FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Adriana Stoica 

Economic Indicators Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (15)-08 

CB15-161 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

August 2015 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in August, down 

following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased 

$8.2 billion or 1.7 percent to $473.0 billion, the U.S. 

Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.2 

percent July increase. 

 Shipments, down four of the last five months, 

decreased $3.2 billion or 0.7 percent to $480.1 billion. 

This followed a 0.2 percent July decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, down following two consecutive 

monthly increases, decreased $2.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,195.0 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent July 

increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 

6.87, down from 6.89 in July. 

 Inventories, down two consecutive months, decreased 

$1.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $648.4 billion. This 

followed a 0.3 percent July decrease. The inventoriesto-shipments ratio was 1.35, up from 1.34 in July. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, 

down following two consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $5.5 billion or 2.3 percent to $235.5 billion, 

down from the previously published 2.0 percent 

decrease. This followed a 1.9 percent July increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $5.1 

billion or 6.2 percent to $78.3 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $2.7 billion or 1.1 percent to $237.5 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, 

down following two consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $242.7 billion, 

down from the previously published virtually unchanged 

decrease. This followed a 1.0 percent July increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $0.3 

billion or 0.3 percent to $80.6 billion. 

 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

two consecutive months, decreased $2.7 billion or 1.1 

percent to $237.5 billion. This followed a 1.4 percent 

July decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also down 

two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $2.7 billion 

or 5.6 percent to $45.8 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

August, down following two consecutive monthly 

increases, decreased $2.4 billion or 0.2 percent to 

$1,195.0 billion, virtually unchanged from the 

previously published decrease. This followed a 0.2 

percent July increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $2.2 

billion or 0.3 percent to $800.1 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, 

down three of the last four months, decreased $0.1 

billion or virtually unchanged to $401.2 billion, down 

from the previously published virtually unchanged 

increase. This followed a 0.2 percent July decrease. 

 

 Primary metals, down seven consecutive months, 

drove the decrease, $0.5 billion or 1.3 percent to $36.5 

billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

two consecutive months, decreased $1.5 billion or 0.6 

percent to $247.2 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent 

July decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also down 

two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion 

or 4.9 percent to $34.7 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies 

increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.8 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 

0.2 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.5 percent 

in nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.5 

percent in durable goods and decreased 0.5 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 www.census.gov/m3. The Advance Report on durable goods for September is scheduled for release on October 27, 2015 at 

8:30 a.m. EDT and the Full Report on November 3, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description. To receive the latest updates on the 

Nation's key economic indicators, download the America's Economy app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. To learn more about this release 

and the other indicators the U.S. Census Bureau publishes, join us for the Investigating Economic Indicators Webinar Series. For more information, 

visit www.census.gov/econ/webinar. 

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

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Aug. July June 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

 All manufacturing industries.................. 480,143 483,362 484,363 -0.7 -0.2 0.6 490,105 472,386 513,644 517,184 3,838,548 3,998,480 -4.0

 Excluding transportation................... 399,577 402,521 405,906 -0.7 -0.8 0.4 408,890 402,289 427,305 442,586 3,224,798 3,430,864 -6.0

 Excluding defense.............................. 467,771 470,412 471,504 -0.6 -0.2 0.4 477,957 460,917 499,554 505,263 3,744,750 3,906,028 -4.1

 With unfilled orders............................ 173,860 173,814 172,730 0.0 0.6 1.0 175,682 164,588 189,152 174,024 1,368,106 1,330,756 2.8

 Durable goods industries......................... 242,677 243,200 240,911 -0.2 1.0 0.9 246,383 230,210 262,452 244,369 1,908,853 1,866,212 2.3

 Wood products....................................... 8,136 8,084 7,916 0.6 2.1 1.8 8,715 8,568 8,842 8,851 65,120 65,495 -0.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 9,690 9,799 9,642 -1.1 1.6 1.6 10,607 10,544 10,587 10,762 77,441 76,724 0.9

 Primary metals....................................... 20,448 20,710 21,117 -1.3 -1.9 -1.0 20,992 20,460 22,000 24,449 173,703 186,890 -7.1

 Iron and steel mills............................ 9,524 9,662 9,817 -1.4 -1.6 -1.7 9,775 9,552 10,151 12,090 80,849 93,625 -13.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,291 9,440 9,697 -1.6 -2.7 -0.5 9,566 9,354 10,044 10,698 79,775 80,069 -0.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,633 1,608 1,603 1.6 0.3 1.1 1,651 1,554 1,805 1,661 13,079 13,196 -0.9

 Fabricated metal products....................... 29,791 29,822 29,895 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 31,094 29,634 31,881 31,799 240,365 239,284 0.5

 Machinery............................................. 33,795 33,656 33,943 0.4 -0.8 1.5 33,170 32,656 37,041 34,988 267,151 271,161 -1.5

 Farm machinery................................. 1,843 1,700 1,765 8.4 -3.7 9.0 1,710 1,591 1,754 3,420 14,179 24,502 -42.1

 Construction machinery..................... 3,627 3,647 3,609 -0.5 1.1 -1.6 3,251 3,415 3,596 2,801 29,028 21,870 32.7

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,588 1,693 1,735 -6.2 -2.4 -2.1 1,583 1,611 1,851 2,775 14,750 22,110 -33.3

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,897 2,960 3,213 -2.1 -7.9 7.7 2,759 2,824 3,576 2,893 21,704 23,274 -6.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 528 538 549 -1.9 -2.0 4.2 518 502 587 571 4,100 4,433 -7.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,944 3,966 3,904 -0.6 1.6 0.4 4,098 4,423 4,993 4,093 32,113 31,676 1.4

 Metalworking machinery..................... 3,241 3,234 2,981 0.2 8.5 -0.7 3,259 3,164 3,273 2,497 22,859 20,052 14.0

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 4,049 3,893 4,177 4.0 -6.8 2.0 4,081 3,775 4,341 4,219 32,941 30,474 8.1

 Material handling equipment............... 2,709 2,692 2,606 0.6 3.3 2.0 2,806 2,663 2,694 2,504 20,196 19,127 5.6

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 29,382 29,177 29,269 0.7 -0.3 -0.2 29,484 27,954 32,998 28,087 226,647 221,586 2.3

 Computers........................................ 674 710 699 -5.1 1.6 2.3 642 623 978 610 5,251 5,694 -7.8

 Computer storage devices..................... 462 479 475 -3.5 0.8 3.5 368 286 790 440 3,421 4,550 -24.8

 Other peripheral equipment................ 891 952 994 -6.4 -4.2 4.3 708 752 1,463 776 7,280 7,109 2.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,277 3,381 3,410 -3.1 -0.9 2.8 3,231 2,957 4,254 3,180 25,988 25,242 3.0

 Defense communications equipment.... 304 313 283 -2.9 10.6 -8.7 287 293 270 350 2,625 2,959 -11.3

 Audio and video equipment.................... 250 247 249 1.2 -0.8 -1.6 245 230 241 312 1,748 2,392 -26.9

 Electronic components......................... 4,816 4,863 4,786 -1.0 1.6 3.6 5,117 5,067 5,453 4,002 36,542 29,359 24.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,388 1,357 1,351 2.3 0.4 -1.0 1,401 1,198 1,518 1,220 10,376 9,549 8.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,780 2,795 2,733 -0.5 2.3 1.2 2,808 2,496 2,932 2,726 20,716 20,153 2.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,582 9,433 9,259 1.6 1.9 0.8 9,153 8,584 10,788 8,534 72,418 68,377 5.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,175 10,378 10,201 -2.0 1.7 -0.9 10,389 10,078 11,139 10,944 82,366 82,931 -0.7

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,000 1,004 960 -0.4 4.6 0.4 1,029 983 964 983 7,529 7,693 -2.1

 Household appliances........................ 1,600 1,619 1,609 -1.2 0.6 -1.0 1,595 1,552 1,736 1,773 12,934 13,683 -5.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,108 3,216 3,094 -3.4 3.9 -2.8 3,152 3,080 3,599 3,346 25,656 26,428 -2.9

 Batteries........................................... 826 840 875 -1.7 -4.0 3.3 827 749 891 930 6,433 6,729 -4.4

 Transportation equipment........................ 80,566 80,841 78,457 -0.3 3.0 1.9 81,215 70,097 86,339 74,598 613,750 567,616 8.1

 Automobiles..................................... 8,804 8,935 9,013 -1.5 -0.9 -4.0 8,936 7,292 9,787 8,826 69,982 65,479 6.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 14,049 14,689 13,399 -4.4 9.6 4.0 14,679 11,979 14,470 12,588 104,788 97,042 8.0

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 3,079 3,203 3,146 -3.9 1.8 1.1 3,102 3,186 3,488 2,821 24,882 20,621 20.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 26,860 26,844 25,745 0.1 4.3 1.4 27,674 24,014 27,512 24,507 207,006 187,432 10.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 15,372 13,916 14,180 10.5 -1.9 -1.3 14,643 12,110 16,696 12,944 110,205 95,449 15.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 5,069 5,279 5,440 -4.0 -3.0 20.5 4,891 4,505 6,144 4,493 36,692 36,561 0.4

 Ships and boats................................. 2,742 2,844 2,857 -3.6 -0.5 3.7 2,683 2,597 3,131 2,771 21,972 22,735 -3.4

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,412 6,471 6,373 -0.9 1.5 1.6 6,895 6,646 6,561 6,520 50,620 47,418 6.8

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 14,282 14,262 14,098 0.1 1.2 0.9 13,822 13,573 15,064 13,371 111,690 107,107 4.3

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 237,466 240,162 243,452 -1.1 -1.4 0.4 243,722 242,176 251,192 272,815 1,929,695 2,132,268 -9.5

 Food products....................................... 65,989 66,025 65,873 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 66,565 63,642 65,155 67,948 521,206 527,586 -1.2

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,318 8,382 8,270 -0.8 1.4 -1.9 8,473 8,016 7,845 8,245 64,270 64,814 -0.8

 Dairy products.................................. 9,919 9,897 9,939 0.2 -0.4 -0.7 10,111 9,881 9,929 11,057 79,045 85,697 -7.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 18,800 18,969 18,983 -0.9 -0.1 -0.9 19,049 18,684 19,384 20,494 152,996 157,487 -2.9

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,651 12,442 12,490 1.7 -0.4 -0.1 13,052 12,650 13,275 12,708 99,594 98,259 1.4

 Beverages......................................... 8,999 8,950 8,886 0.5 0.7 -0.4 9,400 9,158 9,671 9,248 71,372 71,905 -0.7

 Tobacco............................................ 3,652 3,492 3,604 4.6 -3.1 0.6 3,652 3,492 3,604 3,460 28,222 26,354 7.1

 Textile mills........................................... 2,544 2,559 2,573 -0.6 -0.5 1.7 2,657 2,576 2,727 2,726 20,761 21,302 -2.5

 Textile products................................... 1,932 1,935 1,902 -0.2 1.7 0.5 2,034 1,978 2,055 2,008 15,608 15,379 1.5

 Apparel................................................ 1,175 1,154 1,127 1.8 2.4 0.2 1,281 1,167 1,070 1,167 8,763 8,261 6.1

 Leather and allied products...................... 468 463 460 1.1 0.7 -0.6 470 449 483 470 3,720 3,648 2.0

 Paper products...................................... 16,122 16,075 15,977 0.3 0.6 -0.7 16,568 16,404 16,544 16,985 129,024 128,937 0.1

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 7,117 7,096 7,062 0.3 0.5 -0.6 7,358 7,237 7,227 7,307 57,123 56,248 1.6

 Paperboard containers........................ 5,225 5,200 5,210 0.5 -0.2 -0.2 5,402 5,468 5,505 5,920 41,969 43,017 -2.4

 Printing................................................. 7,242 7,350 7,263 -1.5 1.2 1.1 7,277 7,072 7,129 7,049 56,668 54,697 3.6

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 45,813 48,530 52,591 -5.6 -7.7 0.6 49,333 52,312 54,775 75,670 403,296 585,569 -31.1

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 42,188 44,834 49,036 -5.9 -8.6 0.8 45,028 47,991 50,644 70,647 373,508 553,079 -32.5

 Chemical products..................................... 64,298 64,339 63,855 -0.1 0.8 0.8 64,712 64,327 67,271 65,855 515,664 530,592 -2.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,013 4,939 4,693 1.5 5.2 2.8 4,080 4,132 4,999 3,288 41,334 35,894 15.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 16,565 16,534 15,753 0.2 5.0 2.5 16,812 16,670 16,513 14,271 124,208 117,245 5.9

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 3,362 3,294 3,249 2.1 1.4 -2.0 3,532 3,588 3,593 3,402 27,328 26,810 1.9

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 19,232 19,290 19,341 -0.3 -0.3 1.1 19,773 19,599 20,708 20,229 155,391 158,038 -1.7

p

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

1

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

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

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

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 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 % Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Aug. July June 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

All manufacturing industries2........................ 472,989 481,206 480,063 -1.7 0.2 2.2 473,193 469,006 510,706 507,622 3,771,182 4,064,510 -7.2

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 394,667 397,742 400,478 -0.8 -0.7 0.6 400,099 395,455 420,570 434,712 3,185,620 3,415,893 -6.7

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 461,974 467,585 469,062 -1.2 -0.3 2.2 465,014 457,644 495,834 499,673 3,687,817 3,968,267 -7.1

 With unfilled orders2

............................. 171,414 176,054 173,252 -2.6 1.6 5.2 164,014 166,449 190,317 170,198 1,339,248 1,441,527 -7.1

 Durable goods industries2......................... 235,523 241,044 236,611 -2.3 1.9 4.1 229,471 226,830 259,514 234,807 1,841,487 1,932,242 -4.7

 Primary metals........................................ 20,494 20,513 20,985 -0.1 -2.2 -2.6 20,373 20,073 21,775 23,160 172,617 188,551 -8.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,623 9,470 9,691 1.6 -2.3 -5.7 9,423 9,200 10,096 10,959 80,626 94,466 -14.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,289 9,444 9,597 -1.6 -1.6 -0.9 9,395 9,266 9,878 10,534 79,067 80,593 -1.9

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,582 1,599 1,697 -1.1 -5.8 6.7 1,555 1,607 1,801 1,667 12,924 13,492 -4.2

 Fabricated metal products........................ 29,337 29,879 30,294 -1.8 -1.4 2.0 29,989 29,780 31,578 31,417 240,970 244,851 -1.6

 Machinery............................................. 33,406 33,140 32,658 0.8 1.5 2.4 32,339 31,721 34,993 34,689 261,020 284,642 -8.3

 Construction machinery........................ 3,560 3,361 3,261 5.9 3.1 1.7 3,336 2,797 3,056 3,210 25,872 24,442 5.9

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,440 1,412 1,377 2.0 2.5 3.5 1,352 1,377 1,637 2,839 13,159 22,940 -42.6

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,959 2,945 3,021 0.5 -2.5 3.7 2,689 2,781 3,418 2,475 21,335 23,975 -11.0

 Photographic equipment....................... 541 535 459 1.1 16.6 -4.0 545 529 408 600 4,262 4,497 -5.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,937 3,969 3,940 -0.8 0.7 0.4 3,902 4,186 4,898 4,235 32,058 32,692 -1.9

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,203 3,122 2,848 2.6 9.6 -2.7 3,161 3,069 3,042 2,701 22,663 20,424 11.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 3,819 3,696 3,758 3.3 -1.6 1.7 3,719 3,609 4,083 3,254 30,059 34,267 -12.3

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,627 2,905 2,977 -9.6 -2.4 6.2 2,585 2,723 3,028 2,673 21,367 20,343 5.0

 Computers and electronic products2

........... 25,148 25,280 25,026 -0.5 1.0 0.9 23,801 23,068 28,867 22,709 193,721 183,184 5.8

 Computers........................................ 664 671 763 -1.0 -12.1 25.3 632 584 1,042 655 5,359 6,011 -10.8

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,481 3,726 3,733 -6.6 -0.2 5.2 3,232 3,296 4,055 3,605 28,538 29,081 -1.9

 Defense communications equipment....... 295 358 286 -17.6 25.2 -14.9 277 330 301 441 2,735 2,748 -0.5

 Electronic components......................... 4,759 4,844 4,800 -1.8 0.9 3.1 5,130 5,095 5,383 4,073 36,969 29,671 24.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,682 1,598 1,534 5.3 4.2 -2.8 1,631 1,443 1,794 1,456 12,664 12,012 5.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,708 2,790 2,489 -2.9 12.1 -4.2 2,422 2,377 2,785 2,317 19,834 19,252 3.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,706 9,364 9,495 3.7 -1.4 -0.6 8,876 8,448 10,805 8,433 73,399 68,897 6.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,187 10,232 10,107 -0.4 1.2 1.3 10,270 9,509 11,188 10,904 82,185 84,978 -3.3

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 994 1,004 948 -1.0 5.9 0.6 1,009 985 976 979 7,534 7,712 -2.3

 Household appliances.......................... 1,503 1,517 1,603 -0.9 -5.4 0.3 1,450 1,444 1,661 1,735 12,821 13,721 -6.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,190 3,291 3,158 -3.1 4.2 -1.0 3,155 3,164 3,652 3,320 26,333 27,117 -2.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 78,322 83,464 79,585 -6.2 4.9 10.8 73,094 73,551 90,136 72,910 585,562 648,617 -9.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 26,832 26,933 25,711 -0.4 4.8 1.2 27,707 23,585 27,069 24,980 206,039 188,497 9.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 15,105 16,051 17,568 -5.9 -8.6 69.9 10,680 16,238 20,556 14,211 94,648 169,536 -44.2

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 4,580 4,356 5,081 5.1 -14.3 31.1 3,163 3,331 6,655 2,745 29,870 34,405 -13.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,426 3,342 2,786 -27.4 20.0 28.0 2,021 2,738 3,316 2,057 19,201 30,641 -37.3

 Furniture and related products................... 6,538 6,382 6,291 2.4 1.4 0.3 6,478 6,434 6,475 6,039 51,150 48,141 6.3

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 237,466 240,162 243,452 -1.1 -1.4 0.4 243,722 242,176 251,192 272,815 1,929,695 2,132,268 -9.5

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 % Change

Industry August

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Aug. July June 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

All manufacturing industries2...................... 1,195,011 1,197,457 1,195,217 -0.2 0.2 0.0 1,186,044 1,197,712 1,195,851 1,200,582 -1.2

 Excluding transportation2...................... 394,873 395,075 395,458 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 393,479 397,026 398,619 395,156 -0.4

 Excluding defense2

............................. 1,013,097 1,014,186 1,012,617 -0.1 0.2 0.2 1,005,443 1,013,142 1,011,174 1,006,367 -0.1

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,195,011 1,197,457 1,195,217 -0.2 0.2 0.0 1,186,044 1,197,712 1,195,851 1,200,582 -1.2

 Primary metals........................................ 35,567 35,521 35,718 0.1 -0.6 -0.4 35,096 35,715 36,102 36,247 -3.2

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,360 18,261 18,453 0.5 -1.0 -0.7 18,161 18,513 18,865 19,300 -5.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 12,165 12,167 12,163 0.0 0.0 -0.8 11,925 12,096 12,184 11,921 0.0

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 5,042 5,093 5,102 -1.0 -0.2 1.9 5,010 5,106 5,053 5,026 -0.3

 Fabricated metal products......................... 81,859 82,313 82,256 -0.6 0.1 0.5 82,431 83,536 83,390 83,216 -0.9

 Machinery.............................................. 111,474 111,863 112,379 -0.3 -0.5 -1.1 111,048 111,879 112,814 121,551 -8.6

 Construction machinery......................... 6,181 6,248 6,534 -1.1 -4.4 -5.1 5,986 5,901 6,519 9,361 -36.1

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 9,460 9,608 9,889 -1.5 -2.8 -3.5 9,548 9,779 10,013 12,845 -25.7

 Industrial machinery............................. 8,471 8,409 8,424 0.7 -0.2 -2.2 8,471 8,541 8,584 9,732 -13.0

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,606 1,593 1,596 0.8 -0.2 -5.3 1,636 1,609 1,582 1,769 -7.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 7,643 7,650 7,647 -0.1 0.0 0.5 7,325 7,521 7,758 6,928 5.7

 Metalworking machinery........................ 6,690 6,728 6,840 -0.6 -1.6 -1.9 6,626 6,724 6,819 7,692 -13.9

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 32,117 32,347 32,544 -0.7 -0.6 -1.3 32,063 32,425 32,591 35,708 -10.2

 Material handling equipment................... 11,957 12,039 11,826 -0.7 1.8 3.2 11,921 12,142 12,082 10,208 16.8

 Computers and electronic products2............. 134,854 134,380 133,881 0.4 0.4 0.4 134,097 134,536 134,181 124,422 7.8

 Computers......................................... 2,580 2,590 2,629 -0.4 -1.5 2.5 2,580 2,590 2,629 2,306 11.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 36,559 36,355 36,010 0.6 1.0 0.9 36,303 36,302 35,963 31,992 13.5

 Defense communications equipment........ 2,981 2,990 2,945 -0.3 1.5 0.1 3,002 3,012 2,975 3,096 -3.0

 Electronic components.......................... 10,933 10,990 11,009 -0.5 -0.2 0.1 11,026 11,013 10,985 10,691 3.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 19,715 19,421 19,180 1.5 1.3 1.0 19,803 19,573 19,328 16,583 19.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 32,342 32,414 32,419 -0.2 0.0 -0.7 32,017 32,403 32,522 32,473 -1.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 29,744 29,620 29,689 0.4 -0.2 0.8 29,366 29,643 29,779 27,281 7.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 22,546 22,534 22,680 0.1 -0.6 -0.4 22,378 22,497 23,066 21,903 2.2

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,097 1,103 1,103 -0.5 0.0 -1.1 1,111 1,131 1,129 1,121 -0.9

 Household appliances........................... 1,487 1,584 1,686 -6.1 -6.0 -0.4 1,411 1,556 1,664 1,324 6.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,759 9,677 9,602 0.8 0.8 0.7 9,779 9,776 9,692 8,879 10.1

 Transportation equipment......................... 800,138 802,382 799,759 -0.3 0.3 0.1 792,565 800,686 797,232 805,426 -1.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 21,678 21,706 21,617 -0.1 0.4 -0.2 21,063 21,030 21,459 19,985 5.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 614,094 614,361 612,226 0.0 0.3 0.6 608,219 612,182 608,054 609,372 -0.2

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 63,768 64,257 65,180 -0.8 -1.4 -0.5 62,567 64,295 65,469 68,429 -8.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 28,159 28,475 27,977 -1.1 1.8 -0.3 28,182 28,844 28,703 34,579 -18.5

 Furniture and related products................... 7,723 7,597 7,686 1.7 -1.2 -1.1 7,579 7,996 8,208 7,070 7.2

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. 

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 % Change

Industry August

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Aug. July June 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

 All manufacturing industries...................... 648,385 650,029 651,751 -0.3 -0.3 0.3 652,649 653,831 648,233 659,281 -1.0

 Excluding transportation........................ 515,862 518,367 519,911 -0.5 -0.3 0.0 519,549 521,092 517,632 533,891 -2.7

 Excluding defense............................. 619,675 622,121 624,091 -0.4 -0.3 0.2 623,942 625,689 620,551 633,767 -1.6

 With unfilled orders............................. 327,630 327,646 328,086 0.0 -0.1 0.4 330,324 330,715 326,450 323,172 2.2

 Durable goods industries........................ 401,173 401,297 402,145 0.0 -0.2 0.4 404,011 404,258 399,493 394,305 2.5

 Wood products........................................ 11,219 11,261 11,267 -0.4 -0.1 0.3 11,105 11,097 11,047 10,535 5.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 12,962 13,020 13,098 -0.4 -0.6 -0.5 12,910 13,037 13,252 12,686 1.8

 Primary metals......................................... 36,521 36,991 37,313 -1.3 -0.9 -1.2 36,611 36,973 36,981 38,738 -5.5

 Iron and steel mills............................... 21,000 21,349 21,611 -1.6 -1.2 -1.1 21,009 21,258 21,370 22,870 -8.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 13,522 13,631 13,683 -0.8 -0.4 -1.6 13,598 13,714 13,616 13,886 -2.1

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 1,999 2,011 2,019 -0.6 -0.4 1.2 2,004 2,001 1,995 1,982 1.1

 Fabricated metal products......................... 48,940 48,950 49,125 0.0 -0.4 0.1 49,029 49,365 49,137 48,439 1.2

 Machinery.............................................. 66,519 66,675 66,879 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1 67,345 67,264 66,437 67,102 0.4

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,232 3,287 3,322 -1.7 -1.1 -1.6 3,139 3,284 3,412 3,768 -16.7

 Construction machinery......................... 7,154 7,221 7,311 -0.9 -1.2 1.0 7,116 7,189 7,330 5,306 34.1

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 5,433 5,466 5,489 -0.6 -0.4 -4.0 5,536 5,545 5,545 7,088 -21.9

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,086 5,990 6,040 1.6 -0.8 0.9 6,138 5,929 6,037 6,401 -4.1

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,378 1,368 1,380 0.7 -0.9 -0.5 1,434 1,396 1,354 1,414 1.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 5,305 5,319 5,389 -0.3 -1.3 0.7 5,372 5,424 5,440 5,208 3.1

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,592 5,593 5,644 0.0 -0.9 -0.2 5,700 5,662 5,653 5,488 3.9

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 9,975 10,033 10,014 -0.6 0.2 -0.2 10,367 10,249 9,591 10,651 -2.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,216 4,183 4,150 0.8 0.8 0.7 4,339 4,303 4,173 4,022 7.9

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 45,726 46,019 46,055 -0.6 -0.1 0.4 46,500 46,486 45,467 45,112 3.1

 Computers......................................... 1,116 1,209 1,280 -7.7 -5.5 6.7 1,184 1,277 1,278 1,174 0.9

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,401 1,438 1,510 -2.6 -4.8 -0.4 1,467 1,474 1,431 1,551 -5.4

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,122 1,191 1,259 -5.8 -5.4 -1.5 1,159 1,213 1,225 1,391 -16.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 4,738 4,765 4,783 -0.6 -0.4 -2.8 4,812 4,745 4,693 5,282 -8.9

 Defense communications equipment........ 845 843 831 0.2 1.4 2.2 845 843 831 857 -1.4

 Audio and video equipment.................... 772 785 829 -1.7 -5.3 3.4 824 794 768 765 7.7

 Electronic components.......................... 8,217 8,283 8,199 -0.8 1.0 1.3 8,229 8,345 8,065 7,398 11.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,503 3,487 3,455 0.5 0.9 1.5 3,560 3,527 3,413 3,289 8.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,234 3,186 3,110 1.5 2.4 -0.2 3,253 3,265 3,119 2,772 17.4

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 14,427 14,468 14,469 -0.3 0.0 -0.4 14,850 14,674 14,331 15,026 -1.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 16,657 16,639 16,591 0.1 0.3 0.3 16,865 16,902 16,639 16,774 0.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,848 1,834 1,828 0.8 0.3 0.8 1,878 1,891 1,836 1,887 -0.5

 Household appliances........................... 2,083 2,078 2,067 0.2 0.5 0.5 2,180 2,162 2,093 2,137 2.0

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,996 5,016 5,048 -0.4 -0.6 0.2 5,011 5,047 4,987 5,067 -1.1

 Batteries............................................ 1,405 1,399 1,369 0.4 2.2 1.7 1,476 1,453 1,392 1,375 7.3

 Transportation equipment......................... 132,523 131,662 131,840 0.7 -0.1 1.2 133,100 132,739 130,601 125,390 6.1

 Automobiles....................................... 4,676 4,549 4,961 2.8 -8.3 -2.8 4,634 4,407 4,633 4,458 3.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 4,205 4,212 4,025 -0.2 4.6 2.7 4,210 4,287 3,734 3,602 16.9

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,954 1,963 1,974 -0.5 -0.6 4.5 1,937 1,943 1,946 1,583 22.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 25,130 25,165 25,334 -0.1 -0.7 0.2 25,187 25,311 24,974 23,472 7.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 67,061 66,984 66,739 0.1 0.4 1.2 67,477 67,723 66,621 65,165 3.5

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 12,788 12,427 12,433 2.9 0.0 -3.8 12,818 12,557 12,403 13,024 -1.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,230 2,216 2,158 0.6 2.7 0.0 2,205 2,166 2,150 2,243 -1.7

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,274 7,262 7,208 0.2 0.7 0.7 7,430 7,489 7,410 6,926 7.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 22,832 22,818 22,769 0.1 0.2 1.3 23,116 22,906 22,522 22,603 2.3

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 247,212 248,732 249,606 -0.6 -0.4 0.0 248,638 249,573 248,740 264,976 -6.2

 Food products........................................ 53,173 53,058 52,395 0.2 1.3 -1.1 53,714 52,600 50,977 54,065 -0.6

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,897 5,919 5,936 -0.4 -0.3 1.9 5,698 5,695 5,749 6,013 -5.2

 Dairy products.................................... 8,080 8,026 8,019 0.7 0.1 0.1 8,303 8,312 8,306 8,967 -7.4

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 9,326 9,351 8,935 -0.3 4.7 -5.5 9,459 9,375 8,850 9,691 -2.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 20,198 20,185 20,092 0.1 0.5 0.5 19,531 19,436 19,485 19,002 2.8

 Beverages......................................... 15,872 15,885 15,810 -0.1 0.5 0.3 15,467 15,421 15,406 15,225 1.6

 Tobacco............................................ 4,326 4,300 4,282 0.6 0.4 1.2 4,064 4,015 4,079 3,777 7.6

 Textile mills............................................ 3,243 3,243 3,239 0.0 0.1 -0.2 3,259 3,262 3,249 3,293 -1.0

 Textile products...................................... 2,960 2,950 2,931 0.3 0.6 -1.3 2,973 2,955 2,947 3,103 -4.2

 Apparel................................................. 2,643 2,601 2,514 1.6 3.5 0.4 2,789 2,753 2,559 2,408 15.8

 Leather and allied products....................... 867 863 866 0.5 -0.3 -1.1 884 871 877 880 0.5

 Paper products....................................... 16,675 16,681 16,670 0.0 0.1 0.6 16,781 16,754 16,610 16,462 1.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 7,372 7,386 7,394 -0.2 -0.1 1.5 7,361 7,362 7,355 6,434 14.4

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,688 4,660 4,648 0.6 0.3 -0.4 4,727 4,690 4,640 5,319 -11.1

 Printing.................................................. 5,716 5,714 5,798 0.0 -1.4 0.7 6,007 5,896 5,870 5,722 5.0

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 34,669 36,439 38,528 -4.9 -5.4 0.0 35,468 37,546 39,433 51,543 -31.2

 Petroleum refineries............................. 29,991 31,804 33,799 -5.7 -5.9 0.0 30,812 32,906 34,651 46,601 -33.9

 Chemical products..................................... 82,479 82,395 81,899 0.1 0.6 0.5 82,732 82,948 82,051 83,613 -1.1

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,706 4,747 4,793 -0.9 -1.0 0.8 4,455 4,409 4,434 4,602 -3.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 32,413 32,158 31,694 0.8 1.5 0.7 32,479 32,466 32,287 30,943 5.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,652 3,680 3,612 -0.8 1.9 -1.8 3,608 3,724 3,644 3,603 0.1

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 24,589 24,603 24,674 -0.1 -0.3 0.3 24,500 24,552 24,682 24,885 -1.5

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

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

Industry % Change6

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Aug. July June 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 480,143 483,362 484,363 -0.7 -0.2 0.6 490,105 472,386 513,644 517,184 3,838,548 3,998,480 -4.0

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,421 46,461 45,873 -0.1 1.3 0.4 49,754 49,197 50,748 50,619 373,296 371,942 0.4

 Information technology......................... 24,027 24,155 23,873 -0.5 1.2 0.7 23,427 21,862 27,978 22,832 185,511 180,317 2.9

 Computers and related products........... 2,027 2,141 2,168 -5.3 -1.2 3.5 1,718 1,661 3,231 1,826 15,952 17,353 -8.1

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 52,792 53,671 51,303 -1.6 4.6 1.0 54,391 46,471 55,257 48,742 406,658 370,574 9.7

 Capital goods...................................... 90,467 89,708 89,636 0.8 0.1 1.8 88,815 83,585 100,119 88,502 698,152 679,895 2.7

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 80,496 79,241 79,240 1.6 0.0 0.7 78,973 74,240 88,900 78,891 622,681 606,410 2.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 69,540 69,844 69,585 -0.4 0.4 1.0 68,375 66,119 77,480 69,964 547,936 543,857 0.8

 Defense capital goods4........................ 9,971 10,467 10,396 -4.7 0.7 10.7 9,842 9,345 11,219 9,611 75,471 73,485 2.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 190,071 193,359 195,090 -1.7 -0.9 0.4 195,088 189,377 200,514 216,666 1,529,851 1,691,157 -9.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,417 37,266 35,891 -2.3 3.8 1.0 36,863 32,011 38,403 34,377 281,421 266,044 5.8

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 153,654 156,093 159,199 -1.6 -2.0 0.3 158,225 157,366 162,111 182,289 1,248,430 1,425,113 -12.4

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 472,989 481,206 480,063 -1.7 0.2 2.2 473,193 469,006 510,706 507,622 3,771,182 4,064,510 -7.2

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,215 46,457 46,363 -0.5 0.2 1.6 48,849 49,219 50,785 50,674 374,537 378,347 -1.0

 Information technology......................... 24,604 24,551 24,208 0.2 1.4 0.7 23,045 21,669 27,900 23,176 190,078 187,709 1.3

 Computers and related products........... 2,017 2,102 2,232 -4.0 -5.8 10.4 1,708 1,622 3,295 1,871 16,060 17,670 -9.1

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 52,764 53,760 51,269 -1.9 4.9 0.9 54,424 46,042 54,814 49,215 405,691 371,639 9.2

 Capital goods...................................... 88,526 93,280 90,594 -5.1 3.0 9.9 80,338 86,776 102,690 86,976 677,892 772,228 -12.2

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 79,944 81,970 81,504 -2.5 0.6 10.7 73,852 77,023 90,290 80,474 609,206 694,887 -12.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 69,314 69,875 68,540 -0.8 1.9 1.5 66,626 65,193 75,288 69,947 547,206 567,619 -3.6

 Defense capital goods4........................ 8,582 11,310 9,090 -24.1 24.4 2.8 6,486 9,753 12,400 6,502 68,686 77,341 -11.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 190,066 193,156 195,051 -1.6 -1.0 0.4 194,891 189,161 200,260 216,470 1,529,541 1,691,159 -9.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,412 37,063 35,852 -1.8 3.4 0.9 36,666 31,795 38,149 34,181 281,111 266,046 5.7

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 153,654 156,093 159,199 -1.6 -2.0 0.3 158,225 157,366 162,111 182,289 1,248,430 1,425,113 -12.4

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 1,195,011 1,197,457 1,195,217 -0.2 0.2 0.0 1,186,044 1,197,712 1,195,851 1,200,582 (X) (X) -1.2

 Construction materials and supplies....... 54,776 54,982 54,986 -0.4 0.0 0.9 54,883 55,788 55,766 53,955 (X) (X) 1.7

 Information technology......................... 135,730 135,153 134,757 0.4 0.3 0.2 134,784 135,166 135,359 126,079 (X) (X) 6.9

 Computers and related products........... 2,580 2,590 2,629 -0.4 -1.5 2.5 2,580 2,590 2,629 2,306 (X) (X) 11.9

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 21,678 21,706 21,617 -0.1 0.4 -0.2 21,063 21,030 21,459 19,985 (X) (X) 5.4

 Capital goods...................................... 910,238 912,179 908,607 -0.2 0.4 0.1 903,974 912,451 909,260 915,591 (X) (X) -1.3

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 761,373 761,925 759,196 -0.1 0.4 0.3 755,519 760,640 757,857 755,244 (X) (X) 0.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 246,351 246,577 246,546 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 245,636 247,385 248,311 245,287 (X) (X) 0.1

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 148,865 150,254 149,411 -0.9 0.6 -0.9 148,455 151,811 151,403 160,347 (X) (X) -7.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 5,231 5,236 5,439 -0.1 -3.7 -0.7 4,953 5,150 5,366 4,589 (X) (X) 7.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 5,231 5,236 5,439 -0.1 -3.7 -0.7 4,953 5,150 5,366 4,589 (X) (X) 7.9

 All manufacturing industries................... 648,385 650,029 651,751 -0.3 -0.3 0.3 652,649 653,831 648,233 659,281 (X) (X) -1.0

 Construction materials and supplies....... 65,337 65,490 65,869 -0.2 -0.6 0.1 65,272 65,754 65,944 63,985 (X) (X) 2.0

 Information technology......................... 38,991 39,180 39,315 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 39,841 39,682 38,901 39,976 (X) (X) -0.3

 Computers and related products........... 3,639 3,838 4,049 -5.2 -5.2 1.4 3,810 3,964 3,934 4,116 (X) (X) -7.4

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 35,965 35,889 36,294 0.2 -1.1 0.3 35,968 35,948 35,287 33,115 (X) (X) 8.6

 Capital goods...................................... 199,992 199,801 199,790 0.1 0.0 0.8 202,220 201,904 199,094 197,456 (X) (X) 2.4

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 176,336 176,849 177,066 -0.3 -0.1 0.5 178,597 178,848 176,318 176,927 (X) (X) 0.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 120,492 120,945 121,397 -0.4 -0.4 0.1 122,381 122,171 120,577 122,769 (X) (X) -0.3

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 23,656 22,952 22,724 3.1 1.0 3.6 23,623 23,056 22,776 20,529 (X) (X) 15.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 185,948 187,158 187,971 -0.6 -0.4 0.0 187,302 187,601 186,514 198,711 (X) (X) -5.7

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,588 29,394 29,514 0.7 -0.4 0.7 29,886 29,422 28,648 28,132 (X) (X) 6.2

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 156,360 157,764 158,457 -0.9 -0.4 -0.1 157,416 158,179 157,866 170,579 (X) (X) -7.7

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 % Change

Industry August

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Aug. July June 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 213,815 214,325 215,955 -0.2 -0.8 0.1 214,305 215,333 214,322 219,334 -2.3

 Durable goods industries.......................... 133,493 133,331 134,456 0.1 -0.8 0.2 134,236 134,020 133,075 134,445 -0.2

 Wood products................................... 4,496 4,518 4,523 -0.5 -0.1 -0.9 4,493 4,443 4,294 4,267 5.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 4,990 5,065 5,096 -1.5 -0.6 -0.5 5,002 5,097 5,117 4,853 3.1

 Primary metals.................................... 13,932 14,100 14,248 -1.2 -1.0 -2.1 13,901 14,077 14,085 14,829 -6.3

 Fabricated metal products........................ 17,594 17,640 17,835 -0.3 -1.1 0.3 17,592 17,807 17,752 18,185 -3.3

 Machinery.......................................... 26,067 26,248 26,477 -0.7 -0.9 0.0 26,402 26,768 26,437 26,233 0.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 18,936 18,991 19,086 -0.3 -0.5 0.9 19,054 19,074 18,813 18,741 1.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,599 6,589 6,508 0.2 1.2 0.0 6,654 6,656 6,473 7,021 -5.2

 Transportation equipment..................... 29,381 28,660 29,233 2.5 -2.0 1.1 29,523 28,434 28,625 28,974 1.9

 Furniture and related products............... 3,783 3,801 3,750 -0.5 1.4 0.8 3,814 3,872 3,802 3,545 7.6

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,715 7,719 7,700 -0.1 0.2 0.9 7,801 7,792 7,677 7,797 0.1

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 80,322 80,994 81,499 -0.8 -0.6 0.0 80,069 81,313 81,247 84,889 -5.7

 Food products.................................... 17,871 17,889 17,923 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 17,612 17,780 17,567 17,953 -1.9

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 5,127 5,145 5,133 -0.3 0.2 0.0 4,919 4,916 4,982 4,804 2.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,181 1,181 1,171 0.0 0.9 -0.3 1,190 1,188 1,177 1,151 3.4

 Textile products................................... 1,113 1,112 1,106 0.1 0.5 -3.3 1,114 1,114 1,113 1,168 -4.6

 Apparel............................................. 888 873 851 1.7 2.6 0.7 905 894 873 702 28.9

 Leather and allied products.................... 255 253 251 0.8 0.8 1.2 261 256 252 269 -3.0

 Paper products.................................... 8,584 8,589 8,561 -0.1 0.3 0.2 8,595 8,644 8,514 8,328 3.2

 Printing ............................................. 2,757 2,766 2,799 -0.3 -1.2 -0.8 2,831 2,835 2,828 2,769 2.2

 Petroleum and coal products................. 7,684 8,191 8,568 -6.2 -4.4 0.0 7,730 8,371 8,935 11,268 -31.4

 Chemical products................................ 25,031 25,124 25,205 -0.4 -0.3 0.4 25,090 25,364 25,152 26,201 -4.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 9,831 9,871 9,931 -0.4 -0.6 -0.1 9,822 9,951 9,854 10,276 -4.4

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 206,598 206,583 206,653 0.0 0.0 1.0 206,843 207,759 205,346 206,175 0.3

 Durable goods industries.......................... 158,391 158,145 158,086 0.2 0.0 0.9 159,638 160,087 157,753 151,980 5.0

 Wood products................................... 2,336 2,355 2,376 -0.8 -0.9 1.4 2,312 2,361 2,385 2,102 10.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,503 1,493 1,497 0.7 -0.3 -0.6 1,495 1,513 1,528 1,340 11.6

 Primary metals.................................... 11,277 11,403 11,471 -1.1 -0.6 0.4 11,404 11,539 11,378 11,579 -1.5

 Fabricated metal products........................ 12,995 12,987 13,073 0.1 -0.7 -0.3 13,174 13,133 13,040 13,526 -2.6

 Machinery.......................................... 19,834 19,613 19,491 1.1 0.6 -0.3 20,214 19,628 19,200 19,725 2.5

 Computers and electronic products........ 15,587 15,745 15,724 -1.0 0.1 1.2 15,828 16,140 15,802 14,782 7.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,874 3,887 3,965 -0.3 -2.0 0.5 3,923 3,924 3,981 3,792 3.5

 Transportation equipment..................... 86,009 85,727 85,551 0.3 0.2 1.5 86,221 86,849 85,481 80,586 7.0

 Furniture and related products............... 1,033 1,036 1,047 -0.3 -1.1 -3.0 1,042 1,056 1,061 1,014 2.8

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,943 3,899 3,891 1.1 0.2 1.5 4,025 3,944 3,897 3,534 13.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 48,207 48,438 48,567 -0.5 -0.3 1.2 47,205 47,672 47,593 54,195 -12.9

 Food products.................................... 6,009 5,907 5,661 1.7 4.3 0.4 5,479 5,334 5,102 4,988 9.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,454 7,372 7,310 1.1 0.8 1.1 6,758 6,592 6,704 6,532 3.5

 Textiles.............................................. 759 760 767 -0.1 -0.9 0.1 771 768 766 821 -6.1

 Textile products................................... 455 453 442 0.4 2.5 -1.3 458 455 438 447 2.5

 Apparel............................................. 328 328 328 0.0 0.0 0.6 346 359 352 355 -2.5

 Leather and allied products.................... 107 99 99 8.1 0.0 6.5 106 98 95 90 17.8

 Paper products.................................... 1,358 1,338 1,346 1.5 -0.6 2.6 1,373 1,348 1,347 1,310 4.8

 Printing ............................................. 1,359 1,359 1,386 0.0 -1.9 3.4 1,512 1,422 1,355 1,424 6.2

 Petroleum and coal products................. 9,505 9,915 11,066 -4.1 -10.4 4.4 9,751 10,211 11,092 17,249 -43.5

 Chemical products................................ 18,172 18,192 17,441 -0.1 4.3 -0.6 17,955 18,356 17,620 18,283 -1.8

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,701 2,715 2,721 -0.5 -0.2 0.6 2,696 2,729 2,722 2,696 0.0

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 227,972 229,121 229,143 -0.5 0.0 -0.2 231,501 230,739 228,565 233,772 -1.0

 Durable goods industries.......................... 109,289 109,821 109,603 -0.5 0.2 0.0 110,137 110,151 108,665 107,880 2.1

 Wood products................................... 4,387 4,388 4,368 0.0 0.5 1.1 4,300 4,293 4,368 4,166 3.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,469 6,462 6,505 0.1 -0.7 -0.6 6,413 6,427 6,607 6,493 -1.2

 Primary metals.................................... 11,312 11,488 11,594 -1.5 -0.9 -1.5 11,306 11,357 11,518 12,330 -8.3

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,351 18,323 18,217 0.2 0.6 0.1 18,263 18,425 18,345 16,728 9.2

 Machinery.......................................... 20,618 20,814 20,911 -0.9 -0.5 -0.1 20,729 20,868 20,800 21,144 -2.0

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,203 11,283 11,245 -0.7 0.3 -1.4 11,618 11,272 10,852 11,589 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,184 6,163 6,118 0.3 0.7 0.4 6,288 6,322 6,185 5,961 5.5

 Transportation equipment..................... 17,133 17,275 17,056 -0.8 1.3 0.2 17,356 17,456 16,495 15,830 9.6

 Furniture and related products............... 2,458 2,425 2,411 1.4 0.6 2.3 2,574 2,561 2,547 2,367 8.7

 Miscellaneous products......................... 11,174 11,200 11,178 -0.2 0.2 1.5 11,290 11,170 10,948 11,272 0.2

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 118,683 119,300 119,540 -0.5 -0.2 -0.4 121,364 120,588 119,900 125,892 -3.6

 Food products.................................... 29,293 29,262 28,811 0.1 1.6 -1.9 30,623 29,486 28,308 31,124 -1.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,617 7,668 7,649 -0.7 0.2 0.3 7,854 7,928 7,799 7,666 2.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,303 1,302 1,301 0.1 0.1 -0.3 1,298 1,306 1,306 1,321 -1.7

 Textile products................................... 1,392 1,385 1,383 0.5 0.1 0.4 1,401 1,386 1,396 1,488 -5.8

 Apparel............................................. 1,427 1,400 1,335 1.9 4.9 0.1 1,538 1,500 1,334 1,351 13.8

 Leather and allied products.................... 505 511 516 -1.2 -1.0 -3.6 517 517 530 521 -0.8

 Paper products.................................... 6,733 6,754 6,763 -0.3 -0.1 0.6 6,813 6,762 6,749 6,824 -0.2

 Printing ............................................. 1,600 1,589 1,613 0.7 -1.5 0.9 1,664 1,639 1,687 1,529 8.8

 Petroleum and coal products................. 17,480 18,333 18,894 -4.7 -3.0 -2.3 17,987 18,964 19,406 23,026 -21.9

 Chemical products................................ 39,276 39,079 39,253 0.5 -0.4 1.0 39,687 39,228 39,279 39,129 1.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 12,057 12,017 12,022 0.3 0.0 0.6 11,982 11,872 12,106 11,913 0.6

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.

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 Group 1

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio2

Industry Aug Jul Jun May Aug Jul Jun May

2015p 2015r 2015 2015 2015p 2015r 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries3............................ 1.35 1.34 1.35 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries3.................................. 1.65 1.65 1.67 1.68 6.87 6.89 6.92 6.99

 Wood products.............................................. 1.38 1.39 1.42 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.34 1.33 1.36 1.39 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.79 1.79 1.77 1.77 1.74 1.72 1.69 1.68

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.64 1.64 1.64 1.64 2.83 2.84 2.84 2.82

 Machinery..................................................... 1.97 1.98 1.97 2.00 3.58 3.59 3.58 3.66

 Computers and electronic products3

................ 1.56 1.58 1.57 1.56 5.91 5.88 5.94 6.01

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.64 1.60 1.63 1.61 2.41 2.36 2.43 2.41

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.64 1.63 1.68 1.69 14.65 14.86 15.12 15.47

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.13 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.40 1.37 1.41 1.45

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.60 1.60 1.62 1.61 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 1.04 1.04 1.03 1.03 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.81 0.80 0.80 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.60 1.62 1.61 1.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.27 1.27 1.26 1.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.53 1.52 1.54 1.57 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.25 2.25 2.23 2.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.85 1.86 1.88 1.89 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.03 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.76 0.75 0.73 0.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.29 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.29 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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.

Aug3 Aug3 Aug3 Aug3

Industry 2014- 2014- 2014- 2014-

Aug2 Jul Aug2 Jul Aug2 Jul Aug2 Jul

2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015

 

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

Durable goods industries....................... -0.2 0.2 -0.3 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... -0.3 0.5 -0.2 1.1 -0.1 0.5 0.0 0.4

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

 Machinery.......................................... -0.1 0.6 -0.2 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... -0.1 0.3 -0.3 0.6 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.1 0.4 0.2 0.9 0.2 0.3 -0.2 0.2

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.2 0.4 -0.4 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.7 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.3

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

 Food products................................... (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textile products.................................. (X) 2.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

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

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

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

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

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

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.

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
9

Survey Description

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-of-month total inventory 

(at current cost or market value), and inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and supplies, work-inprocess, and finished goods). Data published from the M3 survey are based on a panel of approximately 

4,800 reporting units that represent approximately 3,000 companies and provide an indication of month-tomonth 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-to-month 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 61 percent of the total value of shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 

Economic Census, and these companies include almost two-thirds of the manufacturing companies with 

$500 million or more in shipments in the 2012 Economic Census. The companies for which shipments 

data are currently reported in the M3 survey represent approximately 54 percent of the total value of 

shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 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 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.