.8 1.0 1,020 1,094 1,099 1,068 -4.5

 Household appliances.......................... 868 825 823 5.2 0.2 0.0 864 785 792 651 32.7

 Electrical equipment............................. 15,086 14,666 14,524 2.9 1.0 -0.7 15,014 14,545 14,390 12,853 16.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 518,153 510,945 511,947 1.4 -0.2 0.7 510,817 503,627 507,987 485,955 5.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 13,825 13,740 13,910 0.6 -1.2 0.2 13,674 13,399 13,431 13,220 3.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 363,164 355,734 355,738 2.1 0.0 0.6 359,985 351,739 354,098 336,472 7.0

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 55,744 55,318 55,199 0.8 0.2 -0.8 53,964 53,879 54,207 50,885 6.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 18,138 18,754 19,204 -3.3 -2.3 3.8 16,960 17,745 18,552 17,116 -0.9

 Furniture and related products................. 6,787 6,712 6,731 1.1 -0.3 -0.8 6,799 6,731 6,596 6,726 1.1

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

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

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. Nov.

2011p 2011r 2011 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

 All manufacturing industries..................... 609,814 607,016 601,587 0.5 0.9 0.1 608,787 609,936 600,538 550,638 10.6

 Excluding transportation...................... 495,490 493,669 488,857 0.4 1.0 0.1 494,155 496,254 488,246 451,441 9.5

 Excluding defense............................. 583,744 581,323 575,981 0.4 0.9 0.2 582,798 584,213 575,013 525,565 10.9

 With unfilled orders............................. 302,397 300,434 299,420 0.7 0.3 -0.2 302,820 300,868 298,563 271,318 11.6

 Durable goods industries........................ 369,001 366,881 365,314 0.6 0.4 0.0 369,450 367,228 364,040 332,620 11.1

 Wood products........................................ 8,818 8,635 8,499 2.1 1.6 0.0 8,832 8,719 8,568 8,351 5.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,134 11,102 11,035 0.3 0.6 0.8 10,837 10,843 10,864 10,144 6.8

 Primary metals......................................... 34,540 34,342 34,331 0.6 0.0 -0.5 34,070 34,231 34,560 30,062 13.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 21,566 21,403 21,419 0.8 -0.1 -0.5 21,197 21,371 21,691 18,277 16.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,868 10,854 10,865 0.1 -0.1 -0.8 10,766 10,781 10,874 9,957 8.1

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,106 2,085 2,047 1.0 1.9 1.2 2,107 2,079 1,995 1,828 15.3

 Fabricated metal products......................... 46,479 46,260 45,941 0.5 0.7 -0.1 45,951 45,943 45,823 41,346 11.1

 Machinery.............................................. 60,367 59,813 59,619 0.9 0.3 0.3 60,941 59,695 59,107 53,712 13.5

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,519 3,399 3,393 3.5 0.2 -2.0 3,396 3,071 3,152 2,770 22.6

 Construction machinery........................ 5,931 5,669 5,697 4.6 -0.5 -1.2 5,960 5,658 5,707 4,743 25.7

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,496 7,358 7,357 1.9 0.0 1.1 7,475 7,270 7,354 6,378 17.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,913 6,901 6,940 0.2 -0.6 2.0 7,057 6,896 7,028 6,488 8.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,697 1,676 1,642 1.3 2.1 2.0 1,766 1,690 1,623 1,529 15.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,974 4,075 4,102 -2.5 -0.7 -2.0 3,919 4,051 3,988 3,966 -1.2

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,136 5,077 5,006 1.2 1.4 2.8 5,176 5,167 5,128 4,142 25.0

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 7,467 7,544 7,433 -1.0 1.5 -0.9 7,841 7,831 7,320 6,730 16.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,680 3,672 3,691 0.2 -0.5 0.4 3,722 3,700 3,676 3,377 10.2

 Computers and electronic products2......... 47,891 48,124 48,128 -0.5 0.0 -0.7 48,627 48,555 47,876 46,709 4.1

 Computers......................................... 3,248 3,258 3,200 -0.3 1.8 2.2 3,390 3,243 3,404 2,953 14.8

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,351 1,383 1,396 -2.3 -0.9 1.1 1,400 1,443 1,364 1,354 3.4

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,535 1,501 1,487 2.3 0.9 2.0 1,580 1,513 1,450 1,437 10.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 7,136 7,199 7,263 -0.9 -0.9 -0.4 7,415 7,296 7,086 7,145 3.8

 Defense communications equipment...... 2,366 2,499 2,471 -5.3 1.1 -10.0 2,366 2,499 2,471 2,579 -8.3

 Audio and video equipment.................. 513 512 520 0.2 -1.5 -2.8 564 579 588 561 0.5

 Electronic components.......................... 7,058 7,111 7,178 -0.7 -0.9 0.7 7,194 7,241 7,098 7,223 -0.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,309 3,294 3,235 0.5 1.8 -0.8 3,294 3,383 3,270 3,094 6.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,839 2,739 2,649 3.7 3.4 -1.7 2,791 2,735 2,604 2,742 1.8

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 12,701 12,727 12,839 -0.2 -0.9 -0.4 12,896 12,730 12,676 12,172 5.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,604 15,459 15,389 0.9 0.5 -1.2 15,458 15,456 15,246 14,877 3.9

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,794 1,796 1,787 -0.1 0.5 1.2 1,785 1,787 1,767 1,689 5.7

 Household appliances.......................... 2,127 2,123 2,124 0.2 0.0 -4.1 2,066 2,173 2,159 2,180 -5.2

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,878 4,813 4,757 1.4 1.2 -3.8 4,955 4,856 4,607 5,018 -1.3

 Batteries............................................ 1,053 1,060 1,045 -0.7 1.4 2.6 1,004 1,061 1,056 1,010 -0.6

 Transportation equipment......................... 114,324 113,347 112,730 0.9 0.5 0.3 114,632 113,682 112,292 99,197 15.6

 Automobiles....................................... 3,301 3,384 3,352 -2.5 1.0 5.3 3,357 3,354 3,257 2,884 16.4

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 3,236 3,344 3,275 -3.2 2.1 3.8 3,360 3,444 3,391 2,853 17.8

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,437 1,447 1,472 -0.7 -1.7 1.0 1,470 1,497 1,462 1,480 -0.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 18,457 18,330 18,159 0.7 0.9 1.0 18,412 18,237 18,061 16,697 10.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 62,539 61,837 61,199 1.1 1.0 -0.3 62,674 62,016 60,880 50,496 24.1

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 14,877 14,302 14,565 4.0 -1.8 1.0 14,808 14,376 14,661 14,023 5.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,456 3,575 3,411 -3.3 4.8 -0.7 3,459 3,558 3,329 3,151 9.8

 Furniture and related products................. 6,720 6,719 6,785 0.0 -1.0 -0.9 6,757 6,696 6,774 6,688 1.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 23,124 23,080 22,857 0.2 1.0 0.9 23,345 23,408 22,930 21,534 8.4

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 240,813 240,135 236,273 0.3 1.6 0.4 239,337 242,708 236,498 218,018 9.8

 Food products........................................ 44,796 44,819 44,612 -0.1 0.5 -1.0 46,720 47,739 45,320 44,746 4.4

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,186 5,185 5,083 0.0 2.0 -5.2 5,323 5,520 4,901 5,502 -3.3

 Dairy products.................................... 6,090 6,065 6,073 0.4 -0.1 -0.4 5,839 6,056 6,132 5,324 9.7

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 8,416 8,469 8,413 -0.6 0.7 -1.2 8,811 8,780 8,480 8,918 -1.2

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 16,729 16,613 16,526 0.7 0.5 0.3 17,033 17,203 16,455 16,393 3.9

 Beverages......................................... 13,288 13,166 13,105 0.9 0.5 0.6 13,513 13,717 13,140 12,767 5.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,441 3,447 3,421 -0.2 0.8 -0.7 3,520 3,486 3,315 3,626 -2.9

 Textile mills............................................ 3,628 3,639 3,648 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 3,599 3,625 3,649 3,171 13.5

 Textile products...................................... 3,086 3,053 3,056 1.1 -0.1 -0.1 3,026 3,048 3,077 2,761 9.6

 Apparel................................................. 2,758 2,733 2,627 0.9 4.0 2.3 2,655 2,795 2,744 2,193 21.1

 Leather and allied products...................... 902 903 904 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 903 898 908 830 8.8

 Paper products....................................... 13,962 14,008 14,052 -0.3 -0.3 0.2 13,974 13,962 14,014 13,968 0.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,014 6,025 6,047 -0.2 -0.4 0.7 6,026 5,983 6,000 5,831 3.3

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,005 4,037 4,027 -0.8 0.2 -0.1 3,971 3,990 4,001 4,097 -3.1

 Printing.................................................. 5,424 5,459 5,474 -0.6 -0.3 -0.7 5,469 5,630 5,566 5,471 0.0

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 55,642 54,085 50,710 2.9 6.7 1.9 53,142 53,529 50,610 42,181 26.0

 Petroleum refineries............................. 51,823 50,335 47,091 3.0 6.9 1.7 49,436 49,813 46,981 39,311 25.8

 Chemical products..................................... 73,142 73,986 73,805 -1.1 0.2 0.5 72,409 73,609 73,288 66,986 8.1

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,979 4,063 4,076 -2.1 -0.3 4.8 3,797 3,797 3,608 3,189 19.1

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 24,907 25,050 24,935 -0.6 0.5 -0.2 24,722 25,128 24,872 24,418 1.2

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 3,054 3,056 3,054 -0.1 0.1 -1.0 2,923 2,933 2,991 2,918 0.2

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 20,744 20,837 20,859 -0.4 -0.1 -0.5 20,407 20,670 20,867 19,318 5.6

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

1

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

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

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

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

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 455,028 454,918 452,874 0.0 0.5 0.3 441,539 460,462 466,684 402,538 4,910,921 4,403,627 11.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 37,452 37,566 37,154 -0.3 1.1 -0.9 35,703 39,254 40,069 34,019 411,522 395,973 3.9

 Information technology......................... 23,950 24,563 24,708 -2.5 -0.6 0.7 23,485 24,712 27,800 25,123 265,565 263,467 0.8

 Computers and related products........... 5,939 6,437 6,026 -7.7 6.8 4.0 5,308 7,061 6,817 5,445 62,746 56,743 10.6

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 29,849 30,241 28,362 -1.3 6.6 -1.8 29,452 32,575 30,951 26,145 323,939 294,861 9.9

 Capital goods...................................... 76,682 78,255 78,679 -2.0 -0.5 -0.4 73,765 77,156 84,290 70,827 828,482 784,833 5.6

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 69,794 71,288 71,087 -2.1 0.3 -0.5 66,778 70,419 76,086 62,265 744,613 680,185 9.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 65,191 65,746 66,350 -0.8 -0.9 -0.5 61,943 65,627 71,145 58,648 698,825 638,603 9.4

 Defense capital goods4....................... 6,888 6,967 7,592 -1.1 -8.2 0.4 6,987 6,737 8,204 8,562 83,869 104,648 -19.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 199,679 198,833 198,033 0.4 0.4 1.3 198,360 202,232 200,425 176,356 2,152,887 1,858,527 15.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,080 26,396 24,963 -1.2 5.7 -1.2 26,090 27,811 26,776 23,614 282,963 260,366 8.7

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 173,599 172,437 173,070 0.7 -0.4 1.7 172,270 174,421 173,649 152,742 1,869,924 1,598,161 17.0

 All manufacturing industries5.................. 459,177 450,932 451,636 1.8 -0.2 -0.1 443,419 448,923 464,693 398,065 4,891,329 4,356,773 12.3

 Construction materials and supplies...... 37,880 37,745 36,417 0.4 3.6 -1.7 35,319 38,931 38,844 33,614 415,324 398,882 4.1

 Information technology......................... 24,306 25,466 25,412 -4.6 0.2 2.9 22,662 25,448 29,503 24,626 266,719 264,582 0.8

 Computers and related products........... 6,062 6,408 6,145 -5.4 4.3 6.4 5,431 7,032 6,936 5,656 62,603 56,895 10.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 29,934 30,071 28,386 -0.5 5.9 -2.2 29,727 32,543 31,031 26,394 323,817 294,181 10.1

 Capital goods...................................... 85,276 79,255 83,750 7.6 -5.4 -2.8 81,076 74,956 88,815 69,889 874,663 797,582 9.7

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 78,606 72,748 75,387 8.1 -3.5 -3.5 75,865 70,079 80,200 62,555 788,403 699,064 12.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 67,001 67,812 68,451 -1.2 -0.9 1.4 62,916 68,176 73,152 60,027 722,493 652,668 10.7

 Defense capital goods4....................... 6,670 6,507 8,363 2.5 -22.2 4.0 5,211 4,877 8,615 7,334 86,260 98,518 -12.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 199,856 198,964 197,996 0.4 0.5 1.4 198,615 202,403 200,362 176,582 2,153,080 1,859,221 15.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,257 26,527 24,926 -1.0 6.4 -0.5 26,345 27,982 26,713 23,840 283,156 261,060 8.5

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 173,599 172,437 173,070 0.7 -0.4 1.7 172,270 174,421 173,649 152,742 1,869,924 1,598,161 17.0

 All manufacturing industries5

.................. 898,328 887,233 884,132 1.3 0.4 0.6 884,141 875,641 877,634 819,067 (X) (X) 7.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 57,739 57,311 57,132 0.7 0.3 -1.3 56,234 56,618 56,941 51,781 (X) (X) 8.6

 Information technology......................... 126,005 125,649 124,746 0.3 0.7 0.6 123,967 124,790 124,054 119,790 (X) (X) 3.5

 Computers and related products........... 3,511 3,388 3,417 3.6 -0.8 3.6 3,511 3,388 3,417 3,696 (X) (X) -5.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 13,825 13,740 13,910 0.6 -1.2 0.2 13,674 13,399 13,431 13,220 (X) (X) 3.4

 Capital goods...................................... 683,394 674,800 673,800 1.3 0.1 0.8 674,393 667,082 669,282 622,950 (X) (X) 8.3

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 531,486 522,674 521,214 1.7 0.3 0.8 527,330 518,243 518,583 481,719 (X) (X) 9.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 211,473 209,663 207,597 0.9 1.0 1.0 209,762 208,789 206,240 183,686 (X) (X) 14.2

 Defense capital goods4....................... 151,908 152,126 152,586 -0.1 -0.3 0.5 147,063 148,839 150,699 141,231 (X) (X) 4.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,832 4,655 4,524 3.8 2.9 -0.8 4,803 4,548 4,377 4,671 (X) (X) 2.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,832 4,655 4,524 3.8 2.9 -0.8 4,803 4,548 4,377 4,671 (X) (X) 2.8

 All manufacturing industries................... 609,814 607,016 601,587 0.5 0.9 0.1 608,787 609,936 600,538 550,638 (X) (X) 10.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 57,977 57,767 57,445 0.4 0.6 0.3 57,219 57,447 57,378 53,156 (X) (X) 7.6

 Information technology......................... 42,809 42,815 42,747 0.0 0.2 -0.6 43,478 43,060 42,582 40,966 (X) (X) 6.1

 Computers and related products........... 6,134 6,142 6,083 -0.1 1.0 1.9 6,370 6,199 6,218 5,744 (X) (X) 10.9

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 26,431 26,505 26,258 -0.3 0.9 1.9 26,599 26,532 26,171 23,914 (X) (X) 11.2

 Capital goods...................................... 190,065 188,338 187,245 0.9 0.6 -0.2 191,513 188,770 186,102 168,412 (X) (X) 13.7

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 169,462 168,096 167,207 0.8 0.5 0.1 170,922 168,572 166,241 148,452 (X) (X) 15.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 115,731 114,979 114,624 0.7 0.3 0.3 117,173 115,403 113,922 105,968 (X) (X) 10.6

 Defense capital goods4

....................... 20,603 20,242 20,038 1.8 1.0 -2.4 20,591 20,198 19,861 19,960 (X) (X) 3.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 184,067 182,688 178,793 0.8 2.2 0.4 183,987 186,130 179,503 167,920 (X) (X) 9.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,469 27,607 27,481 -0.5 0.5 1.0 27,808 27,922 27,593 26,111 (X) (X) 6.5

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 156,598 155,081 151,312 1.0 2.5 0.3 156,179 158,208 151,910 141,809 (X) (X) 10.1

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

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

estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes.

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

3

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

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

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

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

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

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 
 7

Table 6. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories, by Stage of Fabrication, by Industry Group1 

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. Nov.

2011p 2011r 2011 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 199,941 199,560 196,726 0.2 1.4 -0.1 198,387 199,556 196,470 181,462 9.3

 Durable goods industries........................ 117,551 117,064 116,869 0.4 0.2 0.3 117,822 117,284 117,071 108,636 8.5

 Wood products................................... 3,310 3,219 3,159 2.8 1.9 1.0 3,490 3,369 3,285 3,203 9.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,421 4,441 4,425 -0.5 0.4 1.2 4,393 4,430 4,423 3,950 11.2

 Primary metals.................................... 13,853 13,903 13,949 -0.4 -0.3 -0.3 13,883 14,081 14,212 12,593 10.2

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,558 16,448 16,347 0.7 0.6 -0.5 16,327 16,295 16,406 14,627 11.6

 Machinery.......................................... 22,580 22,331 22,495 1.1 -0.7 1.4 22,740 22,408 22,498 19,808 14.8

 Computers and electronic products...... 18,062 18,161 18,118 -0.5 0.2 -1.6 18,431 18,373 18,114 17,605 4.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 6,653 6,583 6,541 1.1 0.6 -0.1 6,560 6,509 6,464 6,259 4.8

 Transportation equipment.................. 21,464 21,400 21,225 0.3 0.8 1.4 21,337 21,253 21,057 20,648 3.3

 Furniture and related products............ 3,282 3,279 3,315 0.1 -1.1 -1.1 3,277 3,247 3,301 3,174 3.2

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,368 7,299 7,295 0.9 0.1 1.3 7,384 7,319 7,311 6,769 9.1

 Nondurable goods industries................. 82,390 82,496 79,857 -0.1 3.3 -0.7 80,565 82,272 79,399 72,826 10.6

 Food products................................... 14,494 14,552 14,499 -0.4 0.4 -3.4 14,814 15,139 14,239 14,678 0.9

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,348 4,350 4,383 0.0 -0.8 -0.8 4,393 4,411 4,264 4,390 0.1

 Textiles.............................................. 1,309 1,307 1,316 0.2 -0.7 1.5 1,281 1,287 1,317 1,135 12.9

 Textile products.................................. 1,450 1,425 1,426 1.8 -0.1 0.8 1,428 1,433 1,451 1,258 13.5

 Apparel............................................. 970 946 919 2.5 2.9 2.8 937 947 934 678 38.2

 Leather and allied products................ 296 298 297 -0.7 0.3 -3.9 296 300 305 307 -3.6

 Paper products................................... 6,718 6,735 6,721 -0.3 0.2 0.0 6,763 6,728 6,754 6,742 0.3

 Printing ............................................ 2,619 2,625 2,624 -0.2 0.0 -1.0 2,639 2,669 2,679 2,622 0.6

 Petroleum and coal products............... 18,208 17,929 15,515 1.6 15.6 -0.7 16,657 17,505 15,286 12,762 30.5

 Chemical products............................. 23,127 23,478 23,346 -1.5 0.6 0.3 22,727 23,155 23,283 20,674 9.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,851 8,851 8,811 0.0 0.5 0.7 8,630 8,698 8,887 7,580 13.9

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 190,503 188,913 186,910 0.8 1.1 0.0 191,634 190,685 185,169 169,289 13.2

 Durable goods industries........................ 144,160 142,740 141,654 1.0 0.8 -0.5 144,555 143,071 140,907 126,041 14.7

 Wood products................................... 1,563 1,555 1,498 0.5 3.8 -1.2 1,561 1,568 1,495 1,498 4.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,215 1,209 1,194 0.5 1.3 -0.7 1,159 1,165 1,179 1,147 1.0

 Primary metals.................................... 10,242 10,023 9,950 2.2 0.7 -0.8 10,019 9,892 9,987 8,636 16.0

 Fabricated metal products.................. 13,148 12,913 12,742 1.8 1.3 -0.4 13,251 12,988 12,819 11,507 15.2

 Machinery.......................................... 15,421 15,213 14,913 1.4 2.0 -0.1 15,792 15,436 14,860 14,492 9.0

 Computers and electronic products...... 17,904 18,252 18,245 -1.9 0.0 -0.3 18,037 18,358 17,941 17,849 1.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,808 3,738 3,702 1.9 1.0 -1.5 3,764 3,701 3,629 3,342 12.6

 Transportation equipment.................. 76,459 75,446 74,956 1.3 0.7 -0.6 76,548 75,524 74,539 63,336 20.9

 Furniture and related products............ 1,063 1,060 1,081 0.3 -1.9 -0.3 1,061 1,050 1,076 986 7.6

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,337 3,331 3,373 0.2 -1.2 0.8 3,363 3,389 3,382 3,248 3.5

 Nondurable goods industries................. 46,343 46,173 45,256 0.4 2.0 1.6 47,079 47,614 44,262 43,248 8.9

 Food products................................... 3,524 3,463 3,488 1.8 -0.7 -1.7 4,448 4,425 3,174 4,366 1.9

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,650 5,617 5,509 0.6 2.0 0.0 6,039 6,017 5,328 5,798 4.2

 Textiles.............................................. 849 844 834 0.6 1.2 -0.5 851 844 842 737 15.5

 Textile products.................................. 464 469 467 -1.1 0.4 -1.3 459 464 468 438 4.8

 Apparel............................................. 350 356 353 -1.7 0.8 -7.1 339 354 363 339 0.0

 Leather and allied products................ 110 106 102 3.8 3.9 2.0 110 104 100 76 44.7

 Paper products................................... 1,289 1,297 1,275 -0.6 1.7 1.1 1,270 1,272 1,275 1,210 5.0

 Printing ............................................ 1,172 1,212 1,223 -3.3 -0.9 -1.9 1,191 1,312 1,260 1,264 -5.8

 Petroleum and coal products............... 16,477 16,055 15,607 2.6 2.9 4.9 15,833 15,981 15,258 12,627 25.4

 Chemical products............................. 14,492 14,784 14,430 -2.0 2.5 0.6 14,595 14,897 14,221 14,318 1.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 1,966 1,970 1,968 -0.2 0.1 -0.6 1,944 1,944 1,973 2,075 -6.3

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 219,370 218,543 217,951 0.4 0.3 0.5 218,766 219,695 218,899 199,887 9.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 107,290 107,077 106,791 0.2 0.3 0.4 107,073 106,873 106,062 97,943 9.3

 Wood products................................... 3,945 3,861 3,842 2.2 0.5 -0.4 3,781 3,782 3,788 3,650 3.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,498 5,452 5,416 0.8 0.7 0.8 5,285 5,248 5,262 5,047 4.7

 Primary metals.................................... 10,445 10,416 10,432 0.3 -0.2 -0.6 10,168 10,258 10,361 8,833 15.1

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,773 16,899 16,852 -0.7 0.3 0.6 16,373 16,660 16,598 15,212 7.6

 Machinery.......................................... 22,366 22,269 22,211 0.4 0.3 -0.6 22,409 21,851 21,749 19,412 15.4

 Computers and electronic products...... 11,925 11,711 11,765 1.8 -0.5 0.4 12,159 11,824 11,821 11,255 8.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,143 5,138 5,146 0.1 -0.2 -2.2 5,134 5,246 5,153 5,276 -2.7

 Transportation equipment.................. 16,401 16,501 16,549 -0.6 -0.3 3.1 16,747 16,905 16,696 15,213 10.1

 Furniture and related products............ 2,375 2,380 2,389 -0.2 -0.4 -0.9 2,419 2,399 2,397 2,528 -4.3

 Miscellaneous products........................ 12,419 12,450 12,189 -0.2 2.1 0.7 12,598 12,700 12,237 11,517 9.4

 Nondurable goods industries................. 112,080 111,466 111,160 0.6 0.3 0.6 111,693 112,822 112,837 101,944 9.6

 Food products................................... 26,778 26,804 26,625 -0.1 0.7 0.5 27,458 28,175 27,907 25,702 6.8

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 6,731 6,646 6,634 1.3 0.2 1.3 6,601 6,775 6,863 6,205 6.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,470 1,488 1,498 -1.2 -0.7 -1.5 1,467 1,494 1,490 1,299 12.9

 Textile products.................................. 1,172 1,159 1,163 1.1 -0.3 -0.6 1,139 1,151 1,158 1,065 6.9

 Apparel............................................. 1,438 1,431 1,355 0.5 5.6 4.6 1,379 1,494 1,447 1,176 17.3

 Leather and allied products................ 496 499 505 -0.6 -1.2 2.2 497 494 503 447 11.2

 Paper products................................... 5,955 5,976 6,056 -0.4 -1.3 0.3 5,941 5,962 5,985 6,016 -1.2

 Printing ............................................ 1,633 1,622 1,627 0.7 -0.3 0.7 1,639 1,649 1,627 1,585 3.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 20,957 20,101 19,588 4.3 2.6 1.8 20,652 20,043 20,066 16,792 23.0

 Chemical products............................. 35,523 35,724 36,029 -0.6 -0.8 0.6 35,087 35,557 35,784 31,994 9.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 9,927 10,016 10,080 -0.9 -0.6 -1.4 9,833 10,028 10,007 9,663 1.8

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 Nov Oct Sep Aug Nov Oct Sep Aug

2011p 2011r 2011 2011 2011p 2011r 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries2............................ 1.34 1.33 1.33 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.82 1.80 1.82 1.81 6.16 6.07 6.08 6.07

 Wood products.............................................. 1.64 1.59 1.60 1.61 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.37 1.37 1.39 1.39 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.30 1.34 1.40 1.43 1.28 1.29 1.31 1.31

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.83 1.83 1.82 1.84 2.70 2.69 2.66 2.67

 Machinery..................................................... 1.98 1.98 1.91 1.89 4.36 4.36 4.16 4.25

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.57 1.54 1.56 1.55 5.91 5.76 5.69 5.67

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.55 1.52 1.50 1.51 3.03 2.92 2.84 2.79

 Transportation equipment.............................. 2.42 2.34 2.45 2.39 16.38 15.68 16.16 15.77

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.24 1.24 1.23 1.23 1.45 1.43 1.41 1.40

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.69 1.69 1.67 1.67 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.96 0.96 0.94 0.94 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.35 1.37 1.33 1.34 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.43 1.43 1.41 1.41 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.63 1.64 1.64 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.92 1.93 1.87 1.87 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.95 2.95 2.94 2.90 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.98 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.77 0.76 0.71 0.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.19 1.21 1.20 1.18 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.27 1.27 1.28 1.29 (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.

Nov2 Nov2 Nov2 Nov2

Industry 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010-

Nov1 Oct Nov1 Oct Nov1 Oct Nov1 Oct

2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011

 

All manufacturing industries.................. (X) 0.3 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.1

Durable goods industries....................... 0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

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

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.9 -0.6 2.3 -0.1 1.1 0.2 0.6

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

 Machinery.......................................... -0.1 1.0 -0.5 2.3 -0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.0 0.7 0.8 1.2 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.3

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.0 0.6 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.5 (X) 1.0 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.4 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.1

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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. 

 2012 Release Dates for the M3 Survey 

Survey month Advance Report 

(8:30 a.m. release time) 

Full Report 

(10:00 a.m. release time) 

October 2011 November 23, 2011 December 5, 2011 

November 2011 December 23, 2011 January 4, 2012 

December 2011 January 26, 2012 February 3, 2012 

January 2012 February 28, 2012 March 5, 2012 

February 2012 March 28, 2012 April 3, 2012 

March 2012 April 25, 2012 May 2, 2012 

April 2012 May 24, 2012 June 4, 2012 

May 2012 June 27, 2012 July 3, 2012 

June 2012 July 26, 2012 August 2, 2012 

July 2012 August 24, 2012 August 31, 2012 

August 2012 September 27, 2012 October 4, 2012 

September 2012 October 25, 2012 November 2, 2012 

October 2012 November 27, 2012 December 5, 2012 

November 2012 December 24, 2012 Not available at this time