FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Jessica Young 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (08)-08 

CB08-149 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

August 2008 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in August, down 

following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $18.6 billion or 4.0 percent to $444.4 billion, the U.S. 

Census Bureau reported today. This was the largest 

percent decrease in new orders since October 2006 and 

followed a 0.7 percent July increase. 

 Shipments, down following five consecutive monthly 

increases, decreased $16.4 billion or 3.5 percent to 

$446.0 billion. This was the largest percent decrease in 

shipments since September 2006 and followed a 1.4 

percent July increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up thirty of the last thirty-one months, 

increased $3.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $827.2 billion. 

This was at the highest level since the series was first 

stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.8 

percent July increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments 

ratio was 5.48, up from 5.25 in July. 

 Inventories, up eleven of the twelve months, increased 

$3.4 billion or 0.6 percent to $562.5 billion. This was 

also at the highest level since the series was first stated 

on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.6 percent 

July increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 

1.26, up from 1.21 in July. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, 

down following three consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $10.6 billion or 4.8 percent to $207.6 billion, 

revised from the previously published 4.5 percent 

decrease. This followed a 0.7 percent July increase. 

 Transportation equipment, down two of the last three 

months, had the largest decrease, $5.2 billion or 9.1 

percent to $52.1 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $8.0 billion or 3.3 percent to $236.8 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, 

down following two consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $8.3 billion or 3.8 percent to $209.2 billion, 

revised from the previously published 3.5 percent 

decrease. This followed a 2.2 percent July increase. 

 Transportation equipment, down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, 

$4.4 billion or 8.0 percent to $49.8 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $8.0 billion or 3.3 percent to $236.8 billion. This was 

the largest percent decrease in nondurable goods 

shipments since September 2006 and followed a 0.8 

percent July increase. This decrease was led by 

petroleum and coal products, which decreased $6.0 

billion or 8.5 percent to $64.3 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

August, up thirty of the last thirty-one months, increased $3.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $827.2 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This was also at 

the highest level since the series was first stated on a 

NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.8 percent July 

increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up twenty-six of the last 

twenty-seven months, had the largest increase, $2.3 

billion or 0.5 percent to $466.5 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, 

up thirteen of the last fourteen months, increased $2.7 

billion or 0.8 percent to $338.8 billion, revised from the 

previously 0.7 percent increase. This was also at the 

highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS 

basis in 1992 and followed a 0.9 percent July increase. 

 

 Primary metals, up nine consecutive months, had the 

largest increase, $1.0 billion or 3.0 percent to $35.1 

billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

nine of the last ten months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 

percent to $223.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent 

July increase. Chemical products led the increase, up 

$0.7 billion or 1.0 percent to $69.8 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies 

increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.3 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 1.1 percent in durable goods and 0.4 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 1.0 percent in durable goods and 0.8 percent in nondurable goods. 

Figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. 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 September is scheduled for release on October 29, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on November 4, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description and 2009 release dates. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2008/

2008p 2008r 2008 Aug. July June 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 2008p 2007 2007

 All manufacturing industries.................. 446,020 462,379 455,873 -3.5 1.4 1.9 457,307 448,540 479,381 444,427 3,562,521 3,357,057 6.1

 Excluding transportation................... 396,190 408,195 402,908 -2.9 1.3 1.9 406,176 406,273 421,407 379,920 3,140,057 2,894,381 8.5

 Excluding defense.............................. 434,315 450,281 444,117 -3.5 1.4 2.0 445,799 437,474 466,796 434,729 3,472,082 3,283,267 5.8

 With unfilled orders ............................ 151,026 156,983 154,343 -3.8 1.7 1.6 152,518 145,033 167,415 156,229 1,214,305 1,186,111 2.4

 Durable goods industries......................... 209,239 217,549 212,947 -3.8 2.2 0.9 211,388 199,721 229,644 225,962 1,693,811 1,705,334 -0.7

 Wood products....................................... 8,141 8,249 8,299 -1.3 -0.6 2.9 8,714 8,493 9,240 9,404 65,804 68,884 -4.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 9,318 9,433 9,397 -1.2 0.4 1.5 10,013 9,856 10,045 10,891 74,994 81,548 -8.0

 Primary metals....................................... 23,446 23,933 23,124 -2.0 3.5 3.7 23,875 23,312 24,441 20,940 182,304 163,752 11.3

 Iron and steel mills............................ 12,648 12,944 12,347 -2.3 4.8 6.9 12,684 12,521 13,060 9,661 93,771 77,795 20.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 8,908 9,087 8,939 -2.0 1.7 0.6 9,224 8,947 9,382 9,503 73,694 72,333 1.9

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,890 1,902 1,838 -0.6 3.5 -0.9 1,967 1,844 1,999 1,776 14,839 13,624 8.9

 Fabricated metal products....................... 28,053 28,578 28,025 -1.8 2.0 1.2 29,729 28,286 29,564 30,028 223,696 220,377 1.5

 Machinery............................................. 28,889 29,143 29,469 -0.9 -1.1 2.2 28,039 28,204 31,657 27,712 233,892 220,396 6.1

 Farm machinery................................. 2,595 2,501 2,244 3.8 11.5 -1.5 2,336 2,442 2,205 1,769 19,510 16,007 21.9

 Construction machinery..................... 2,455 2,445 2,387 0.4 2.4 4.8 2,396 2,352 2,610 2,410 19,371 17,621 9.9

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,663 1,616 1,594 2.9 1.4 4.3 1,659 1,520 1,719 1,433 12,231 11,243 8.8

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,768 2,762 2,892 0.2 -4.5 -6.5 2,451 2,903 3,106 2,981 23,385 25,844 -9.5

 Photographic equipment...................... 564 566 496 -0.4 14.1 -8.7 550 538 523 591 4,222 4,905 -13.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,867 4,013 4,003 -3.6 0.2 4.1 3,961 4,145 4,840 3,717 32,572 28,954 12.5

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,412 2,578 2,368 -6.4 8.9 -3.5 2,452 2,426 2,531 2,446 19,360 18,217 6.3

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,569 3,521 4,451 1.4 -20.9 14.1 3,520 3,183 4,548 3,416 29,970 26,806 11.8

 Material handling equipment............... 2,363 2,463 2,457 -4.1 0.2 -2.0 2,364 2,365 2,615 2,564 20,387 18,521 10.1

 Computers and electronic products.......... 31,464 33,147 31,257 -5.1 6.0 -3.6 29,616 29,928 34,809 30,981 250,509 248,891 0.7

 Computers........................................ 2,920 3,020 3,097 -3.3 -2.5 -3.3 2,675 3,021 3,339 3,076 24,448 25,517 -4.2

 Computer storage devices..................... 597 660 671 -9.5 -1.6 2.1 476 370 1,115 671 4,853 5,093 -4.7

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,292 1,265 1,425 2.1 -11.2 -2.2 1,171 950 1,739 1,361 10,224 10,135 0.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 4,894 5,278 5,444 -7.3 -3.0 5.7 4,538 4,227 6,547 4,909 38,677 39,027 -0.9

 Defense communications equipment.... 631 733 660 -13.9 11.1 2.8 656 661 650 556 5,208 4,168 25.0

 Audio and video equipment.................... 609 660 682 -7.7 -3.2 -5.8 556 548 600 758 4,911 5,711 -14.0

 Semiconductors................................. 4,637 5,595 4,027 -17.1 38.9 -14.3 4,370 6,208 3,412 5,249 40,785 43,789 -6.9

 Electronic components......................... 3,887 3,903 3,979 -0.4 -1.9 -0.7 3,806 3,508 4,452 4,009 31,221 31,817 -1.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 947 939 993 0.9 -5.4 3.7 929 861 1,095 950 7,738 7,713 0.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,675 2,628 2,727 1.8 -3.6 -8.0 2,629 2,507 2,810 2,697 21,480 20,773 3.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 7,822 7,919 6,985 -1.2 13.4 -5.4 7,276 6,585 8,496 6,226 56,888 51,126 11.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,553 11,063 10,699 -4.6 3.4 0.1 10,794 10,581 11,375 11,167 84,953 84,252 0.8

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,027 1,034 1,015 -0.7 1.9 -0.9 1,032 969 1,076 1,165 8,104 9,045 -10.4

 Household appliances........................ 1,859 1,994 1,906 -6.8 4.6 -2.8 1,910 1,893 2,055 2,098 15,152 15,700 -3.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,450 3,674 3,589 -6.1 2.4 2.4 3,432 3,500 3,970 3,589 28,405 27,367 3.8

 Batteries........................................... 893 892 808 0.1 10.4 -2.5 891 820 800 677 6,280 5,038 24.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 49,830 54,184 52,965 -8.0 2.3 2.2 51,131 42,267 57,974 64,507 422,464 462,676 -8.7

 Automobiles..................................... 6,737 7,327 6,783 -8.1 8.0 2.4 7,132 5,027 7,188 9,325 55,997 64,848 -13.6

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 7,459 7,862 8,281 -5.1 -5.1 1.1 7,802 5,035 9,177 13,636 69,303 92,018 -24.7

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,256 1,318 1,348 -4.7 -2.2 -5.9 1,218 1,218 1,377 1,566 11,237 13,308 -15.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 14,702 16,660 16,492 -11.8 1.0 3.0 15,660 12,956 17,403 21,203 132,243 155,594 -15.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 8,196 9,183 8,456 -10.7 8.6 3.0 7,950 7,607 10,191 9,379 66,144 64,957 1.8

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,706 5,053 4,647 -6.9 8.7 3.2 4,682 4,443 5,198 3,343 35,003 25,396 37.8

 Ships and boats................................. 2,268 2,284 2,454 -0.7 -6.9 3.9 2,246 1,940 2,618 2,172 18,740 17,417 7.6

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,425 6,539 6,612 -1.7 -1.1 1.3 6,889 6,558 6,700 7,408 52,236 55,080 -5.2

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,120 13,280 13,100 -1.2 1.4 -2.5 12,588 12,236 13,839 12,924 102,959 99,478 3.5

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 236,781 244,830 242,926 -3.3 0.8 2.8 245,919 248,819 249,737 218,465 1,868,710 1,651,723 13.1

 Food products....................................... 51,699 52,436 51,421 -1.4 2.0 0.9 53,047 51,102 51,263 50,233 402,518 372,301 8.1

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 6,270 6,307 6,185 -0.6 2.0 3.9 6,291 6,461 5,940 5,250 47,010 38,735 21.4

 Dairy products.................................. 7,083 7,291 7,235 -2.9 0.8 -0.8 7,230 7,376 7,287 7,813 58,313 55,401 5.3

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 15,464 15,620 15,469 -1.0 1.0 2.0 16,244 15,485 16,096 15,245 121,600 115,024 5.7

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 11,664 11,805 11,569 -1.2 2.0 -0.5 12,238 12,001 12,080 12,262 91,621 87,713 4.5

 Beverages......................................... 7,800 7,822 7,720 -0.3 1.3 -0.4 8,374 8,018 8,231 8,257 62,136 58,867 5.6

 Tobacco............................................ 3,864 3,983 3,849 -3.0 3.5 -0.8 3,864 3,983 3,849 4,005 29,485 28,846 2.2

 Textile mills........................................... 2,832 2,918 2,841 -2.9 2.7 1.1 2,953 2,815 3,012 3,163 23,248 24,810 -6.3

 Textile products................................... 2,242 2,296 2,351 -2.4 -2.3 -0.6 2,404 2,334 2,524 2,708 18,934 20,844 -9.2

 Apparel................................................ 2,619 2,712 2,690 -3.4 0.8 1.8 2,777 2,707 2,602 2,761 20,647 19,227 7.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 471 474 464 -0.6 2.2 -4.7 522 451 470 582 3,836 4,186 -8.4

 Paper products...................................... 14,746 14,606 14,290 1.0 2.2 1.1 14,987 14,577 14,758 14,450 115,601 112,205 3.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 7,107 6,988 6,818 1.7 2.5 -0.4 7,238 7,050 6,975 6,938 55,846 54,027 3.4

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,126 4,155 4,103 -0.7 1.3 2.2 4,260 4,179 4,204 4,164 32,729 31,799 2.9

 Printing................................................. 8,182 8,341 8,251 -1.9 1.1 0.2 8,312 7,894 8,139 8,736 64,633 65,993 -2.1

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 64,301 70,255 70,431 -8.5 -0.2 5.7 69,653 74,957 73,292 47,804 508,161 358,459 41.8

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 61,030 67,151 67,473 -9.1 -0.5 5.6 65,827 71,350 69,891 44,808 485,257 337,329 43.9

 Chemical products..................................... 60,256 60,730 60,483 -0.8 0.4 3.1 60,570 61,489 62,337 56,853 474,923 443,808 7.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,980 3,835 3,870 3.8 -0.9 12.4 3,558 3,591 4,232 2,479 31,040 23,354 32.9

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 14,015 14,404 14,474 -2.7 -0.5 1.9 14,148 14,631 14,169 14,976 114,431 120,119 -4.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,823 2,769 2,725 2.0 1.6 -2.4 2,980 2,936 2,932 3,124 22,940 23,153 -0.9

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,769 18,257 18,135 -2.7 0.7 1.9 18,456 18,492 19,260 18,913 144,588 142,177 1.7

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Year to date
 3

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2008/

2008p 2008r 2008 Aug. July June 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 2008p 2007 2007

All manufacturing industries 2........................ 444,365 462,993 459,576 -4.0 0.7 2.1 451,636 444,258 478,082 443,639 3,570,223 3,381,651 5.6

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 392,275 405,680 403,771 -3.3 0.5 2.7 398,838 402,353 418,673 373,699 3,122,244 2,868,233 8.9

 Excluding defense2.............................. 431,873 450,930 445,374 -4.2 1.2 1.8 440,666 435,476 463,443 431,562 3,478,078 3,308,892 5.1

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 154,008 163,192 162,073 -5.6 0.7 1.7 151,217 146,959 169,528 160,690 1,262,792 1,254,494 0.7

 Durable goods industries 2......................... 207,584 218,163 216,650 -4.8 0.7 1.4 205,717 195,439 228,345 225,174 1,701,513 1,729,928 -1.6

 Primary metals........................................ 22,062 24,418 23,734 -9.6 2.9 7.8 22,267 23,505 24,296 20,691 183,452 163,324 12.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,379 13,661 12,833 -16.7 6.5 13.0 11,366 13,108 12,866 9,532 95,240 77,433 23.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 8,760 8,806 9,073 -0.5 -2.9 2.6 8,954 8,497 9,509 9,446 73,316 72,254 1.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,923 1,951 1,828 -1.4 6.7 1.4 1,947 1,900 1,921 1,713 14,896 13,637 9.2

 Fabricated metal products........................ 28,002 28,241 28,041 -0.8 0.7 1.0 28,829 27,574 28,949 29,569 226,576 224,282 1.0

 Machinery............................................. 30,580 32,740 31,553 -6.6 3.8 2.6 28,748 31,694 31,707 28,067 249,043 226,908 9.8

 Construction machinery........................ 2,561 3,153 2,645 -18.8 19.2 -10.4 2,421 2,644 2,316 2,509 22,836 19,031 20.0

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,907 1,970 1,990 -3.2 -1.0 1.0 1,963 1,890 2,012 1,754 14,595 11,046 32.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,801 3,395 2,841 -17.5 19.5 -7.2 1,945 3,882 2,627 2,489 25,106 27,495 -8.7

 Photographic equipment....................... 538 596 501 -9.7 19.0 -12.4 522 571 505 619 4,420 4,861 -9.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,486 5,286 5,026 -15.1 5.2 12.5 4,570 5,771 5,486 4,196 36,501 31,181 17.1

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,557 2,572 2,531 -0.6 1.6 -3.2 2,515 2,396 2,592 2,409 20,332 18,644 9.1

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 3,484 3,601 4,491 -3.2 -19.8 14.2 3,395 3,274 4,488 3,443 30,872 26,392 17.0

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,695 2,602 2,370 3.6 9.8 3.0 2,413 2,168 2,516 2,440 20,229 19,019 6.4

 Computers and electronic products 2

........... 27,639 27,099 28,372 2.0 -4.5 1.0 25,038 22,887 31,915 25,991 211,338 208,957 1.1

 Computers........................................ 3,002 2,886 3,443 4.0 -16.2 1.0 2,757 2,887 3,685 3,310 24,636 26,020 -5.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 5,600 5,485 4,878 2.1 12.4 -4.1 4,813 4,256 5,352 4,386 39,016 39,482 -1.2

 Defense communications equipment....... 642 407 1,059 57.7 -61.6 7.3 472 375 1,368 548 5,644 4,664 21.0

 Semiconductors2

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

 Electronic components......................... 4,025 3,785 4,056 6.3 -6.7 3.7 4,157 3,366 4,516 4,423 31,933 32,522 -1.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,135 1,156 1,470 -1.8 -21.4 37.3 1,119 1,056 1,476 1,206 8,699 8,243 5.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,598 2,358 2,736 10.2 -13.8 -7.1 2,143 1,866 2,692 2,538 20,349 20,172 0.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 7,586 7,890 7,385 -3.9 6.8 1.5 6,840 6,731 8,818 6,271 56,997 52,893 7.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,339 10,658 11,629 -3.0 -8.3 5.0 10,277 10,535 12,027 10,861 86,985 86,760 0.3

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 952 957 1,208 -0.5 -20.8 22.9 923 922 1,313 1,151 8,466 9,724 -12.9

 Household appliances.......................... 1,847 1,892 1,942 -2.4 -2.6 1.3 1,946 1,874 1,980 2,151 15,275 16,106 -5.2

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,357 3,430 4,152 -2.1 -17.4 13.9 3,203 3,432 4,419 3,655 29,566 29,327 0.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 52,090 57,313 55,805 -9.1 2.7 -1.8 52,798 41,905 59,409 69,940 447,979 513,418 -12.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 14,786 16,535 16,443 -10.6 0.6 3.2 15,339 13,296 17,020 19,973 130,948 154,015 -15.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 7,612 12,294 10,055 -38.1 22.3 -21.3 7,872 8,624 11,214 12,205 90,295 112,809 -20.0

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 5,167 5,881 4,723 -12.1 24.5 -8.7 4,568 4,799 5,062 5,276 36,890 23,090 59.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,139 2,028 2,871 5.5 -29.4 50.1 1,915 1,167 2,877 2,650 18,061 18,818 -4.0

 Furniture and related products................... 6,518 6,569 6,671 -0.8 -1.5 2.8 6,670 6,591 6,869 6,801 52,993 55,614 -4.7

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 236,781 244,830 242,926 -3.3 0.8 2.8 245,919 248,819 249,737 218,465 1,868,710 1,651,723 13.1

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

2

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

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

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

calculated. Further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations are contained in our most recent annual benchmark publication,

Current Industrial Reports: M3-3(07), "Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 2004-2007."

Year to date
 4 

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. Aug.

2008p 2008r 2008 Aug. July June 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 08/07

All manufacturing industries 1...................... 827,214 824,232 818,023 0.4 0.8 1.0 820,303 821,604 819,678 726,261 12.9

 Excluding transportation1...................... 360,697 359,975 356,895 0.2 0.9 1.4 357,993 360,961 358,673 327,080 9.5

 Excluding defense1............................. 671,350 669,155 662,911 0.3 0.9 0.8 667,288 668,051 663,841 580,643 14.9

 Durable goods industries 1........................ 827,214 824,232 818,023 0.4 0.8 1.0 820,303 821,604 819,678 726,261 12.9

 Primary metals........................................ 28,722 30,106 29,621 -4.6 1.6 2.1 28,411 30,019 29,826 26,517 7.1

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,032 19,301 18,584 -6.6 3.9 2.7 17,919 19,237 18,650 15,808 13.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 7,655 7,803 8,084 -1.9 -3.5 1.7 7,499 7,769 8,219 7,723 -2.9

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 3,035 3,002 2,953 1.1 1.7 -0.3 2,993 3,013 2,957 2,986 0.2

 Fabricated metal products......................... 62,095 62,146 62,483 -0.1 -0.5 0.0 62,299 63,199 63,911 59,154 5.3

 Machinery.............................................. 106,855 105,164 101,567 1.6 3.5 2.1 105,538 104,829 101,339 84,896 24.3

 Construction machinery......................... 14,912 14,806 14,098 0.7 5.0 1.9 14,541 14,516 14,224 12,171 19.5

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 7,173 6,929 6,575 3.5 5.4 6.4 7,195 6,891 6,521 4,084 76.2

 Industrial machinery............................. 16,865 16,832 16,199 0.2 3.9 -0.3 16,632 17,138 16,159 14,658 13.5

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,700 1,726 1,696 -1.5 1.8 0.3 1,704 1,732 1,699 1,576 8.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 17,368 16,749 15,476 3.7 8.2 7.1 17,427 16,818 15,192 10,810 61.2

 Metalworking machinery........................ 8,710 8,565 8,571 1.7 -0.1 1.9 8,651 8,588 8,618 6,779 27.6

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 14,391 14,476 14,396 -0.6 0.6 0.3 14,430 14,555 14,464 12,560 14.9

 Material handling equipment................... 10,234 9,902 9,763 3.4 1.4 -0.9 9,748 9,699 9,896 9,246 5.4

 Computers and electronic products 1............. 124,801 123,989 124,442 0.7 -0.4 0.9 123,381 123,589 124,422 118,608 4.0

 Computers......................................... 3,905 3,823 3,957 2.1 -3.4 9.6 3,905 3,823 3,957 3,988 -2.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 29,542 28,836 28,629 2.4 0.7 -1.9 29,066 28,791 28,762 28,730 1.2

 Defense communications equipment........ 8,247 8,236 8,562 0.1 -3.8 4.9 8,126 8,310 8,596 7,271 11.8

 Semiconductors1................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 10,797 10,659 10,777 1.3 -1.1 0.7 10,968 10,617 10,759 10,705 2.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 7,657 7,469 7,252 2.5 3.0 7.0 7,562 7,372 7,177 6,081 24.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 36,832 36,909 37,179 -0.2 -0.7 0.0 36,070 36,556 37,197 35,319 2.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 27,821 28,057 28,086 -0.8 -0.1 1.4 27,684 28,120 27,974 26,514 4.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 24,981 25,195 25,600 -0.8 -1.6 3.8 25,096 25,613 25,659 24,358 3.0

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 2,596 2,671 2,748 -2.8 -2.8 7.6 2,718 2,827 2,874 2,673 1.7

 Household appliances........................... 672 684 786 -1.8 -13.0 4.8 695 659 678 916 -24.1

 Electrical equipment............................. 15,845 15,938 16,182 -0.6 -1.5 3.6 15,890 16,119 16,187 14,995 6.0

 Transportation equipment......................... 466,517 464,257 461,128 0.5 0.7 0.6 462,310 460,643 461,005 399,181 15.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 17,465 17,381 17,506 0.5 -0.7 -0.3 17,270 17,591 17,251 18,854 -8.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 306,824 307,408 304,297 -0.2 1.0 0.5 304,766 304,844 303,827 245,110 24.3

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 45,811 45,350 44,522 1.0 1.9 0.2 45,189 45,303 44,947 39,841 13.4

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,976 20,105 20,361 -0.6 -1.3 2.1 19,324 19,655 20,428 20,963 -7.8

 Furniture and related products................... 7,496 7,403 7,373 1.3 0.4 0.8 7,521 7,740 7,707 7,201 4.4

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

 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 Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. Aug.

2008p 2008r 2008 Aug. July June 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 08/07

 All manufacturing industries...................... 562,453 559,070 555,627 0.6 0.6 1.2 566,910 563,051 553,170 521,865 8.6

 Excluding transportation........................ 473,611 470,752 468,333 0.6 0.5 1.3 477,051 474,064 466,631 443,521 7.6

 Excluding defense............................. 537,878 534,444 531,091 0.6 0.6 1.3 542,242 538,358 528,585 500,007 8.4

 With unfilled orders ............................. 272,510 269,939 266,802 1.0 1.2 0.9 274,546 271,641 265,041 249,646 10.0

 Durable goods industries........................ 338,848 336,185 333,127 0.8 0.9 0.8 341,484 338,279 330,660 315,583 8.2

 Wood products........................................ 10,524 10,505 10,362 0.2 1.4 0.8 10,524 10,401 10,161 11,458 -8.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 11,905 11,881 11,880 0.2 0.0 -0.3 11,849 11,951 11,948 11,535 2.7

 Primary metals......................................... 35,075 34,040 33,515 3.0 1.6 1.6 35,309 34,420 33,543 31,509 12.1

 Iron and steel mills............................... 20,006 19,030 18,510 5.1 2.8 2.3 20,237 19,291 18,511 17,168 17.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 12,344 12,324 12,383 0.2 -0.5 0.5 12,394 12,474 12,437 11,811 4.9

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,725 2,686 2,622 1.5 2.4 2.3 2,678 2,655 2,595 2,530 5.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 44,775 44,332 43,553 1.0 1.8 1.3 44,784 44,731 43,445 41,396 8.2

 Machinery.............................................. 54,517 54,246 53,849 0.5 0.7 0.5 54,645 54,090 53,300 51,436 6.2

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,135 3,059 3,040 2.5 0.6 0.0 2,944 2,942 2,998 2,397 22.8

 Construction machinery......................... 5,633 5,640 5,562 -0.1 1.4 0.8 5,552 5,594 5,564 5,060 9.7

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 4,473 4,426 4,249 1.1 4.2 -0.4 4,527 4,495 4,260 4,110 10.1

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,878 6,867 6,768 0.2 1.5 0.1 7,016 6,821 6,838 6,703 4.7

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,372 1,378 1,371 -0.4 0.5 4.3 1,371 1,390 1,370 1,526 -10.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,774 4,777 4,814 -0.1 -0.8 -0.3 4,804 4,774 4,736 4,812 -0.2

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,287 5,274 5,279 0.2 -0.1 1.5 5,415 5,338 5,190 4,945 9.5

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 6,189 6,097 6,033 1.5 1.1 0.9 6,330 6,103 5,816 5,711 10.8

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,464 3,453 3,458 0.3 -0.1 1.2 3,423 3,407 3,439 3,079 11.2

 Computers and electronic products............. 46,864 46,523 46,336 0.7 0.4 -0.1 47,826 46,924 45,427 44,487 7.5

 Computers......................................... 1,311 1,280 1,365 2.4 -6.2 -6.1 1,412 1,238 1,371 1,524 -7.3

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,603 1,616 1,635 -0.8 -1.2 -0.4 1,690 1,640 1,518 1,296 30.4

 Other peripheral equipment................... 2,111 2,110 2,082 0.0 1.3 0.8 2,209 2,156 1,998 2,075 6.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 8,394 8,176 8,297 2.7 -1.5 -1.5 8,470 8,085 7,865 7,940 6.7

 Defense communications equipment........ 1,549 1,445 1,410 7.2 2.5 -4.2 1,549 1,445 1,410 1,180 31.3

 Audio and video equipment.................... 921 918 940 0.3 -2.3 -4.0 962 920 896 884 8.8

 Semiconductors1

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

 Electronic components.......................... 6,773 6,813 6,594 -0.6 3.3 -0.3 6,843 6,935 6,504 6,428 6.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 4,972 4,890 4,769 1.7 2.5 0.1 5,030 5,008 4,770 4,305 16.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,541 3,534 3,492 0.2 1.2 1.5 3,587 3,544 3,485 3,243 10.6

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 10,516 10,593 10,533 -0.7 0.6 1.2 10,734 10,632 10,336 10,450 2.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,170 15,145 15,243 0.2 -0.6 0.8 15,072 15,206 15,177 14,362 4.9

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,783 1,785 1,790 -0.1 -0.3 0.1 1,804 1,826 1,835 1,706 5.7

 Household appliances........................... 1,992 1,962 1,985 1.5 -1.2 1.3 1,992 1,992 1,975 1,964 1.4

 Electrical equipment............................. 5,323 5,297 5,262 0.5 0.7 0.2 5,187 5,217 5,131 4,742 9.4

 Batteries............................................ 664 684 813 -2.9 -15.9 0.9 693 706 812 772 -10.2

 Transportation equipment......................... 88,842 88,318 87,294 0.6 1.2 1.1 89,859 88,987 86,539 78,344 14.7

 Automobiles....................................... 2,496 2,489 2,473 0.3 0.6 -0.6 2,594 2,674 2,343 2,769 -6.3

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 2,605 2,676 2,889 -2.7 -7.4 2.7 2,687 2,635 2,892 3,274 -17.9

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,571 1,553 1,554 1.2 -0.1 2.2 1,646 1,592 1,564 1,508 9.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,682 16,752 16,777 -0.4 -0.1 -0.3 16,481 16,734 16,570 17,441 -5.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 40,004 39,178 37,773 2.1 3.7 1.9 40,719 39,539 37,431 30,593 33.1

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 14,219 14,306 14,502 -0.6 -1.4 1.8 14,311 14,391 14,594 12,645 13.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,932 2,894 2,841 1.3 1.9 -2.4 2,900 2,838 2,821 2,939 -1.3

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,942 7,941 7,903 0.0 0.5 -0.5 8,028 8,112 8,108 8,215 -2.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 23,234 23,254 23,192 -0.1 0.3 1.2 23,588 23,457 23,012 22,841 3.3

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 223,605 222,885 222,500 0.3 0.2 1.9 225,426 224,772 222,510 206,282 9.3

 Food products........................................ 37,595 37,858 38,006 -0.7 -0.4 0.5 37,603 37,325 36,885 36,849 2.0

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,019 5,110 5,249 -1.8 -2.6 1.0 4,830 4,927 5,078 4,662 3.6

 Dairy products.................................... 4,456 4,454 4,464 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 4,560 4,653 4,622 4,940 -7.7

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 7,725 7,676 7,689 0.6 -0.2 0.7 7,686 7,618 7,582 7,068 8.7

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 15,098 15,042 15,100 0.4 -0.4 -0.3 14,655 14,451 14,634 14,652 0.0

 Beverages......................................... 11,328 11,242 11,290 0.8 -0.4 -0.1 11,081 10,880 10,974 10,989 0.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,770 3,800 3,810 -0.8 -0.3 -0.7 3,574 3,571 3,660 3,663 -2.4

 Textile mills............................................ 3,637 3,669 3,604 -0.9 1.8 -1.1 3,653 3,682 3,592 3,818 -4.3

 Textile products...................................... 3,285 3,290 3,222 -0.2 2.1 -0.9 3,314 3,325 3,237 3,380 -2.0

 Apparel................................................. 4,539 4,534 4,503 0.1 0.7 0.4 4,693 4,697 4,614 4,452 5.4

 Leather and allied products....................... 1,009 1,012 1,003 -0.3 0.9 -1.2 1,032 1,027 1,002 1,094 -5.7

 Paper products....................................... 15,511 15,391 15,470 0.8 -0.5 0.4 15,472 15,408 15,451 14,970 3.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 6,834 6,818 6,885 0.2 -1.0 0.5 6,804 6,830 6,864 6,598 3.1

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,277 4,194 4,200 2.0 -0.1 -0.2 4,262 4,192 4,194 4,090 4.2

 Printing.................................................. 6,711 6,744 6,849 -0.5 -1.5 -1.0 6,989 7,000 6,886 6,899 1.3

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 43,161 43,394 44,055 -0.5 -1.5 9.6 44,684 45,379 45,482 33,048 35.2

 Petroleum refineries............................. 40,613 40,935 41,694 -0.8 -1.8 10.0 42,013 42,844 43,053 30,463 37.9

 Chemical products..................................... 69,784 69,069 68,255 1.0 1.2 -0.1 70,340 69,758 68,589 66,063 6.5

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 3,206 3,207 3,138 0.0 2.2 -3.1 2,897 2,970 2,905 2,634 10.0

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 24,186 23,747 23,686 1.8 0.3 -0.6 24,794 24,310 24,253 23,884 3.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,113 3,101 3,142 0.4 -1.3 -1.2 3,153 3,139 3,226 3,134 0.6

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 23,275 22,882 22,433 1.7 2.0 1.0 22,991 22,720 22,138 21,057 9.2

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

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

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

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

 Topical Series 1

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted2

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. 2008/

2008p 2008r 2008 Aug. July June 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 2008p 2007 2007

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 446,020 462,379 455,873 -3.5 1.4 1.9 457,307 448,540 479,381 444,427 3,562,521 3,357,057 6.1

 Construction materials and supplies....... 44,255 44,885 44,406 -1.4 1.1 1.9 47,438 46,018 48,525 48,937 354,796 361,438 -1.8

 Information technology......................... 26,828 27,684 27,128 -3.1 2.0 -1.8 25,519 24,149 30,942 25,952 209,737 205,292 2.2

 Computers and related products........... 4,809 4,945 5,193 -2.8 -4.8 -2.4 4,322 4,341 6,193 5,108 39,525 40,745 -3.0

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 30,154 33,167 32,904 -9.1 0.8 2.0 31,812 24,236 35,145 45,730 268,780 325,768 -17.5

 Capital goods...................................... 75,897 78,153 77,267 -2.9 1.1 0.7 73,740 71,448 84,965 74,903 603,965 580,022 4.1

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 66,818 69,045 68,194 -3.2 1.2 0.7 64,686 62,991 75,516 66,951 533,816 519,311 2.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,493 63,850 63,663 -2.1 0.3 0.6 60,532 58,971 69,938 61,414 498,224 483,090 3.1

 Defense capital goods 4

........................ 9,079 9,108 9,073 -0.3 0.4 0.4 9,054 8,457 9,449 7,952 70,149 60,711 15.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 184,790 193,506 192,033 -4.5 0.8 2.3 192,672 190,338 196,794 178,413 1,474,361 1,330,054 10.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 28,895 30,268 29,959 -4.5 1.0 -0.4 29,353 23,775 31,753 38,545 242,950 278,112 -12.6

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 155,895 163,238 162,074 -4.5 0.7 2.8 163,319 166,563 165,041 139,868 1,231,411 1,051,942 17.1

 All manufacturing industries 5................... 444,365 462,993 459,576 -4.0 0.7 2.1 451,636 444,258 478,082 443,639 3,570,223 3,381,651 5.6

 Construction materials and supplies....... 44,714 45,938 45,563 -2.7 0.8 3.7 47,213 47,074 49,002 48,846 360,701 366,159 -1.5

 Information technology......................... 27,442 27,397 28,336 0.2 -3.3 -0.4 24,717 23,579 31,419 25,414 211,223 207,861 1.6

 Computers and related products........... 4,891 4,811 5,539 1.7 -13.1 0.3 4,404 4,207 6,539 5,342 39,713 41,248 -3.7

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 30,238 33,042 32,855 -8.5 0.6 2.1 31,491 24,576 34,762 44,500 267,485 324,189 -17.5

 Capital goods...................................... 78,588 83,583 83,256 -6.0 0.4 -0.2 73,685 72,356 87,829 77,749 643,515 638,133 0.8

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 68,622 74,498 71,958 -7.9 3.5 -2.3 64,784 65,996 76,478 68,398 572,461 578,594 -1.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 64,703 66,300 66,070 -2.4 0.3 1.6 60,491 60,988 69,878 60,602 514,292 497,171 3.4

 Defense capital goods 4

........................ 9,966 9,085 11,298 9.7 -19.6 15.4 8,901 6,360 11,351 9,351 71,054 59,539 19.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 184,427 193,526 192,091 -4.7 0.7 2.5 192,263 190,594 196,613 178,169 1,473,670 1,330,964 10.7

 Consumer durable goods..................... 28,532 30,288 30,017 -5.8 0.9 0.8 28,944 24,031 31,572 38,301 242,259 279,022 -13.2

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 155,895 163,238 162,074 -4.5 0.7 2.8 163,319 166,563 165,041 139,868 1,231,411 1,051,942 17.1

 All manufacturing industries 5................... 827,214 824,232 818,023 0.4 0.8 1.0 820,303 821,604 819,678 726,261 (X) (X) 12.9

 Construction materials and supplies....... 56,141 55,682 54,629 0.8 1.9 2.2 56,473 56,698 55,642 48,565 (X) (X) 16.3

 Information technology......................... 121,572 120,958 121,245 0.5 -0.2 1.0 119,910 120,712 121,282 115,253 (X) (X) 4.0

 Computers and related products........... 3,905 3,823 3,957 2.1 -3.4 9.6 3,905 3,823 3,957 3,988 (X) (X) -2.1

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 17,465 17,381 17,506 0.5 -0.7 -0.3 17,270 17,591 17,251 18,854 (X) (X) -8.4

 Capital goods...................................... 621,597 618,906 613,476 0.4 0.9 1.0 615,007 615,062 614,154 534,483 (X) (X) 15.1

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 481,472 479,668 474,215 0.4 1.1 0.8 477,460 477,362 474,357 403,078 (X) (X) 18.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 206,837 204,627 202,177 1.1 1.2 1.2 204,852 204,893 202,876 187,103 (X) (X) 9.5

 Defense capital goods 4........................ 140,125 139,238 139,261 0.6 0.0 1.6 137,547 137,700 139,797 131,405 (X) (X) 4.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 8,502 8,865 8,845 -4.1 0.2 0.7 8,473 8,882 8,626 9,687 (X) (X) -12.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 8,502 8,865 8,845 -4.1 0.2 0.7 8,473 8,882 8,626 9,687 (X) (X) -12.5

 All manufacturing industries................... 562,453 559,070 555,627 0.6 0.6 1.2 566,910 563,051 553,170 521,865 (X) (X) 8.6

 Construction materials and supplies....... 60,799 60,415 59,783 0.6 1.1 0.7 60,996 60,832 59,547 59,544 (X) (X) 2.4

 Information technology......................... 42,144 41,799 41,730 0.8 0.2 0.0 42,884 41,983 40,887 40,081 (X) (X) 7.0

 Computers and related products........... 5,025 5,006 5,082 0.4 -1.5 -1.5 5,311 5,034 4,887 4,895 (X) (X) 8.5

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 23,354 23,470 23,693 -0.5 -0.9 0.2 23,408 23,635 23,369 24,992 (X) (X) -6.3

 Capital goods...................................... 158,910 157,838 155,830 0.7 1.3 0.7 160,532 158,374 154,172 142,528 (X) (X) 12.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 139,832 138,532 136,602 0.9 1.4 0.8 141,453 139,086 134,987 125,248 (X) (X) 12.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 108,443 107,802 107,184 0.6 0.6 0.5 109,505 108,082 105,867 102,419 (X) (X) 6.9

 Defense capital goods 4........................ 19,078 19,306 19,228 -1.2 0.4 -0.4 19,079 19,288 19,185 17,280 (X) (X) 10.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 167,473 167,433 168,363 0.0 -0.6 2.4 169,737 169,338 168,476 156,140 (X) (X) 8.7

 Consumer durable goods..................... 28,465 28,408 28,556 0.2 -0.5 0.3 28,909 28,692 28,208 29,316 (X) (X) -1.4

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 139,008 139,025 139,807 0.0 -0.6 2.9 140,828 140,646 140,268 126,824 (X) (X) 11.0

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable.

1

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

2

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

3

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

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

equipment; pumps and compressors; material handling equipment; all other machinery; electronic computers; computer storage devices; other computer peripheral

equipment; communications equipment; search and navigation equipment; electromedical, measuring, and control instruments; electrical equipment; other electrical 

equipment, appliances, and components; heavy duty trucks; aircraft; railroad rolling stock; ships and boats; office and institutional furniture; and medical equipment

and supplies.

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS

UNFILLED ORDERS

TOTAL INVENTORIES
 7

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Aug. July June July - June - May - Aug. July June Aug. Aug.

2008p 2008r 2008 Aug. July June 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 08/07

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 192,348 192,171 190,385 0.1 0.9 1.0 193,188 193,574 189,605 181,516 6.4

 Durable goods industries.......................... 115,886 115,486 113,575 0.3 1.7 1.2 116,657 116,464 112,198 109,329 6.7

 Wood products................................... 4,278 4,307 4,216 -0.7 2.2 1.0 4,301 4,214 3,955 4,588 -6.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 4,903 4,896 4,830 0.1 1.4 -0.3 4,917 4,913 4,822 4,628 6.2

 Primary metals.................................... 13,355 12,991 12,600 2.8 3.1 4.0 13,520 13,104 12,539 11,485 17.7

 Fabricated metal products........................ 16,788 16,599 16,104 1.1 3.1 2.1 16,806 16,774 15,985 15,319 9.7

 Machinery.......................................... 21,075 21,007 20,708 0.3 1.4 1.3 21,165 21,129 20,523 19,825 6.8

 Computers and electronic products........ 15,419 15,473 15,473 -0.3 0.0 0.0 15,753 15,578 15,238 16,130 -2.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,212 6,173 6,168 0.6 0.1 1.0 6,127 6,162 6,110 5,640 8.6

 Transportation equipment..................... 22,350 22,540 22,090 -0.8 2.0 0.7 22,432 22,944 21,635 20,461 9.6

 Furniture and related products............... 3,959 3,930 3,877 0.7 1.4 -1.2 3,975 3,982 3,925 3,801 4.6

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,547 7,570 7,509 -0.3 0.8 0.2 7,661 7,664 7,466 7,452 2.8

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 76,462 76,685 76,810 -0.3 -0.2 0.8 76,531 77,110 77,407 72,187 6.0

 Food products.................................... 14,017 14,303 14,379 -2.0 -0.5 1.4 13,573 14,023 14,069 13,120 3.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................... 4,439 4,422 4,420 0.4 0.0 -0.2 4,272 4,255 4,319 4,377 -2.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,179 1,206 1,188 -2.2 1.5 2.7 1,173 1,201 1,181 1,209 -3.0

 Textile products................................... 1,308 1,305 1,286 0.2 1.5 -0.5 1,318 1,328 1,292 1,253 5.2

 Apparel............................................. 1,070 1,077 1,087 -0.6 -0.9 -1.7 1,066 1,085 1,085 1,049 1.6

 Leather and allied products.................... 357 365 373 -2.2 -2.1 -0.8 363 370 369 416 -12.7

 Paper products.................................... 7,463 7,413 7,397 0.7 0.2 0.2 7,428 7,385 7,383 7,151 3.9

 Printing ............................................. 3,068 3,081 3,093 -0.4 -0.4 -2.6 3,163 3,167 3,159 2,982 6.1

 Petroleum and coal products................. 13,028 13,204 13,950 -1.3 -5.3 5.0 13,550 13,847 14,810 12,026 12.7

 Chemical products................................ 21,255 21,000 20,598 1.2 2.0 -1.6 21,328 21,080 20,778 20,002 6.6

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 9,278 9,309 9,039 -0.3 3.0 2.3 9,297 9,369 8,962 8,602 8.1

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 167,297 165,838 163,651 0.9 1.3 0.3 168,947 166,990 162,153 145,485 16.1

 Durable goods industries.......................... 124,502 123,197 122,118 1.1 0.9 0.8 125,828 123,950 121,178 110,141 14.2

 Wood products................................... 1,943 1,926 1,907 0.9 1.0 1.5 1,964 1,936 1,900 2,113 -7.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,290 1,304 1,322 -1.1 -1.4 1.1 1,281 1,316 1,344 1,301 -1.5

 Primary metals.................................... 10,967 10,872 10,722 0.9 1.4 -0.3 11,054 11,105 10,841 10,229 8.1

 Fabricated metal products........................ 13,534 13,455 13,302 0.6 1.2 1.1 13,704 13,600 13,271 12,647 8.4

 Machinery.......................................... 15,004 14,795 14,704 1.4 0.6 1.0 15,299 14,886 14,675 14,534 5.3

 Computers and electronic products........ 21,176 21,072 20,872 0.5 1.0 -0.4 21,543 21,306 20,495 18,624 15.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,126 3,100 3,177 0.8 -2.4 1.9 3,155 3,174 3,240 2,940 7.3

 Transportation equipment..................... 52,733 51,855 51,224 1.7 1.2 1.2 53,044 51,740 50,513 42,939 23.5

 Furniture and related products............... 1,213 1,270 1,308 -4.5 -2.9 0.7 1,218 1,287 1,324 1,363 -10.6

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,516 3,548 3,580 -0.9 -0.9 3.8 3,566 3,600 3,575 3,451 3.3

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 42,795 42,641 41,533 0.4 2.7 -1.2 43,119 43,040 40,975 35,344 22.0

 Food products.................................... 2,276 2,283 2,343 -0.3 -2.6 -4.3 2,064 2,037 2,078 2,410 -14.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................... 4,241 4,213 4,227 0.7 -0.3 0.1 3,849 3,788 3,898 4,061 -5.2

 Textiles.............................................. 897 899 860 -0.2 4.5 -5.4 904 910 858 965 -6.3

 Textile products................................... 417 409 400 2.0 2.3 -1.2 417 412 402 451 -7.5

 Apparel............................................. 671 674 669 -0.4 0.7 1.1 676 681 679 705 -4.1

 Leather and allied products.................... 90 88 90 2.3 -2.2 -1.1 92 89 87 90 2.2

 Paper products.................................... 1,538 1,491 1,520 3.2 -1.9 2.4 1,573 1,510 1,529 1,415 11.2

 Printing ............................................. 1,705 1,699 1,778 0.4 -4.4 0.8 1,814 1,801 1,716 1,966 -7.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. 13,549 13,599 12,595 -0.4 8.0 -4.1 13,913 14,149 12,387 7,641 82.1

 Chemical products................................ 14,831 14,763 14,567 0.5 1.3 1.0 15,267 15,162 14,898 13,207 15.6

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,580 2,523 2,484 2.3 1.6 -0.6 2,550 2,501 2,443 2,433 4.8

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 202,808 201,061 201,591 0.9 -0.3 2.2 204,775 202,487 201,412 194,864 5.1

 Durable goods industries.......................... 98,460 97,502 97,434 1.0 0.1 0.4 98,999 97,865 97,284 96,113 3.0

 Wood products................................... 4,303 4,272 4,239 0.7 0.8 0.4 4,259 4,251 4,306 4,757 -10.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,712 5,681 5,728 0.5 -0.8 -0.6 5,651 5,722 5,782 5,606 0.8

 Primary metals.................................... 10,753 10,177 10,193 5.7 -0.2 0.9 10,735 10,211 10,163 9,795 9.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 14,453 14,278 14,147 1.2 0.9 0.7 14,274 14,357 14,189 13,430 6.3

 Machinery.......................................... 18,438 18,444 18,437 0.0 0.0 -0.6 18,181 18,075 18,102 17,077 6.5

 Computers and electronic products........ 10,269 9,978 9,991 2.9 -0.1 0.2 10,530 10,040 9,694 9,733 8.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 5,832 5,872 5,898 -0.7 -0.4 0.0 5,790 5,870 5,827 5,782 0.1

 Transportation equipment..................... 13,759 13,923 13,980 -1.2 -0.4 1.4 14,383 14,303 14,391 14,944 -3.8

 Furniture and related products............... 2,770 2,741 2,718 1.1 0.8 -0.1 2,835 2,843 2,859 3,051 -7.1

 Miscellaneous products......................... 12,171 12,136 12,103 0.3 0.3 1.1 12,361 12,193 11,971 11,938 3.5

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 104,348 103,559 104,157 0.8 -0.6 4.0 105,776 104,622 104,128 98,751 7.1

 Food products.................................... 21,302 21,272 21,284 0.1 -0.1 0.4 21,966 21,265 20,738 21,319 3.0

 Beverage and tobacco products................... 6,418 6,407 6,453 0.2 -0.7 -0.6 6,534 6,408 6,417 6,214 5.1

 Textiles.............................................. 1,561 1,564 1,556 -0.2 0.5 -1.5 1,576 1,571 1,553 1,644 -4.1

 Textile products................................... 1,560 1,576 1,536 -1.0 2.6 -1.0 1,579 1,585 1,543 1,676 -5.8

 Apparel............................................. 2,798 2,783 2,747 0.5 1.3 1.1 2,951 2,931 2,850 2,698 9.4

 Leather and allied products.................... 562 559 540 0.5 3.5 -1.5 577 568 546 588 -1.9

 Paper products.................................... 6,510 6,487 6,553 0.4 -1.0 0.1 6,471 6,513 6,539 6,404 1.0

 Printing ............................................. 1,938 1,964 1,978 -1.3 -0.7 0.1 2,012 2,032 2,011 1,951 3.1

 Petroleum and coal products................. 16,584 16,591 17,510 0.0 -5.2 27.2 17,221 17,383 18,285 13,381 28.7

 Chemical products................................ 33,698 33,306 33,090 1.2 0.7 0.4 33,745 33,516 32,913 32,854 2.7

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 11,417 11,050 10,910 3.3 1.3 0.3 11,144 10,850 10,733 10,022 11.2

p

 Preliminary r Revised

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

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Aug Jul Jun May Aug Jul Jun May

2008p 2008r 2008 2008 2008p 2008r 2008 2008

 All manufacturing industries 2

...... 1.26 1.21 1.22 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2................... 1.62 1.55 1.56 1.57 5.48 5.25 5.30 5.33

 Wood products................................ 1.29 1.27 1.25 1.27 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.28 1.26 1.26 1.29 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.50 1.42 1.45 1.48 1.23 1.26 1.28 1.30

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.60 1.55 1.55 1.55 2.29 2.25 2.30 2.33

 Machinery....................................... 1.89 1.86 1.83 1.86 4.16 4.04 3.81 3.83

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.49 1.40 1.48 1.43 5.25 5.08 5.21 5.07

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.44 1.37 1.42 1.41 2.59 2.48 2.59 2.50

 Transportation equipment................. 1.78 1.63 1.65 1.67 13.57 12.32 12.62 12.88

 Furniture and related products........... 1.24 1.21 1.20 1.22 1.34 1.29 1.27 1.27

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.77 1.75 1.77 1.71 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 0.94 0.91 0.92 0.92 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.73 0.72 0.74 0.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.29 1.27 1.31 1.30 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.28 1.26 1.27 1.30 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.47 1.43 1.37 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.73 1.67 1.67 1.70 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 2.14 2.14 2.16 2.08 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.05 1.05 1.08 1.09 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.67 0.62 0.63 0.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products............................. 1.16 1.14 1.13 1.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.31 1.25 1.24 1.25 (X) (X) (X) (X)

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Aug2 Aug2 Aug2 Aug2

Industry 2007- 2007- 2007- 2007-

Aug1 Jul Aug1 Jul Aug1 Jul Aug1 Jul

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

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

Durable goods industries...................... -0.3 0.4 -0.3 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.3 -0.3 0.7 -0.1 0.5 0.5 0.2

 Fabricated metal products.................... -0.3 0.4 -0.2 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... -0.2 0.3 -0.4 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... -0.3 1.1 0.1 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.4 0.5 -0.8 3.2 -0.2 1.4 -0.1 0.5

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.3 0.7 -0.2 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.5 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.5 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.9 (X) 0.2

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.8

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.9

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.2

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

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-in-process, 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 59 publication levels. The survey methodology assumes that the month-tomonth changes of the total operations of those companies in the monthly survey effectively represent the month-tomonth 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 61 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-tomonth movement of all companies is another potential source. Any corrections in the data 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.

2009 Release Dates for M3 Survey 

Survey Month Advance 8:30 A.M. Preliminary 10:00 A.M. 

November 2008 Dec. 24, 2008 Jan. 6, 2009 

December 2008 Jan. 29, 2009 Feb. 5, 2009 

January 2009 Feb. 26, 2009 Mar. 5, 2009 

February 2009 Mar. 25, 2009 Apr. 2, 2009 

March 2009 Apr. 24, 2009 May 1, 2009 

April 2009 May 28, 2009 Jun. 3, 2009 

May 2009 Jun. 24, 2009 Jul. 2, 2009 

June 2009 Jul. 29, 2009 Aug. 5, 2009 

July 2009 Aug. 26, 2009 Sep. 2, 2009 

August 2009 Sep. 25, 2009 Oct. 2, 2009 

September 2009 Oct. 28, 2009 Nov. 3, 2009 

October 2009 Nov. 25, 2009 Dec. 4, 2009 

November 2009 Dec. 24, 2009