FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2012, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (12)-4 

CB12-98 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

April 2012 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in April, down 

three of the last four months, decreased $2.9 billion or 

0.6 percent to $466.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 2.1 percent March 

decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders 

decreased 1.1 percent. 

 Shipments, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.5 billion or 0.3 percent to $473.2 

billion. This followed a 0.1 percent March increase. 

 Unfilled orders, down following twenty-seven 

consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.8 billion or 

0.1 percent to $985.4 billion. This followed a slight 

March increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio 

was 6.33, up from 6.29 in March. 

 Inventories, up twenty-two of the last twenty-three 

months, increased $0.1 billion to $607.2 billion. This 

was at the highest level since the series was first 

published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.1 

percent March increase. The inventories-to-shipments 

ratio was 1.28, unchanged from March. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, 

down three of the last four months, decreased $0.1 

billion to $215.2 billion, revised from the previously 

published 0.2 percent increase. This followed a 3.7 

percent March decrease. 

 Machinery, also down three of the last four months, 

had the largest decrease, $0.9 billion or 2.9 percent to 

$31.0 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $2.9 billion or 1.1 percent to $250.8 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up 

four of the last five months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.6 

percent to $222.5 billion, revised from the previously 

published 0.7 percent increase. This followed a 0.9 

percent March increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five 

months, had the largest increase, $1.9 billion or 3.1 

 

percent to $63.8 billion. 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

two consecutive months, decreased $2.9 billion or 1.1 

percent to $250.8 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent 

March decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also 

down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, down 

$3.2 billion or 4.4 percent to $69.8 billion. This was the 

largest decline in petroleum and coal products since a 

7.9 percent decrease in July of 2009. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

April, down following twenty-seven consecutive 

monthly increases, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.1 percent to $985.4 billion, unchanged from the previously 

published decrease. This followed a slight March 

increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, down two consecutive 

months, had the largest decrease, $1.6 billion or 0.3 

percent to $566.5 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up 

twenty-seven of the last twenty-eight months, increased 

$1.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $364.2 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This was at the 

highest level since the series was first published on a 

NAICS basis and followed a 0.4 percent March increase. 

 

 Machinery, up twenty-five of the last twenty-six 

months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion or 1.6 

percent to $65.2 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

two consecutive months, decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5 

percent to $243.1 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent 

March decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also 

down two consecutive months, led the decrease, down 

$0.9 billion or 1.6 percent to $55.0 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, April materials and supplies 

increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 1.2 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.4 

percent in durable goods and decreased 4.1 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5 percent 

in durable goods and decreased 0.2 percent in 

nondurable goods.

Figures in text are adjusted for seasonality, but not for inflation. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. For 

data, call (301) 763-4673 or go to <http://www.census.gov/m3>. 

The advance report on durable goods for May is scheduled for release on June 27, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on July 3, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. 

EDT. See back page for survey description. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Apr. Mar. Feb. Mar. - Feb. - Jan. - Apr. Mar. Feb. Apr. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Apr. Mar. Feb. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

 All manufacturing industries.................. 473,221 474,690 474,382 -0.3 0.1 0.4 475,626 503,185 455,298 455,439 1,870,390 1,750,151 6.9

 Excluding transportation ................... 409,381 412,792 413,907 -0.8 -0.3 0.9 413,919 433,413 394,348 401,032 1,623,968 1,526,274 6.4

 Excluding defense.............................. 463,122 463,683 464,198 -0.1 -0.1 0.6 466,131 490,709 445,199 444,525 1,829,379 1,704,646 7.3

 With unfilled orders ............................ 155,576 156,846 154,992 -0.8 1.2 -1.0 152,651 171,405 150,461 142,021 615,015 562,614 9.3

 Durable goods industries ......................... 222,464 221,050 219,081 0.6 0.9 -0.5 220,877 238,715 212,766 203,120 871,276 798,338 9.1

 Wood products................................. ...... 6,049 6,003 5,897 0.8 1.8 -3.9 6,365 5,979 5,425 6,032 22,972 21,612 6.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,064 7,985 8,003 1.0 -0.2 0.2 8,098 7,966 6,989 7,698 29,901 28,517 4.9

 Primary metals............................ ........... 28,497 28,387 28,935 0.4 -1.9 0.7 29,467 30,605 29,062 24,674 117,149 93,687 25.0

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,380 11,440 11,756 -0.5 -2.7 -0.1 11,947 12,691 11,841 11,964 48,096 46,058 4.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 15,223 15,075 15,306 1.0 -1.5 1.1 15,639 15,905 15,366 11,142 61,597 41,561 48.2

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,894 1,872 1,873 1.2 -0.1 2.2 1,881 2,009 1,855 1,568 7,456 6,068 22.9

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,552 27,535 27,581 0.1 -0.2 -1.2 27,357 28,507 26,243 25,863 107,814 100,058 7.8

 Machinery............................................. 31,746 32,592 31,108 -2.6 4.8 2.9 32,104 36,253 30,007 29,001 125,206 112,236 11.6

 Farm machinery................................. 2,495 2,656 2,501 -6.1 6.2 0.6 3,268 3,318 2,687 3,132 11,433 10,001 14.3

 Construction machinery..................... 4,345 4,094 3,998 6.1 2.4 -0.3 4,246 4,236 3,786 3,360 15,891 12,831 23.8

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 2,092 2,081 2,026 0.5 2.7 6.4 1,951 2,211 2,014 1,820 7,970 7,331 8.7

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,215 3,052 2,969 5.3 2.8 6.6 3,090 3,811 2,661 2,572 11,842 11,050 7.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 655 666 671 -1.7 -0.7 1.7 583 766 630 599 2,510 2,614 -4.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,155 3,201 3,013 -1.4 6.2 4.7 3,041 3,282 2,523 2,824 11,129 10,728 3.7

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,396 2,352 2,351 1.9 0.0 2.8 2,208 2,515 2,159 1,832 8,913 7,325 21.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,360 4,464 3,535 -24.7 26.3 9.0 3,404 4,660 3,558 3,152 14,753 13,027 13.2

 Material handling equipment............... 2,797 2,771 2,721 0.9 1.8 1.9 2,654 3,064 2,690 2,353 10,798 9,264 16.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

.......... 27,761 27,528 28,239 0.8 -2.5 0.9 27,608 28,508 26,052 27,956 108,077 109,272 -1.1

 Computers........................................ 1,224 1,252 1,403 -2.2 -10.8 -2.9 1,091 1,250 1,123 1,367 4,709 5,255 -10.4

 Computer storage devices..................... 722 731 728 -1.2 0.4 4.6 455 1,123 512 438 2,584 2,282 13.2

 Other peripheral equipment................ 905 894 940 1.2 -4.9 1.1 663 1,117 726 637 3,094 2,841 8.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,645 2,684 2,757 -1.5 -2.6 1.3 2,257 3,106 2,456 2,490 9,963 10,678 -6.7

 Defense communications equipment.... 372 391 374 -4.9 4.5 -2.1 347 427 375 482 1,490 1,942 -23.3

 Audio and video equipment.................... 234 255 222 -8.2 14.9 1.4 169 258 189 167 802 833 -3.7

 Electronic components......................... 3,569 3,597 3,594 -0.8 0.1 1.2 3,307 3,928 3,459 3,369 13,866 14,132 -1.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,284 1,339 1,288 -4.1 4.0 -0.1 1,161 1,559 1,264 1,097 5,085 4,874 4.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,864 2,839 2,924 0.9 -2.9 -1.8 2,736 3,093 2,999 2,850 11,361 11,694 -2.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,983 7,013 6,928 -0.4 1.2 1.6 6,616 7,866 6,463 6,584 27,042 26,543 1.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,943 10,016 9,881 -0.7 1.4 -0.8 9,769 10,831 9,339 9,488 38,807 37,290 4.1

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 903 917 884 -1.5 3.7 -5.6 875 953 869 914 3,558 3,661 -2.8

 Household appliances........................ 1,596 1,560 1,540 2.3 1.3 0.3 1,662 1,784 1,418 1,584 6,101 5,851 4.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,104 3,130 3,056 -0.8 2.4 -0.5 2,934 3,513 2,909 2,743 12,068 11,394 5.9

 Batteries........................................... 973 975 965 -0.2 1.0 -1.5 899 937 840 882 3,508 3,348 4.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 63,840 61,898 60,475 3.1 2.4 -2.8 61,707 69,772 60,950 54,407 246,422 223,877 10.1

 Automobiles..................................... 9,106 8,441 8,210 7.9 2.8 4.4 8,686 8,946 8,316 6,473 33,279 27,041 23.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 14,081 12,239 12,061 15.1 1.5 0.8 13,677 13,983 12,665 10,567 51,062 46,095 10.8

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,514 2,557 2,594 -1.7 -1.4 1.3 2,455 2,757 2,582 2,057 10,176 7,584 34.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,322 18,385 17,977 -0.3 2.3 -2.9 18,683 20,260 18,825 17,692 75,115 71,202 5.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,387 8,929 9,178 5.1 -2.7 -6.7 8,307 10,813 8,505 6,611 34,781 27,687 25.6

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,164 5,063 4,208 -17.8 20.3 -17.3 3,758 5,910 3,957 4,287 17,482 17,991 -2.8

 Ships and boats................................. 2,150 2,228 2,117 -3.5 5.2 -4.3 2,215 2,473 2,178 2,231 8,809 8,927 -1.3

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,347 5,349 5,216 0.0 2.5 -1.4 5,209 5,535 5,256 5,093 20,980 20,199 3.9

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,665 13,757 13,746 -0.7 0.1 0.8 13,193 14,759 13,443 12,908 53,948 51,590 4.6

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 250,757 253,640 255,301 -1.1 -0.7 1.1 254,749 264,470 242,532 252,319 999,114 951,813 5.0

 Food products....................................... 60,292 59,858 59,079 0.7 1.3 -2.8 58,258 60,962 58,509 57,458 236,278 226,483 4.3

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,205 8,015 7,971 2.4 0.6 -0.9 7,724 8,042 7,967 7,538 31,726 30,618 3.6

 Dairy products.................................. 8,380 8,395 8,365 -0.2 0.4 -2.6 8,088 8,527 7,949 8,626 32,837 32,933 -0.3

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 16,660 16,640 16,105 0.1 3.3 -4.8 16,381 16,781 16,194 16,331 65,498 63,424 3.3

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,387 12,149 12,099 2.0 0.4 4.0 12,305 12,275 11,382 11,564 46,418 43,531 6.6

 Beverages......................................... 8,977 8,798 8,893 2.0 -1.1 1.5 8,895 8,924 8,176 8,336 33,579 31,082 8.0

 Tobacco............................................ 3,410 3,351 3,206 1.8 4.5 11.6 3,410 3,351 3,206 3,228 12,839 12,449 3.1

 Textile mills........................................... 2,476 2,488 2,457 -0.5 1.3 -0.3 2,530 2,644 2,477 2,601 9,964 10,177 -2.1

 Textile products................................... 1,947 1,955 1,923 -0.4 1.7 -0.9 2,024 2,071 1,932 1,959 7,763 7,347 5.7

 Apparel................................................ 1,255 1,245 1,257 0.8 -1.0 -2.5 1,141 1,210 1,253 1,095 4,761 4,419 7.7

 Leather and allied products...................... 465 460 440 1.1 4.5 -2.9 452 482 472 442 1,783 1,758 1.4

 Paper products...................................... 14,010 13,948 13,938 0.4 0.1 -0.2 13,681 14,171 13,535 13,980 55,039 56,142 -2.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,563 6,574 6,606 -0.2 -0.5 0.4 6,362 6,651 6,395 6,506 25,929 26,298 -1.4

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,122 4,071 4,053 1.3 0.4 -0.6 4,087 4,181 3,902 4,208 16,105 16,697 -3.5

 Printing................................................. 6,673 6,658 6,545 0.2 1.7 -0.9 6,672 6,934 6,163 6,910 25,936 26,962 -3.8

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 69,750 72,950 75,101 -4.4 -2.9 4.9 74,084 75,947 67,352 73,649 284,004 259,314 9.5

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 65,295 68,287 70,760 -4.4 -3.5 5.0 69,897 71,721 63,771 70,060 268,829 246,669 9.0

 Chemical products..................................... 63,744 64,205 64,662 -0.7 -0.7 0.9 65,625 69,108 62,486 65,735 257,279 251,090 2.5

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,361 3,213 3,081 4.6 4.3 -4.9 4,706 4,668 2,985 3,766 15,022 13,031 15.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 14,462 14,499 14,815 -0.3 -2.1 1.1 14,150 14,863 14,391 14,936 57,188 59,071 -3.2

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,898 2,899 2,894 0.0 0.2 -1.2 3,082 3,075 2,732 2,745 11,438 10,133 12.9

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,758 17,724 17,800 0.2 -0.4 1.0 17,977 18,666 16,971 16,926 69,889 64,590 8.2

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.

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

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

 aggregate totals. 

Year to date
 3

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Apr. Mar. Feb. Mar. - Feb. - Jan. - Apr. Mar. Feb. Apr. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Apr. Mar. Feb. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 465,975 468,921 478,879 -0.6 -2.1 1.5 463,137 502,316 466,795 448,748 1,874,929 1,758,648 6.6

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 403,722 408,012 410,844 -1.1 -0.7 1.4 407,012 432,390 397,409 395,879 1,619,157 1,524,617 6.2

 Excluding defense 2

.............................. 457,284 458,114 468,034 -0.2 -2.1 1.2 456,141 487,196 455,436 437,833 1,831,964 1,704,297 7.5

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 154,783 157,098 166,059 -1.5 -5.4 2.5 148,513 174,822 167,984 143,446 645,772 597,951 8.0

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 215,218 215,281 223,578 0.0 -3.7 2.0 208,388 237,846 224,263 196,429 875,815 806,835 8.5

 Primary metals............................ ............ 28,609 28,352 28,179 0.9 0.6 0.3 29,294 30,335 29,205 23,157 118,035 95,607 23.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,501 11,437 11,103 0.6 3.0 0.1 11,774 12,502 11,957 10,072 48,767 46,216 5.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 15,213 15,055 15,115 1.0 -0.4 0.1 15,640 15,867 15,260 11,456 61,564 42,922 43.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,895 1,860 1,961 1.9 -5.2 3.8 1,880 1,966 1,988 1,629 7,704 6,469 19.1

 Fabricated metal products........................ 27,829 28,415 28,213 -2.1 0.7 0.5 27,924 31,233 28,182 26,652 113,760 105,471 7.9

 Machinery............................................. 30,966 31,876 33,572 -2.9 -5.1 5.8 32,184 35,170 33,796 33,395 132,021 126,602 4.3

 Construction machinery....................... 4,089 3,718 4,312 10.0 -13.8 -8.0 4,146 3,612 4,722 4,330 17,688 16,744 5.6

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,357 1,085 2,666 25.1 -59.3 33.2 1,288 789 2,826 2,598 7,097 9,900 -28.3

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,249 3,382 3,086 -3.9 9.6 13.3 3,332 4,123 2,786 3,354 12,762 12,023 6.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 753 675 711 11.6 -5.1 4.3 733 726 705 577 2,843 2,637 7.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,207 3,358 3,453 -4.5 -2.8 25.2 3,403 3,690 3,120 3,354 12,447 12,341 0.9

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,346 2,407 2,462 -2.5 -2.2 3.6 2,154 2,560 2,441 1,958 9,473 8,415 12.6

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,397 4,653 4,177 -27.0 11.4 2.6 3,387 4,807 4,169 3,467 16,295 14,072 15.8

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,940 2,936 2,798 0.1 4.9 1.7 2,859 3,281 2,874 2,760 11,552 10,169 13.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 22,414 22,597 22,786 -0.8 -0.8 4.2 20,132 25,764 22,453 18,990 87,695 83,418 5.1

 Computers........................................ 1,220 1,296 1,373 -5.9 -5.6 -2.2 1,087 1,294 1,093 1,334 4,678 5,169 -9.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,860 3,461 3,313 -17.4 4.5 13.6 2,483 3,643 3,455 2,187 11,949 9,798 22.0

 Defense communications equipment...... 329 378 318 -13.0 18.9 10.4 234 654 298 316 1,467 1,833 -20.0

 Electronic components......................... 3,555 3,610 3,640 -1.5 -0.8 4.2 3,343 3,848 3,666 3,651 14,143 14,399 -1.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,912 1,751 1,528 9.2 14.6 5.4 1,951 1,834 1,637 1,315 6,792 5,133 32.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,045 2,922 3,117 4.2 -6.3 6.8 2,789 3,497 3,622 2,281 12,468 11,669 6.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,126 6,787 7,096 5.0 -4.4 0.9 6,503 8,001 6,795 6,305 27,855 28,103 -0.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,011 10,065 9,806 -0.5 2.6 -2.1 9,605 10,797 9,726 9,231 39,749 38,720 2.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 917 925 853 -0.9 8.4 -6.7 919 963 836 915 3,564 3,706 -3.8

 Household appliances.......................... 1,622 1,604 1,487 1.1 7.9 2.6 1,656 1,749 1,451 1,463 6,189 5,985 3.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,183 3,074 3,036 3.5 1.3 -7.5 3,111 3,402 3,000 2,949 12,642 12,299 2.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 62,253 60,909 68,035 2.2 -10.5 2.6 56,125 69,926 69,386 52,869 255,772 234,031 9.3

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,339 18,440 18,081 -0.5 2.0 -1.6 18,586 20,053 19,068 17,586 75,039 71,260 5.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 9,545 8,908 16,672 7.2 -46.6 2.7 5,398 10,404 16,602 5,253 45,796 32,288 41.8

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 3,864 5,855 4,900 -34.0 19.5 15.4 3,118 7,611 4,660 4,006 19,697 20,558 -4.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,140 923 1,702 23.5 -45.8 8.9 1,097 1,249 2,286 3,041 6,890 13,357 -48.4

 Furniture and related products................. 5,288 5,372 5,350 -1.6 0.4 1.6 5,398 5,967 5,667 5,504 21,987 21,304 3.2

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 250,757 253,640 255,301 -1.1 -0.7 1.1 254,749 264,470 242,532 252,319 999,114 951,813 5.0

p

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

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

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

Year to date
 4 

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Apr. Mar. Feb. Mar. - Feb. - Jan. - Apr. Mar. Feb. Apr. Apr.

2012p 2012r 2012 Apr. Mar. Feb. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 985,393 986,186 985,934 -0.1 0.0 1.1 996,680 1,000,818 997,401 911,611 9.3

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 418,902 418,108 416,867 0.2 0.3 0.8 426,664 425,220 421,957 387,188 10.2

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 797,449 796,834 796,382 0.1 0.1 1.3 805,211 806,850 806,077 717,812 12.2

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 985,393 986,186 985,934 -0.1 0.0 1.1 996,680 1,000,818 997,401 911,611 9.3

 Primary metals........................................ 35,510 35,398 35,433 0.3 -0.1 -2.1 36,888 37,061 37,331 35,070 5.2

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 20,108 19,987 19,990 0.6 0.0 -3.2 21,090 21,263 21,452 20,712 1.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,874 11,884 11,904 -0.1 -0.2 -1.6 12,193 12,192 12,230 11,325 7.7

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 3,528 3,527 3,539 0.0 -0.3 2.5 3,605 3,606 3,649 3,033 18.9

 Fabricated metal products......................... 81,245 80,968 80,088 0.3 1.1 0.8 83,317 82,750 80,024 76,813 8.5

 Machinery.............................................. 139,179 139,959 140,675 -0.6 -0.5 1.8 141,277 141,197 142,280 117,292 20.4

 Construction machinery....................... 27,578 27,834 28,210 -0.9 -1.3 1.1 28,616 28,716 29,340 24,334 17.6

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 19,565 20,300 21,296 -3.6 -4.7 3.1 19,318 19,981 21,403 16,170 19.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 9,081 9,047 8,717 0.4 3.8 1.4 9,316 9,074 8,762 9,567 -2.6

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,778 2,680 2,671 3.7 0.3 1.5 2,795 2,645 2,685 2,551 9.6

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 9,368 9,316 9,159 0.6 1.7 5.0 9,708 9,346 8,938 8,622 12.6

 Metalworking machinery....................... 7,697 7,747 7,692 -0.6 0.7 1.5 7,868 7,922 7,877 6,591 19.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 28,992 28,955 28,766 0.1 0.7 2.3 29,039 29,056 28,909 19,726 47.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,290 8,147 7,982 1.8 2.1 1.0 8,487 8,282 8,065 7,723 9.9

 Computers and electronic products 2......... 134,301 133,195 132,105 0.8 0.8 0.9 135,948 135,073 133,531 131,898 3.1

 Computers......................................... 1,125 1,129 1,085 -0.4 4.1 -2.7 1,125 1,129 1,085 1,178 -4.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 27,175 26,960 26,183 0.8 3.0 2.2 27,373 27,147 26,610 24,572 11.4

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,438 5,481 5,494 -0.8 -0.2 -1.0 5,551 5,664 5,437 6,841 -18.9

 Electronic components.......................... 13,287 13,301 13,288 -0.1 0.1 0.3 13,345 13,309 13,389 13,174 1.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 11,643 11,015 10,603 5.7 3.9 2.3 11,784 10,994 10,719 9,369 25.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 46,193 46,012 45,929 0.4 0.2 0.4 46,955 46,902 46,498 47,027 -0.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 29,440 29,297 29,523 0.5 -0.8 0.6 29,815 29,928 29,793 29,737 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 21,485 21,417 21,368 0.3 0.2 -0.3 21,670 21,834 21,868 18,559 16.8

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,067 1,053 1,045 1.3 0.8 -2.9 1,041 997 987 1,024 1.7

 Household appliances.......................... 714 688 644 3.8 6.8 -7.6 737 743 778 671 9.8

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,994 9,915 9,971 0.8 -0.6 -0.2 10,080 9,903 10,014 9,095 10.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 566,491 568,078 569,067 -0.3 -0.2 1.3 570,016 575,598 575,444 524,423 8.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,771 16,754 16,699 0.1 0.3 0.6 17,042 17,139 17,346 16,601 2.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 395,978 395,820 395,841 0.0 0.0 1.9 396,772 399,681 400,090 346,155 14.6

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 60,236 60,536 59,744 -0.5 1.3 1.2 61,571 62,211 60,510 58,704 4.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,241 20,251 21,556 -5.0 -6.1 -1.9 19,869 20,987 22,211 26,303 -24.5

 Furniture and related products................. 6,297 6,356 6,333 -0.9 0.4 2.2 6,679 6,490 6,058 6,716 -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.

2

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Apr. Mar. Feb. Mar. - Feb. - Jan. - Apr. Mar. Feb. Apr. Apr.

2012p 2012r 2012 Apr. Mar. Feb. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

 All manufacturing industries..................... 607,242 607,190 606,668 0.0 0.1 0.3 611,089 606,737 607,374 582,827 4.8

 Excluding transportation...................... 500,665 500,532 500,410 0.0 0.0 0.3 503,654 500,312 501,218 484,913 3.9

 Excluding defense............................. 581,719 581,950 580,946 0.0 0.2 0.3 585,438 581,380 581,563 556,460 5.2

 With unfilled orders............................. 295,067 294,235 293,703 0.3 0.2 0.6 297,399 292,856 294,027 277,049 7.3

 Durable goods industries........................ 364,158 362,921 361,622 0.3 0.4 0.3 366,504 361,474 362,899 343,184 6.8

 Wood products........................................ 8,792 8,733 8,779 0.7 -0.5 -0.4 8,671 8,855 9,079 8,513 1.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,636 11,603 11,524 0.3 0.7 0.5 11,905 11,859 11,711 11,121 7.0

 Primary metals......................................... 34,632 35,060 35,511 -1.2 -1.3 0.9 35,194 34,763 35,049 34,102 3.2

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 20,604 20,987 21,425 -1.8 -2.0 0.9 21,023 20,690 20,967 20,180 4.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,920 11,985 12,020 -0.5 -0.3 1.2 12,023 11,954 11,961 11,965 0.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,108 2,088 2,066 1.0 1.1 -0.7 2,148 2,119 2,121 1,957 9.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 45,851 45,717 45,591 0.3 0.3 0.4 46,016 45,555 45,646 43,931 4.7

 Machinery.............................................. 65,211 64,156 63,958 1.6 0.3 0.9 65,848 64,337 65,022 57,728 14.1

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,711 3,611 3,649 2.8 -1.0 2.4 3,807 3,876 4,038 3,248 17.2

 Construction machinery........................ 5,735 5,743 5,512 -0.1 4.2 0.5 5,826 5,843 5,610 4,572 27.4

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,534 7,366 7,304 2.3 0.8 1.8 7,625 7,363 7,303 6,268 21.6

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,326 7,291 7,274 0.5 0.2 -2.0 7,318 7,272 7,285 6,797 7.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,419 1,409 1,396 0.7 0.9 -0.9 1,373 1,343 1,393 1,358 1.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,967 3,956 3,998 0.3 -1.1 1.2 4,177 4,007 4,018 4,459 -6.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,433 5,408 5,266 0.5 2.7 1.1 5,447 5,362 5,158 4,392 24.0

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 10,667 10,187 10,506 4.7 -3.0 2.7 10,799 9,942 10,759 9,182 17.6

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,169 4,076 4,014 2.3 1.5 1.4 4,152 4,028 4,010 3,514 18.2

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 46,389 46,119 45,385 0.6 1.6 -0.2 46,306 45,294 45,558 45,603 1.5

 Computers......................................... 1,273 1,304 1,251 -2.4 4.2 -3.5 1,195 1,260 1,246 1,195 0.0

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,081 1,097 1,077 -1.5 1.9 -1.0 1,086 1,034 1,068 1,065 2.0

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,788 1,741 1,691 2.7 3.0 -2.3 1,818 1,669 1,713 1,631 11.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,720 6,781 6,803 -0.9 -0.3 0.4 6,659 6,642 6,928 6,580 1.2

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,809 1,803 1,789 0.3 0.8 1.6 1,809 1,803 1,789 2,277 -20.6

 Audio and video equipment.................. 604 592 588 2.0 0.7 -2.6 557 511 543 557 0.0

 Electronic components.......................... 7,259 7,359 7,144 -1.4 3.0 0.8 7,342 7,227 7,183 7,170 2.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,421 3,376 3,384 1.3 -0.2 3.5 3,465 3,369 3,386 3,226 7.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,801 2,779 2,713 0.8 2.4 -1.8 2,874 2,803 2,738 2,951 -2.6

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 11,696 11,629 11,674 0.6 -0.4 0.6 11,746 11,418 11,766 11,723 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,437 15,365 15,409 0.5 -0.3 -0.5 15,615 15,335 15,555 15,130 3.2

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,714 1,702 1,701 0.7 0.1 -8.1 1,749 1,687 1,701 1,642 6.5

 Household appliances.......................... 1,720 1,725 1,716 -0.3 0.5 0.8 1,715 1,695 1,735 1,841 -6.8

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,727 4,680 4,628 1.0 1.1 -0.3 4,742 4,621 4,694 4,619 2.7

 Batteries............................................ 1,052 1,045 1,053 0.7 -0.8 0.3 1,073 1,054 1,054 1,065 0.8

 Transportation equipment......................... 106,577 106,658 106,258 -0.1 0.4 0.4 107,435 106,425 106,156 97,914 9.7

 Automobiles....................................... 2,589 2,796 2,619 -7.4 6.8 -0.9 2,623 2,679 2,663 2,368 10.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 2,534 2,422 2,500 4.6 -3.1 -7.9 2,574 2,398 2,474 2,269 13.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,873 1,962 1,991 -4.5 -1.5 0.6 1,811 1,921 1,961 2,106 -14.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 17,238 17,450 17,410 -1.2 0.2 -0.7 17,415 17,492 17,530 16,504 5.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 56,675 56,540 55,924 0.2 1.1 1.1 57,268 56,487 55,607 49,278 16.2

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 13,028 12,838 13,333 1.5 -3.7 1.6 12,994 12,745 13,282 12,860 1.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,900 2,798 2,799 3.6 0.0 -2.9 2,944 2,888 2,877 2,827 4.1

 Furniture and related products................. 6,019 5,949 5,950 1.2 0.0 -0.7 5,960 5,812 5,881 6,019 -1.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 23,614 23,561 23,257 0.2 1.3 -1.5 23,554 23,239 23,242 23,123 1.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 243,084 244,269 245,046 -0.5 -0.3 0.3 244,585 245,263 244,475 239,643 2.1

 Food products........................................ 45,297 45,252 45,100 0.1 0.3 0.4 44,132 44,197 44,981 42,710 3.3

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,269 5,262 5,183 0.1 1.5 1.7 5,148 5,249 5,386 5,292 -2.7

 Dairy products.................................... 5,922 5,967 5,995 -0.8 -0.5 0.2 6,072 5,924 5,908 5,733 5.9

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 7,563 7,629 7,651 -0.9 -0.3 0.6 7,490 7,546 7,611 7,444 0.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 18,251 18,167 17,925 0.5 1.4 -0.3 18,423 18,467 18,301 17,608 4.6

 Beverages......................................... 14,558 14,480 14,231 0.5 1.7 -0.2 14,726 14,680 14,417 13,848 6.3

 Tobacco............................................ 3,693 3,687 3,694 0.2 -0.2 -0.8 3,697 3,787 3,884 3,760 -1.7

 Textile mills............................................ 3,468 3,488 3,497 -0.6 -0.3 -0.1 3,474 3,458 3,487 3,412 1.8

 Textile products...................................... 3,213 3,225 3,222 -0.4 0.1 0.1 3,229 3,201 3,213 3,171 1.8

 Apparel................................................. 2,261 2,252 2,259 0.4 -0.3 0.2 2,163 2,155 2,219 1,887 14.6

 Leather and allied products...................... 804 802 803 0.2 -0.1 0.2 794 783 808 781 1.7

 Paper products....................................... 14,258 14,255 14,227 0.0 0.2 0.0 14,323 14,327 14,318 14,336 -0.1

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,272 6,264 6,283 0.1 -0.3 -0.3 6,309 6,320 6,369 6,317 -0.1

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,065 4,073 4,045 -0.2 0.7 0.9 4,096 4,110 4,094 4,049 1.2

 Printing.................................................. 5,343 5,343 5,383 0.0 -0.7 0.1 5,382 5,371 5,393 5,666 -5.0

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 55,036 55,925 57,163 -1.6 -2.2 1.7 56,886 57,293 55,638 55,473 2.5

 Petroleum refineries............................. 50,968 51,833 52,972 -1.7 -2.2 1.9 52,852 53,300 51,477 52,004 1.6

 Chemical products..................................... 73,378 73,806 73,946 -0.6 -0.2 -0.6 73,742 74,072 74,442 73,747 0.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,724 3,886 4,119 -4.2 -5.7 -2.1 3,815 4,374 4,819 4,180 -8.7

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 23,959 24,165 24,428 -0.9 -1.1 -0.6 24,014 24,037 24,426 25,333 -5.2

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,909 2,859 2,935 1.7 -2.6 -0.2 2,983 2,938 3,053 3,111 -4.1

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 21,775 21,754 21,521 0.1 1.1 0.6 22,037 21,939 21,675 20,852 5.7

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

1

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

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

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

2 Estimates of inventories for the semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and all other applicable agregates totals, but are not shown separately. 

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Apr. Mar. Feb. Mar. - Feb. - Jan. - Apr. Mar. Feb. Apr. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Apr. Mar. Feb. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 473,221 474,690 474,382 -0.3 0.1 0.4 475,626 503,185 455,298 455,439 1,870,390 1,750,151 6.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,234 41,323 40,741 -0.2 1.4 -1.1 41,311 41,492 36,863 38,443 155,221 143,650 8.1

 Information technology......................... 21,761 22,010 22,182 -1.1 -0.8 0.4 19,932 24,704 20,500 20,435 84,075 83,950 0.1

 Computers and related products .......... 2,851 2,877 3,071 -0.9 -6.3 0.0 2,209 3,490 2,361 2,442 10,387 10,378 0.1

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 44,023 41,622 40,842 5.8 1.9 -0.1 43,501 45,946 42,388 36,789 169,632 151,922 11.7

 Capital goods...................................... 77,217 78,410 76,855 -1.5 2.0 -0.5 74,264 87,536 73,429 70,488 301,872 280,785 7.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 69,475 69,901 69,034 -0.6 1.3 0.3 66,857 77,978 65,457 61,580 269,966 243,647 10.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,303 64,293 63,132 -1.5 1.8 1.4 61,367 71,110 60,008 57,713 247,924 228,099 8.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,742 8,509 7,821 -9.0 8.8 -7.6 7,407 9,558 7,972 8,908 31,906 37,138 -14.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 203,853 203,690 205,057 0.1 -0.7 1.3 204,889 212,864 196,911 198,600 805,022 757,913 6.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,191 33,740 33,163 7.3 1.7 1.5 35,409 37,589 33,977 29,732 136,502 123,149 10.8

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 167,662 169,950 171,894 -1.3 -1.1 1.3 169,480 175,275 162,934 168,868 668,520 634,764 5.3

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 465,975 468,921 478,879 -0.6 -2.1 1.5 463,137 502,316 466,795 448,748 1,874,929 1,758,648 6.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,018 41,280 41,187 -0.6 0.2 0.1 41,767 42,494 38,005 39,497 158,170 148,695 6.4

 Information technology......................... 22,928 23,149 23,322 -1.0 -0.7 3.9 20,542 26,388 23,091 18,938 90,241 85,038 6.1

 Computers and related products .......... 2,847 2,921 3,041 -2.5 -3.9 0.4 2,205 3,534 2,331 2,409 10,356 10,292 0.6

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 44,040 41,677 40,946 5.7 1.8 0.4 43,404 45,739 42,631 36,683 169,556 151,980 11.6

 Capital goods...................................... 76,378 78,481 87,903 -2.7 -10.7 3.1 70,018 90,089 88,309 71,879 327,723 307,306 6.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 69,746 70,030 79,777 -0.4 -12.2 1.9 64,735 78,093 79,521 62,856 294,296 261,802 12.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,580 64,967 66,512 -2.1 -2.3 2.9 62,146 72,129 66,331 60,787 261,747 243,108 7.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 6,632 8,451 8,126 -21.5 4.0 16.2 5,283 11,996 8,788 9,023 33,427 45,504 -26.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 203,905 203,613 205,040 0.1 -0.7 1.4 204,903 212,840 197,216 198,600 805,448 758,468 6.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,243 33,663 33,146 7.7 1.6 1.7 35,423 37,565 34,282 29,732 136,928 123,704 10.7

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 167,662 169,950 171,894 -1.3 -1.1 1.3 169,480 175,275 162,934 168,868 668,520 634,764 5.3

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 985,393 986,186 985,934 -0.1 0.0 1.1 996,680 1,000,818 997,401 911,611 (X) (X) 9.3

 Construction materials and supplies...... 55,431 55,647 55,690 -0.4 -0.1 0.8 56,746 56,290 55,288 55,888 (X) (X) 1.5

 Information technology......................... 133,502 132,335 131,196 0.9 0.9 0.9 135,210 134,600 132,916 129,044 (X) (X) 4.8

 Computers and related products .......... 1,125 1,129 1,085 -0.4 4.1 -2.7 1,125 1,129 1,085 1,178 (X) (X) -4.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 16,771 16,754 16,699 0.1 0.3 0.6 17,042 17,139 17,346 16,601 (X) (X) 2.7

 Capital goods...................................... 748,361 749,200 749,129 -0.1 0.0 1.5 755,297 759,543 756,990 680,736 (X) (X) 11.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................584,356 584,085 583,956 0.0 0.0 1.9 588,445 590,567 590,452 510,840 (X) (X) 15.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 243,479 243,202 242,528 0.1 0.3 1.4 247,230 246,451 245,432 216,119 (X) (X) 14.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 164,005 165,115 165,173 -0.7 0.0 0.2 166,852 168,976 166,538 169,896 (X) (X) -1.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 3,882 3,830 3,907 1.4 -2.0 -0.4 4,173 4,159 4,183 4,192 (X) (X) -0.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 3,882 3,830 3,907 1.4 -2.0 -0.4 4,173 4,159 4,183 4,192 (X) (X) -0.5

 All manufacturing industries .................. 607,242 607,190 606,668 0.0 0.1 0.3 611,089 606,737 607,374 582,827 (X) (X) 4.8

 Construction materials and supplies...... 58,651 58,510 58,555 0.2 -0.1 0.0 59,147 58,737 59,078 57,604 (X) (X) 2.7

 Information technology......................... 39,178 39,052 39,005 0.3 0.1 0.3 39,259 38,441 39,260 38,902 (X) (X) 0.9

 Computers and related products .......... 4,142 4,142 4,019 0.0 3.1 -2.3 4,099 3,963 4,027 3,891 (X) (X) 5.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 24,234 24,630 24,520 -1.6 0.4 -1.4 24,423 24,490 24,628 23,247 (X) (X) 5.1

 Capital goods...................................... 186,907 185,340 184,581 0.8 0.4 0.5 188,205 184,773 185,363 171,981 (X) (X) 9.4

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................166,222 164,971 163,862 0.8 0.7 0.6 167,358 164,194 164,504 150,730 (X) (X) 11.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 118,828 117,774 117,231 0.9 0.5 0.3 119,380 116,947 118,269 109,674 (X) (X) 8.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 20,685 20,369 20,719 1.6 -1.7 0.2 20,847 20,579 20,859 21,251 (X) (X) -1.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 181,837 182,763 183,588 -0.5 -0.4 0.4 182,483 182,719 182,673 179,208 (X) (X) 1.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,942 24,910 24,664 0.1 1.0 -1.1 24,761 24,448 24,989 23,811 (X) (X) 4.0

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 156,895 157,853 158,924 -0.6 -0.7 0.6 157,722 158,271 157,684 155,397 (X) (X) 1.5

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

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

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

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

3

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

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

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

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

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

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 
 7

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Apr. Mar. Feb. Mar. - Feb. - Jan. - Apr. Mar. Feb. Apr. Apr.

2012p 2012r 2012 Apr. Mar. Feb. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 202,593 201,435 200,171 0.6 0.6 -0.1 203,489 201,520 200,384 191,722 6.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 119,486 119,313 118,546 0.1 0.6 0.2 119,485 118,468 118,555 111,444 7.2

 Wood products................................... 3,481 3,436 3,481 1.3 -1.3 -0.7 3,267 3,383 3,624 3,136 4.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,798 4,806 4,747 -0.2 1.2 0.8 4,819 4,833 4,761 4,393 9.7

 Primary metals.................................... 13,077 13,455 13,715 -2.8 -1.9 1.6 13,028 13,229 13,439 12,861 1.3

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,930 16,829 16,667 0.6 1.0 0.4 16,829 16,661 16,601 15,890 5.9

 Machinery.......................................... 25,080 24,896 24,822 0.7 0.3 1.3 25,182 24,771 24,841 22,011 14.4

 Computers and electronic products...... 17,477 17,356 16,888 0.7 2.8 0.0 17,518 17,129 16,810 16,571 5.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 6,792 6,759 6,802 0.5 -0.6 0.1 6,879 6,807 6,855 6,467 6.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 21,041 21,018 20,694 0.1 1.6 -1.9 21,162 20,965 20,872 19,804 6.9

 Furniture and related products............ 2,893 2,852 2,849 1.4 0.1 -2.5 2,883 2,826 2,842 2,870 0.5

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,917 7,906 7,881 0.1 0.3 0.4 7,918 7,864 7,910 7,441 6.4

 Nondurable goods industries................. 83,107 82,122 81,625 1.2 0.6 -0.4 84,004 83,052 81,829 80,278 4.6

 Food products................................... 14,559 14,622 14,606 -0.4 0.1 0.7 14,434 14,554 14,797 14,413 0.1

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,823 4,808 4,703 0.3 2.2 0.3 4,885 4,946 4,881 4,591 6.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,223 1,235 1,255 -1.0 -1.6 0.2 1,232 1,223 1,244 1,235 -0.2

 Textile products.................................. 1,537 1,526 1,515 0.7 0.7 0.6 1,540 1,501 1,497 1,402 9.8

 Apparel............................................. 710 705 699 0.7 0.9 1.2 705 697 699 569 23.9

 Leather and allied products................ 262 261 264 0.4 -1.1 3.1 261 252 260 263 -0.8

 Paper products................................... 7,064 7,049 7,038 0.2 0.2 0.0 7,067 7,115 7,108 6,947 1.7

 Printing ............................................ 2,539 2,574 2,606 -1.4 -1.2 0.6 2,521 2,594 2,592 2,694 -6.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 18,225 17,523 17,481 4.0 0.2 -1.8 19,000 18,227 17,078 16,761 13.4

 Chemical products............................. 23,286 23,176 22,880 0.5 1.3 -0.5 23,363 23,271 23,019 22,722 2.8

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,879 8,643 8,578 2.7 0.8 -1.1 8,996 8,672 8,654 8,681 3.6

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 186,032 187,449 188,049 -0.8 -0.3 0.7 187,507 187,407 188,213 179,266 4.6

 Durable goods industries........................ 140,838 140,301 140,128 0.4 0.1 0.7 141,915 139,470 140,120 132,109 7.4

 Wood products................................... 1,485 1,468 1,481 1.2 -0.9 0.9 1,504 1,491 1,494 1,452 3.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,338 1,310 1,305 2.1 0.4 0.5 1,394 1,355 1,336 1,296 7.6

 Primary metals.................................... 11,307 11,348 11,485 -0.4 -1.2 1.3 11,606 11,180 11,344 11,192 3.7

 Fabricated metal products.................. 13,438 13,372 13,354 0.5 0.1 0.5 13,417 13,188 13,360 12,052 11.3

 Machinery.......................................... 16,842 16,455 16,440 2.4 0.1 -1.2 16,935 16,308 16,677 15,508 9.2

 Computers and electronic products...... 16,688 16,716 16,524 -0.2 1.2 -0.9 16,653 16,455 16,537 17,502 -4.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,558 3,555 3,571 0.1 -0.4 -1.5 3,627 3,527 3,597 3,507 3.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 71,864 71,792 71,767 0.1 0.0 1.6 72,451 71,727 71,571 65,503 10.6

 Furniture and related products............ 1,033 1,022 1,002 1.1 2.0 1.7 1,030 1,012 1,000 980 5.1

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,285 3,263 3,199 0.7 2.0 -1.2 3,298 3,227 3,204 3,117 5.8

 Nondurable goods industries................. 45,194 47,148 47,921 -4.1 -1.6 0.8 45,592 47,937 48,093 47,157 -3.3

 Food products................................... 3,999 3,922 3,831 2.0 2.4 -1.7 3,621 3,742 3,904 3,428 5.6

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,916 5,887 5,848 0.5 0.7 -0.3 5,884 5,995 6,091 5,751 2.3

 Textiles.............................................. 782 785 786 -0.4 -0.1 -0.3 780 773 773 778 0.3

 Textile products.................................. 419 430 434 -2.6 -0.9 -1.4 425 435 438 466 -8.8

 Apparel............................................. 368 374 363 -1.6 3.0 0.0 368 359 352 340 8.2

 Leather and allied products................ 122 120 120 1.7 0.0 -2.4 120 120 123 109 10.1

 Paper products................................... 1,296 1,311 1,329 -1.1 -1.4 -0.2 1,293 1,301 1,334 1,338 -3.4

 Printing ............................................ 1,188 1,198 1,218 -0.8 -1.6 -0.7 1,194 1,210 1,261 1,353 -11.8

 Petroleum and coal products............... 13,580 15,213 15,939 -10.7 -4.6 4.3 14,379 16,112 15,735 15,993 -10.1

 Chemical products............................. 15,290 15,686 15,857 -2.5 -1.1 -1.0 15,260 15,625 15,834 15,522 -1.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,234 2,222 2,196 0.5 1.2 0.0 2,268 2,265 2,248 2,079 9.1

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 218,617 218,306 218,448 0.1 -0.1 0.3 220,093 217,810 218,777 211,839 3.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 103,834 103,307 102,948 0.5 0.3 -0.2 105,104 103,536 104,224 99,631 5.5

 Wood products................................... 3,826 3,829 3,817 -0.1 0.3 -0.7 3,900 3,981 3,961 3,925 -0.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,500 5,487 5,472 0.2 0.3 0.1 5,692 5,671 5,614 5,432 4.8

 Primary metals.................................... 10,248 10,257 10,311 -0.1 -0.5 -0.3 10,560 10,354 10,266 10,049 5.1

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,483 15,516 15,570 -0.2 -0.3 0.4 15,770 15,706 15,685 15,989 -1.4

 Machinery.......................................... 23,289 22,805 22,696 2.1 0.5 2.1 23,731 23,258 23,504 20,209 17.4

 Computers and electronic products...... 12,224 12,047 11,973 1.5 0.6 0.4 12,135 11,710 12,211 11,530 5.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,087 5,051 5,036 0.7 0.3 -0.5 5,109 5,001 5,103 5,156 -0.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 13,672 13,848 13,797 -1.3 0.4 -2.3 13,822 13,733 13,713 12,607 9.6

 Furniture and related products............ 2,093 2,075 2,099 0.9 -1.1 0.7 2,047 1,974 2,039 2,169 -5.6

 Miscellaneous products........................ 12,412 12,392 12,177 0.2 1.8 -2.8 12,338 12,148 12,128 12,565 -1.8

 Nondurable goods industries................. 114,783 114,999 115,500 -0.2 -0.4 0.6 114,989 114,274 114,553 112,208 2.5

 Food products................................... 26,739 26,708 26,663 0.1 0.2 0.5 26,077 25,901 26,280 24,869 4.9

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 7,512 7,472 7,374 0.5 1.3 -0.8 7,654 7,526 7,329 7,266 5.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,463 1,468 1,456 -0.3 0.8 -0.3 1,462 1,462 1,470 1,399 4.5

 Textile products.................................. 1,257 1,269 1,273 -0.9 -0.3 -0.1 1,264 1,265 1,278 1,303 -3.0

 Apparel............................................. 1,183 1,173 1,197 0.9 -2.0 -0.3 1,090 1,099 1,168 978 11.5

 Leather and allied products................ 420 421 419 -0.2 0.5 -0.7 413 411 425 409 1.0

 Paper products................................... 5,898 5,895 5,860 0.1 0.6 0.2 5,963 5,911 5,876 6,051 -1.5

 Printing ............................................ 1,616 1,571 1,559 2.9 0.8 0.1 1,667 1,567 1,540 1,619 3.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... 23,231 23,189 23,743 0.2 -2.3 2.7 23,507 22,954 22,825 22,719 3.5

 Chemical products............................. 34,802 34,944 35,209 -0.4 -0.8 -0.5 35,119 35,176 35,589 35,503 -1.1

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,662 10,889 10,747 -2.1 1.3 2.2 10,773 11,002 10,773 10,092 6.7

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 revisions.
 8

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Apr Mar Feb Jan Apr Mar Feb Jan

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

All manufacturing industries2

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

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.64 1.64 1.65 1.64 6.33 6.29 6.36 6.23

 Wood products.............................................. 1.45 1.45 1.49 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.44 1.45 1.44 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.22 1.24 1.23 1.22 1.25 1.25 1.22 1.26

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.66 1.66 1.65 1.63 3.06 3.05 3.01 2.95

 Machinery..................................................... 2.05 1.97 2.06 2.10 4.86 4.78 5.03 5.10

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.67 1.68 1.61 1.62 7.09 6.97 6.86 6.83

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.55 1.53 1.56 1.55 2.40 2.37 2.40 2.39

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.67 1.72 1.76 1.70 14.85 14.69 15.13 14.10

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.13 1.11 1.14 1.13 1.36 1.38 1.41 1.36

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.73 1.71 1.69 1.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.97 0.96 0.96 0.97 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.75 0.76 0.76 0.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.47 1.50 1.48 1.55 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.40 1.40 1.42 1.42 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.65 1.65 1.68 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.80 1.81 1.80 1.75 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.73 1.74 1.83 1.77 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.80 0.80 0.82 0.81 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.79 0.77 0.76 0.78 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.23 1.23 1.21 1.21 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Apr2 Apr2 Apr2 Apr2

Industry 2011- 2011- 2011- 2011-

Apr1 Mar Apr1 Mar Apr1 Mar Apr1 Mar

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

 

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

Durable goods industries....................... -0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

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

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.9 -0.8 1.7 -0.1 0.8 0.0 0.6

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.7 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.8 -0.1 1.9 -0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.1

 Computers and electronic products..... -0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.8 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.1 0.5 -0.4 1.0 -0.1 0.4 0.1 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.2 (X) 0.4

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

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

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

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

3

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

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

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

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

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
9 

Survey Description 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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