Manufacturers' Shipments,

 Inventories, and Orders: October 2004 Issued December 2004

 M3-1(04)-10

 For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. E.S.T., December 2, 2004 Current 

 Industrial

 Reports

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Chris Savage or Patrick Kent, Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders Branch, Manufacturing and 

Construction Divison (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900 or call 301-763-4832.

The advance report on durable goods for November is scheduled for December 23, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on January 4, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 20402 

Our Internet address is : http://www.census.gov/m3

Total Manufacturing Shipments

and Three Month Moving Average

300

320

340

360

380

Oct-02

Dec-02

Feb-03Apr-03

Jun-03

Aug-03

Oct-03

Dec-03

Feb-04Apr-04

Jun-04

Aug-04

Oct-04

300

320

340

360

380

 Shipments Average

Billions Of Dollars

Total Manufacturing Inventories

and Three Month Moving Average

420

440

460

480

500

Oct-02

Dec-02

Feb-03Apr-03

Jun-03

Aug-03

Oct-03

Dec-03

Feb-04Apr-04

Jun-04

Aug-04

Oct-04

420

440

460

480

500

 Inventories Average

Billions Of Dollars
 2

Figures in text, other than year-to-date, are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data

for semiconductor manufacturing.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in October

increased $1.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $371.5 billion, the

Department of Commerce, Census Bureau reported today. 

This followed a slight increase in September.

Shipments, up five of the last six months, increased

$4.5 billion or 1.2 percent to $375.9 billion. This was at

the highest level since the series was first stated on a

NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.1 percent

September decrease.

Unfilled orders, up fourteen of the last fifteen months,

increased $2.7 billion or 0.5 percent to $543.0 billion. 

This followed a 0.9 percent September increase. The

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 3.97, up from 3.96

in September.

Inventories, up eleven consecutive months, increased

$2.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $464.6 billion. This

followed a 0.1 percent September increase. The

inventories-to-shipments ratio was unchanged at 1.24.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in October

decreased $2.3 billion or 1.1 percent to $195.2 billion,

revised from the previously published $0.9 billion

decrease.

Computers and electronic products, down following

two consecutive increases, had the largest decrease, $2.4

billion or 6.5 percent to $34.5 billion. 

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods

increased $4.2 billion or 2.4 percent to $176.3 billion. 

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October,

up four of the last five months, increased $0.3 billion or

0.1 percent to $199.6 billion, revised from the previously

published $1.3 billion increase.

 Computers and electronic products, up four of the last

five months, increased $1.1 billion or 2.8 percent to $40.0

billion. Machinery increased $0.4 billion or 1.8 percent

to $25.8 billion. This was also at the highest level since

the series began in 1992.

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up six

of the last eight months, increased $4.2 billion or 2.4

percent to $176.3 billion. This was also at the highest

level since the series began in 1992. Petroleum and

coal products had the largest increase, $2.3 billion or

8.0 percent to $31.4 billion. This was also at the highest

level since the series began in 1992. 

Unfilled Orders

 Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods in

October, up fourteen of the last fifteen months,

increased $2.7 billion or 0.5 percent to $543.0 billion,

revised from the previously published $3.0 billion

increase. This followed a 0.9 percent September

increase.

 Computers and electronic products, up eight of the

last nine months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or

1.2 percent to $141.5 billion. This was also at the

highest level since the series began in 1992 and

followed a 3.6 percent September increase.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in

October, up eleven consecutive months, increased $1.7

billion or 0.6 percent to $279.7 billion, revised from the

previously published $1.5 billion increase.

Primary metals, up twelve consecutive months, had

the largest increase, $0.7 billion or 3.5 percent to $20.9

billion. Computers and electronic products, up eight

consecutive months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.9

percent to $49.5 billion.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up

nine of the last ten months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.3

percent to $184.9 billion. Petroleum and coal products

had the largest increase, $0.9 billion or 4.9 percent to

$18.2 billion. This was also at the highest level since

the series began in 1992. 

By stage of fabrication, October materials and

supplies increased 1.2 percent in durable goods and 0.4

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process

increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and decreased

1.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods

decreased slightly in durable goods and increased 0.6

percent in nondurable goods.

SEE BACK PAGE FOR SURVEY DESCRIPTION

Our internet address is: http://www.census.gov/m3

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Chris Savage or Patrick Kent, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch,

Manufacturing and Construction Division (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900, or call 301-763-4832.

The advance report on durable goods for November is scheduled for December 23, 2004 at 8:30 A.M. EST and the full report on January 4,

2005 at 10:00 A.M. EST. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
 3 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

 All manufacturing industries .................. 375,932 371,479 375,537 1.2 -1.1 0.9 385,760 393,323 382,018 356,009 3,674,856 3,319,734 10.7

 Excluding transportation ................... 322,779 317,697 320,865 1.6 -1.0 0.3 330,025 335,069 326,581 298,468 3,131,690 2,803,878 11.7

 Excluding defense .............................. 366,186 362,067 365,658 1.1 -1.0 0.9 376,279 382,913 372,561 347,039 3,578,517 3,231,644 10.7

 With unfilled orders ........................... 136,908 136,310 137,288 0.4 -0.7 0.7 138,625 146,766 136,958 127,694 1,336,887 1,205,511 10.9

 Durable goods industries ........................ 199,604 199,341 201,398 0.1 -1.0 1.9 203,835 215,833 202,400 192,632 1,967,589 1,782,306 10.4

 Wood products................................. ...... 9,016 9,430 9,749 -4.4 -3.3 6.7 9,409 10,095 10,610 9,060 93,270 77,545 20.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 7,564 7,470 7,559 1.3 -1.2 0.2 8,186 8,064 8,397 8,475 76,350 74,542 2.4

 Primary metals............................ .......... 14,484 14,585 14,511 -0.7 0.5 2.1 14,865 14,955 14,908 11,636 138,051 110,659 24.8

 Iron and steel mills............................ 7,024 7,027 7,038 0.0 -0.2 1.6 7,113 7,244 7,257 5,084 64,585 50,206 28.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,844 5,968 5,881 -2.1 1.5 3.3 6,059 6,064 6,007 5,146 57,873 47,434 22.0

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,616 1,590 1,592 1.6 -0.1 -0.3 1,693 1,647 1,644 1,406 15,593 13,019 19.8

 Fabricated metal products...................... 22,957 23,195 23,162 -1.0 0.1 0.0 24,063 24,427 24,256 22,013 227,647 206,156 10.4

 Machinery............................................. 25,817 25,369 24,885 1.8 1.9 -0.9 25,400 26,427 24,026 21,515 244,580 211,181 15.8

 Farm machinery................................. 2,008 1,837 1,899 9.3 -3.3 1.0 1,829 1,834 1,807 1,268 18,228 14,388 26.7

 Construction machinery..................... 2,639 2,650 2,514 -0.4 5.4 6.3 2,608 2,507 2,351 1,926 23,971 17,664 35.7

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 954 963 918 -0.9 4.9 1.8 875 1,043 893 648 8,628 7,014 23.0

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,714 3,315 3,193 12.0 3.8 -11.2 3,678 3,567 2,813 2,953 33,021 29,043 13.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 854 839 862 1.8 -2.7 -7.4 915 922 827 1,009 8,796 8,120 8.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,866 2,937 2,735 -2.4 7.4 -2.6 2,695 3,168 2,862 2,435 28,122 25,353 10.9

 Metalworking machinery..................... 1,968 2,120 2,100 -7.2 1.0 -1.4 2,165 2,537 2,141 1,678 20,236 16,782 20.6

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,365 3,301 3,304 1.9 -0.1 1.2 3,268 3,470 3,246 2,655 31,415 26,474 18.7

 Material handling equipment............... 1,486 1,530 1,558 -2.9 -1.8 3.7 1,496 1,573 1,505 1,490 14,946 13,458 11.1

 Computers and electronic products ......... 39,975 38,889 39,986 2.8 -2.7 1.6 39,208 45,072 37,728 35,956 380,840 337,422 12.9

 Computers........................................ 6,424 5,794 5,339 10.9 8.5 -2.5 7,534 6,550 5,107 6,443 55,666 48,030 15.9

 Computer storage devices................... 1,514 1,546 1,519 -2.1 1.8 -0.2 980 2,516 1,138 864 14,037 12,594 11.5

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,618 1,474 1,716 9.8 -14.1 4.2 1,390 1,897 1,539 1,305 15,098 14,254 5.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 6,343 6,390 6,978 -0.7 -8.4 7.1 5,815 7,244 6,412 5,663 62,285 56,746 9.8

 Defense communications equipment... 734 502 511 46.2 -1.8 1.6 693 551 515 455 5,291 4,272 23.9

 Audio and video equipment.................. 761 703 762 8.3 -7.7 9.0 946 782 745 885 6,661 6,580 1.2

 Semiconductors ................................. 7,162 6,835 7,481 4.8 -8.6 -0.5 7,351 7,703 7,270 6,405 70,103 57,894 21.1

 Electronic components........................ 4,447 4,567 4,579 -2.6 -0.3 -0.4 4,476 4,974 4,554 4,376 44,278 40,660 8.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 940 939 881 0.1 6.6 7.4 889 1,087 879 804 9,008 8,371 7.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,718 2,764 2,731 -1.7 1.2 0.0 2,634 2,955 2,582 2,474 26,056 23,848 9.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,771 6,864 6,954 -1.4 -1.3 2.4 5,869 8,255 6,461 5,658 67,041 59,209 13.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,956 8,920 9,197 0.4 -3.0 1.6 8,890 9,966 9,139 8,583 88,000 83,813 5.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,079 1,102 1,095 -2.1 0.6 0.1 1,047 1,233 1,056 1,030 10,572 10,238 3.3

 Household appliances........................ 2,050 2,116 2,097 -3.1 0.9 1.4 1,978 2,302 2,153 2,016 20,113 19,527 3.0

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,685 2,611 2,711 2.8 -3.7 0.7 2,608 2,993 2,717 2,461 26,332 24,740 6.4

 Batteries........................................... 514 520 520 -1.2 0.0 4.6 587 632 507 545 4,895 4,546 7.7

 Transportation equipment...................... 53,153 53,782 54,672 -1.2 -1.6 4.7 55,735 58,254 55,437 57,541 543,166 515,856 5.3

 Automobiles..................................... 7,095 7,515 7,682 -5.6 -2.2 6.8 7,776 8,210 8,036 8,631 76,007 72,913 4.2

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 11,123 11,212 11,054 -0.8 1.4 16.1 12,324 12,312 11,447 13,180 114,035 107,836 5.7

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,283 1,339 1,277 -4.2 4.9 -1.8 1,438 1,380 1,302 1,278 12,544 10,951 14.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 17,946 18,216 18,604 -1.5 -2.1 -0.3 19,215 19,054 19,189 20,461 186,285 181,602 2.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 6,306 6,306 6,313 0.0 -0.1 6.9 5,763 6,994 5,906 4,904 58,454 54,441 7.4

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,496 3,427 3,724 2.0 -8.0 5.1 3,392 3,924 3,516 3,375 36,453 32,446 12.3

 Ships and boats................................. 2,355 2,319 2,352 1.6 -1.4 -4.0 2,477 2,357 2,486 2,291 23,737 21,346 11.2

 Furniture and related products................. 6,240 6,169 6,322 1.2 -2.4 -2.3 6,476 6,458 6,764 6,255 62,446 58,220 7.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 11,442 11,532 11,355 -0.8 1.6 -0.2 11,603 12,115 11,135 11,598 113,239 106,912 5.9

 Nondurable goods industries................... 176,328 172,138 174,139 2.4 -1.1 -0.2 181,925 177,490 179,618 163,377 1,707,267 1,537,428 11.0

 Food products....................................... 41,198 40,538 41,096 1.6 -1.4 -2.0 43,225 42,046 42,042 41,352 403,127 381,634 5.6

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,276 3,228 3,102 1.5 4.1 -10.3 3,358 3,214 3,163 4,550 33,502 41,032 -18.4

 Dairy products.................................. 6,265 6,144 6,329 2.0 -2.9 -4.6 6,255 6,322 6,445 5,895 63,478 54,203 17.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 13,040 12,967 12,946 0.6 0.2 2.6 13,574 13,085 13,531 11,672 121,774 111,695 9.0

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 9,163 9,238 9,308 -0.8 -0.8 3.2 9,112 9,409 9,698 8,840 91,166 88,513 3.0

 Beverages......................................... 6,069 6,128 6,110 -1.0 0.3 3.1 6,018 6,299 6,500 5,778 60,311 57,522 4.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,094 3,110 3,198 -0.5 -2.8 3.5 3,094 3,110 3,198 3,062 30,855 30,991 -0.4

 Textile mills........................................... 3,446 3,485 3,487 -1.1 -0.1 -0.5 3,642 3,766 3,613 3,562 34,985 33,512 4.4

 Textile products................................... 3,167 3,130 3,157 1.2 -0.9 0.3 3,331 3,203 3,414 3,113 32,033 29,274 9.4

 Apparel................................................ 4,730 4,727 4,657 0.1 1.5 -2.3 5,397 5,065 5,046 5,176 47,634 44,338 7.4

 Leather and allied products..................... 829 872 906 -4.9 -3.8 1.1 851 907 988 925 8,731 9,008 -3.1

 Paper products...................................... 14,450 14,409 14,703 0.3 -2.0 0.7 14,720 14,784 15,137 13,861 143,600 133,258 7.8

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,163 6,055 6,037 1.8 0.3 -0.9 6,287 6,136 6,309 5,824 60,034 57,693 4.1

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,910 3,930 4,058 -0.5 -3.2 1.9 4,080 4,020 4,263 3,819 38,652 36,823 5.0

 Printing................................................. 7,874 7,926 7,785 -0.7 1.8 -2.8 8,493 8,399 8,014 8,340 78,595 78,687 -0.1

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 31,401 29,082 29,024 8.0 0.2 1.2 31,955 29,666 30,877 20,941 277,185 200,442 38.3

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 29,038 26,808 26,739 8.3 0.3 1.1 29,290 26,988 28,156 18,897 254,642 182,979 39.2

 Basic chemicals...................................... 43,113 41,628 42,788 3.6 -2.7 -0.2 43,757 42,802 43,073 40,554 420,169 382,713 9.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,841 1,822 1,807 1.0 0.8 0.2 1,343 1,326 1,407 1,278 17,681 15,908 11.1

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,521 8,766 9,983 8.6 -12.2 -2.8 10,447 9,628 10,115 10,639 97,004 98,436 -1.5

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,461 2,513 2,556 -2.1 -1.7 3.7 2,437 2,594 2,743 2,485 25,848 24,285 6.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 16,957 17,103 17,228 -0.9 -0.7 1.4 17,442 17,443 17,716 16,713 170,042 156,049 9.0

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
 4

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

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

All manufacturing industries 2................... 371,507 369,578 369,574 0.5 0.0 -0.3 379,469 386,534 371,988 356,785 3,635,549 3,272,838 11.1

 Excluding transportation 2................... 319,040 316,980 315,056 0.6 0.6 1.2 325,784 330,956 317,996 298,300 3,091,150 2,757,618 12.1

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 357,837 357,888 360,064 0.0 -0.6 -0.4 367,114 375,506 364,939 346,566 3,536,190 3,178,442 11.3

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 139,645 141,244 138,806 -1.1 1.8 -2.7 139,685 147,680 134,198 134,875 1,367,683 1,216,509 12.4

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 195,179 197,440 195,435 -1.1 1.0 -0.5 197,544 209,044 192,370 193,408 1,928,282 1,735,410 11.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 14,019 14,449 14,928 -3.0 -3.2 -0.6 13,656 14,439 15,385 12,200 140,671 111,095 26.6

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 6,459 6,816 7,351 -5.2 -7.3 -2.1 5,932 6,876 7,783 5,619 65,666 50,784 29.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,944 6,013 5,969 -1.1 0.7 2.1 6,002 5,921 5,950 5,083 59,074 47,170 25.2

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,616 1,620 1,608 -0.2 0.7 -3.4 1,722 1,642 1,652 1,498 15,931 13,141 21.2

 Fabricated metal products...................... 23,914 23,228 23,556 3.0 -1.4 2.2 24,733 23,431 24,575 22,338 234,528 206,426 13.6

 Machinery............................................. 26,631 26,196 25,345 1.7 3.4 2.3 26,270 26,882 23,899 21,779 250,930 209,943 19.5

 Construction machinery....................... 2,719 2,810 2,714 -3.2 3.5 15.3 2,735 2,505 2,474 1,964 25,442 17,766 43.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 946 945 886 0.1 6.7 3.0 867 1,025 861 690 8,913 7,120 25.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,914 3,913 3,391 0.0 15.4 -6.7 4,125 3,920 2,777 3,139 35,096 29,117 20.5

 Photographic equipment...................... 889 850 850 4.6 0.0 -6.4 957 914 809 1,016 8,885 8,355 6.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,914 2,940 2,702 -0.9 8.8 -0.9 2,673 3,019 2,766 2,423 28,407 25,790 10.1

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,984 2,131 2,085 -6.9 2.2 -2.3 2,269 2,489 2,027 1,836 20,799 16,960 22.6

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,329 3,256 3,575 2.2 -8.9 18.3 3,113 3,404 3,468 2,552 31,844 23,794 33.8

 Material handling equipment............... 1,532 1,618 1,549 -5.3 4.5 6.8 1,482 1,920 1,349 1,416 15,054 13,235 13.7

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 34,483 36,878 32,584 -6.5 13.2 6.0 34,006 41,752 28,429 33,673 321,047 289,866 10.8

 Computers........................................ 5,671 6,758 5,096 -16.1 32.6 0.1 6,779 7,355 4,980 6,171 55,109 48,470 13.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,363 6,140 6,690 3.6 -8.2 10.5 6,396 7,111 4,842 8,961 61,246 65,092 -5.9

 Defense communications equipment... 4,013 3,430 372 17.0 822.0 -31.6 3,972 3,479 376 658 11,379 4,532 151.1

 Semiconductors 2

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

 Electronic components........................ 3,987 4,351 5,010 -8.4 -13.2 16.2 3,861 4,764 5,119 4,628 45,445 38,701 17.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 696 1,140 1,066 -38.9 6.9 18.1 688 1,260 963 856 9,332 8,567 8.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,794 3,084 2,745 -9.4 12.3 -1.4 2,392 3,307 1,949 2,611 27,392 24,659 11.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 6,523 7,741 7,073 -15.7 9.4 6.7 5,971 8,723 6,252 6,110 70,032 61,453 14.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,840 9,176 9,436 -3.7 -2.8 4.4 8,944 9,958 9,333 8,877 89,791 84,115 6.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,141 1,196 1,310 -4.6 -8.7 36.0 1,124 1,270 1,278 918 11,082 10,230 8.3

 Household appliances.......................... 1,932 2,082 2,290 -7.2 -9.1 7.4 1,855 2,224 2,400 2,074 20,168 19,510 3.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,735 2,734 2,663 0.0 2.7 0.6 2,789 3,023 2,602 2,696 27,083 25,342 6.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 52,467 52,598 54,518 -0.2 -3.5 -8.3 53,685 55,578 53,992 58,485 544,399 515,220 5.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 17,518 18,346 18,865 -4.5 -2.8 0.9 18,572 19,007 19,200 20,823 186,996 181,876 2.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 5,572 5,557 6,706 0.3 -17.1 -46.2 4,589 6,634 6,614 4,635 62,752 47,169 33.0

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 3,256 2,407 2,779 35.3 -13.4 -7.6 2,592 2,141 1,600 3,131 28,927 35,698 -19.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,457 1,833 2,172 34.0 -15.6 -6.5 2,830 1,534 2,175 1,729 21,780 19,425 12.1

 Furniture and related products................. 6,246 6,220 6,309 0.4 -1.4 -0.6 6,495 6,467 6,519 6,289 63,270 58,512 8.1

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 176,328 172,138 174,139 2.4 -1.1 -0.2 181,925 177,490 179,618 163,377 1,707,267 1,537,428 11.0

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: M3-1(02), "Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 1992-2002."

Year to date
 5 

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

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. Oct.

2004p 2004r 2004 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

All manufacturing industries 1................... 542,981 540,244 535,310 0.5 0.9 0.3 533,212 532,152 531,238 491,677 8.4

 Excluding transportation 1

................... 285,319 281,896 275,778 1.2 2.2 0.6 280,698 277,588 273,998 247,897 13.2

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 376,891 378,078 375,422 -0.3 0.7 0.5 372,235 374,049 373,753 340,826 9.2

 Durable goods industries 1

........................ 542,981 540,244 535,310 0.5 0.9 0.3 533,212 532,152 531,238 491,677 8.4

 Primary metals........................................ 19,542 20,007 20,143 -2.3 -0.7 2.1 18,622 19,831 20,347 14,895 25.0

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,884 11,449 11,660 -4.9 -1.8 2.8 10,348 11,529 11,897 8,378 23.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,952 5,852 5,807 1.7 0.8 1.5 5,619 5,676 5,819 4,217 33.2

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,706 2,706 2,676 0.0 1.1 0.6 2,655 2,626 2,631 2,300 15.4

 Fabricated metal products...................... 45,787 44,830 44,797 2.1 0.1 0.9 44,902 44,232 45,228 37,170 20.8

 Machinery.............................................. 50,116 49,302 48,475 1.7 1.7 1.0 49,232 48,362 47,907 41,182 19.5

 Construction machinery....................... 4,568 4,488 4,328 1.8 3.7 4.8 4,177 4,050 4,052 2,111 97.9

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 1,347 1,355 1,373 -0.6 -1.3 -2.3 1,347 1,355 1,373 1,004 34.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 9,498 9,298 8,700 2.2 6.9 2.3 9,413 8,966 8,613 7,546 24.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 921 886 875 4.0 1.3 -1.4 916 874 882 789 16.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,713 4,665 4,662 1.0 0.1 -0.7 4,532 4,554 4,703 4,433 2.2

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,574 4,558 4,547 0.4 0.2 -0.3 4,523 4,419 4,467 3,821 18.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 9,891 9,927 9,972 -0.4 -0.5 2.8 9,767 9,922 9,988 8,050 21.3

 Material handling equipment............... 5,017 4,971 4,883 0.9 1.8 -0.2 4,969 4,983 4,636 4,666 6.5

 Computers and electronic products 1

...... 141,466 139,796 134,972 1.2 3.6 0.1 139,466 137,317 132,934 129,155 8.0

 Computers......................................... 8,306 9,059 8,095 -8.3 11.9 -2.9 8,248 9,003 8,198 8,564 -3.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 45,887 45,867 46,117 0.0 -0.5 -0.6 45,341 44,760 44,893 50,151 -9.6

 Defense communications equipment... 9,477 6,198 3,270 52.9 89.5 -4.1 9,477 6,198 3,270 3,202 196.0

 Semiconductors 1................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 15,153 15,613 15,829 -2.9 -1.4 2.8 15,096 15,711 15,921 13,525 11.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 4,929 5,173 4,972 -4.7 4.0 3.9 4,905 5,106 4,933 4,685 4.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 38,571 38,495 38,175 0.2 0.8 0.0 37,410 37,652 37,300 34,445 8.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 19,143 19,391 18,514 -1.3 4.7 0.6 18,989 18,887 18,419 14,583 30.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 15,173 15,289 15,033 -0.8 1.7 1.6 15,206 15,152 15,160 14,094 7.9

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,759 1,697 1,603 3.7 5.9 15.5 1,767 1,690 1,653 1,447 22.1

 Household appliances.......................... 838 956 990 -12.3 -3.4 24.2 822 945 1,023 882 -6.8

 Electrical equipment............................ 8,961 8,911 8,788 0.6 1.4 -0.5 9,024 8,843 8,813 8,673 4.0

 Transportation equipment........................ 257,662 258,348 259,532 -0.3 -0.5 -0.1 252,514 254,564 257,240 243,780 3.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 15,039 15,467 15,337 -2.8 0.8 1.7 14,331 14,974 15,021 12,407 15.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 109,890 110,624 111,373 -0.7 -0.7 0.4 109,369 110,543 110,903 104,222 4.9

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 55,022 55,262 56,282 -0.4 -1.8 -1.7 53,244 54,044 55,827 59,216 -10.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,200 19,098 19,584 0.5 -2.5 -0.9 18,504 18,151 18,974 18,727 -1.2

 Furniture and related products................. 6,145 6,139 6,088 0.1 0.8 -0.2 6,180 6,161 6,152 5,546 11.4

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. Oct.

2004p 2004r 2004 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

 All manufacturing industries..................... 464,566 462,377 461,975 0.5 0.1 0.7 467,993 463,013 465,926 441,907 5.9

 Excluding transportation...................... 395,975 393,820 392,920 0.5 0.2 0.9 398,598 394,091 395,837 373,263 6.8

 Excluding defense............................. 440,328 438,219 438,073 0.5 0.0 0.8 443,567 438,750 441,686 418,245 6.1

 With unfilled orders............................. 218,555 216,623 216,060 0.9 0.3 0.8 219,763 215,943 218,319 206,365 6.5

 Durable goods industries........................ 279,712 278,013 277,119 0.6 0.3 0.8 280,684 277,040 279,879 263,266 6.6

 Wood products........................................ 10,085 10,285 10,318 -1.9 -0.3 0.9 10,040 10,290 10,069 9,535 5.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,595 9,412 9,363 1.9 0.5 0.6 9,296 9,244 9,367 9,297 0.0

 Primary metals........................................ 20,864 20,161 19,643 3.5 2.6 3.0 20,923 20,114 19,667 17,124 22.2

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,983 11,398 10,881 5.1 4.8 5.6 12,070 11,410 10,930 9,188 31.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,975 6,896 6,918 1.1 -0.3 -0.6 6,993 6,895 6,922 6,319 10.7

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,906 1,867 1,844 2.1 1.2 2.3 1,860 1,809 1,815 1,617 15.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 34,661 34,339 34,005 0.9 1.0 1.6 34,569 34,238 34,184 30,820 12.2

 Machinery.............................................. 44,980 44,925 44,688 0.1 0.5 0.8 45,149 44,637 44,920 41,599 8.5

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,431 2,426 2,399 0.2 1.1 -0.9 2,266 2,309 2,311 2,032 11.5

 Construction machinery........................ 4,160 4,138 4,116 0.5 0.5 -1.2 4,169 4,092 4,079 3,469 20.2

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,286 2,263 2,343 1.0 -3.4 0.4 2,286 2,265 2,394 2,247 1.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,958 7,092 7,108 -1.9 -0.2 2.9 6,889 7,029 7,166 6,479 6.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,395 1,431 1,417 -2.5 1.0 0.6 1,438 1,460 1,421 1,452 -1.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,505 4,485 4,473 0.4 0.3 2.3 4,533 4,417 4,526 4,176 8.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,413 4,371 4,315 1.0 1.3 -0.8 4,513 4,412 4,439 4,464 1.1

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,858 4,813 4,762 0.9 1.1 1.0 5,093 4,855 4,864 4,402 15.7

 Material handling equipment............... 2,613 2,529 2,445 3.3 3.4 1.1 2,615 2,520 2,458 2,297 13.8

 Computers and electronic products......... 49,547 49,095 48,998 0.9 0.2 0.9 49,899 48,606 50,061 47,360 5.4

 Computers......................................... 2,721 2,757 2,614 -1.3 5.5 3.7 2,613 2,963 2,752 2,382 9.7

 Computer storage devices................... 1,318 1,291 1,238 2.1 4.3 1.0 1,370 1,198 1,322 1,243 10.2

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,401 2,391 2,431 0.4 -1.6 -1.1 2,536 2,352 2,563 2,503 1.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 9,842 9,615 9,667 2.4 -0.5 1.4 9,903 9,541 9,884 9,683 2.3

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,169 1,183 1,216 -1.2 -2.7 3.4 1,169 1,183 1,216 1,270 -8.0

 Audio and video equipment.................. 1,083 1,105 1,089 -2.0 1.5 2.9 1,274 1,237 1,168 1,124 13.3

 Semiconductors1

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

 Electronic components.......................... 7,991 7,734 7,927 3.3 -2.4 -1.0 8,036 7,436 7,903 7,533 6.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,536 2,517 2,473 0.8 1.8 1.4 2,571 2,505 2,494 2,584 -0.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,918 2,899 2,847 0.7 1.8 -0.6 2,956 2,899 2,907 2,902 1.9

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,471 10,306 10,261 1.6 0.4 0.1 10,483 10,107 10,483 10,233 2.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 13,058 13,059 13,047 0.0 0.1 1.8 12,899 12,685 13,024 12,164 6.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,477 1,477 1,481 0.0 -0.3 1.7 1,472 1,457 1,512 1,410 4.4

 Household appliances.......................... 2,372 2,376 2,399 -0.2 -1.0 4.0 2,331 2,260 2,350 2,020 15.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,489 4,498 4,485 -0.2 0.3 0.8 4,453 4,335 4,479 4,024 10.7

 Batteries............................................ 652 648 623 0.6 4.0 3.5 654 655 655 597 9.5

 Transportation equipment...................... 68,591 68,557 69,055 0.0 -0.7 -0.3 69,395 68,922 70,089 68,644 1.1

 Automobiles....................................... 2,210 2,254 2,246 -2.0 0.4 5.7 2,168 2,332 2,328 1,813 19.6

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,517 2,610 2,493 -3.6 4.7 2.7 2,555 2,694 2,617 2,352 8.6

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 829 827 804 0.2 2.9 1.0 848 858 833 756 12.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 16,355 16,256 16,123 0.6 0.8 0.0 16,324 16,226 16,114 15,233 7.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 23,023 23,092 24,165 -0.3 -4.4 -1.1 23,641 23,221 24,661 25,525 -7.4

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,815 11,729 11,514 0.7 1.9 -0.8 11,928 11,764 11,706 11,190 6.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,227 3,254 3,136 -0.8 3.8 0.1 3,230 3,239 3,126 2,954 9.3

 Furniture and related products................. 8,348 8,340 8,274 0.1 0.8 1.1 8,383 8,380 8,409 7,687 9.1

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 19,983 19,840 19,728 0.7 0.6 0.6 20,131 19,924 20,089 19,036 5.8

 Nondurable goods industries................... 184,854 184,364 184,856 0.3 -0.3 0.5 187,309 185,973 186,047 178,641 4.9

 Food products........................................ 33,143 33,757 33,914 -1.8 -0.5 -0.3 35,257 34,516 34,115 35,734 -1.3

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 2,812 2,915 2,822 -3.5 3.3 -0.9 2,983 2,780 2,619 3,981 -25.1

 Dairy products.................................... 3,925 3,968 3,985 -1.1 -0.4 -1.5 3,891 3,953 4,046 3,498 11.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,249 6,338 6,415 -1.4 -1.2 0.4 6,511 6,448 6,349 6,411 1.6

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 14,998 15,143 15,147 -1.0 0.0 3.4 15,471 15,411 14,647 15,280 1.3

 Beverages......................................... 10,405 10,453 10,479 -0.5 -0.2 4.4 10,741 10,691 10,173 10,370 3.6

 Tobacco............................................ 4,593 4,690 4,668 -2.1 0.5 1.2 4,730 4,720 4,474 4,910 -3.7

 Textile mills........................................... 4,762 4,810 4,828 -1.0 -0.4 0.0 4,684 4,754 4,858 4,940 -5.2

 Textile products...................................... 5,262 5,230 5,199 0.6 0.6 0.2 5,217 5,266 5,224 4,989 4.6

 Apparel................................................. 7,298 7,273 7,154 0.3 1.7 1.9 7,232 7,441 7,358 7,104 1.8

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,635 1,605 1,594 1.9 0.7 -0.7 1,634 1,628 1,632 1,676 -2.5

 Paper products....................................... 14,857 14,676 14,744 1.2 -0.5 0.7 14,756 14,657 14,738 14,588 1.2

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,307 6,303 6,254 0.1 0.8 -0.7 6,220 6,259 6,232 6,551 -5.1

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,504 4,304 4,440 4.6 -3.1 2.3 4,494 4,340 4,446 4,049 11.0

 Printing.................................................. 6,798 6,686 6,537 1.7 2.3 1.2 7,104 7,007 6,974 6,390 11.2

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 18,161 17,311 17,461 4.9 -0.9 -1.7 18,484 17,836 17,846 15,751 17.4

 Petroleum refineries............................. 16,390 15,585 15,773 5.2 -1.2 -2.1 16,746 16,117 16,091 14,299 17.1

 Basic chemicals...................................... 55,249 55,498 56,279 -0.4 -1.4 0.3 54,982 55,271 56,856 52,349 5.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,369 2,359 2,382 0.4 -1.0 -0.6 2,208 2,104 2,057 2,106 4.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 22,033 22,566 23,414 -2.4 -3.6 -0.5 22,097 22,676 24,059 21,310 3.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,828 2,844 2,838 -0.6 0.2 0.3 2,798 2,807 2,826 2,673 4.7

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 22,691 22,375 21,999 1.4 1.7 2.0 22,488 22,186 21,799 19,840 13.3

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.
 7 

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

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 375,932 371,479 375,537 1.2 -1.1 0.9 385,760 393,323 382,018 356,009 3,674,856 3,319,734 10.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 39,263 39,854 40,185 -1.5 -0.8 1.8 41,247 42,687 43,413 39,142 395,502 354,811 11.5

 Information technology......................... 31,848 30,897 31,562 3.1 -2.1 2.2 30,966 36,123 29,437 28,715 301,343 271,750 10.9

 Computers and related products .......... 9,556 8,814 8,574 8.4 2.8 -0.8 9,904 10,963 7,784 8,612 84,801 74,878 13.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 37,447 38,282 38,617 -2.2 -0.9 5.3 40,753 40,956 39,974 43,550 388,871 373,302 4.2

 Capital goods...................................... 73,899 72,403 72,997 2.1 -0.8 1.7 72,276 79,908 69,975 65,637 706,492 633,996 11.4

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 65,606 64,357 64,571 1.9 -0.3 1.8 64,143 71,230 61,826 57,776 624,204 558,809 11.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,989 61,753 61,960 2.0 -0.3 0.9 61,979 68,462 59,497 55,836 600,562 534,498 12.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,293 8,046 8,426 3.1 -4.5 1.3 8,133 8,678 8,149 7,861 82,288 75,187 9.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 143,242 140,215 142,250 2.2 -1.4 0.9 149,641 146,302 146,980 137,801 1,397,757 1,269,970 10.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,249 34,875 34,956 -1.8 -0.2 5.5 36,558 37,476 35,805 38,209 350,454 333,508 5.1

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 108,993 105,340 107,294 3.5 -1.8 -0.6 113,083 108,826 111,175 99,592 1,047,303 936,462 11.8

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 371,507 369,578 369,574 0.5 0.0 -0.3 379,469 386,534 371,988 356,785 3,635,549 3,272,838 11.1

 Construction materials and supplies...... 40,037 39,620 40,410 1.1 -2.0 3.4 41,757 41,435 43,650 39,184 400,531 355,327 12.7

 Information technology......................... 33,903 36,021 31,077 -5.9 15.9 3.1 33,691 40,711 26,665 32,705 311,050 284,007 9.5

 Computers and related products .......... 8,803 9,778 8,331 -10.0 17.4 0.8 9,149 11,768 7,657 8,340 84,244 75,318 11.9

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 37,019 38,412 38,878 -3.6 -1.2 5.9 40,110 40,909 39,985 43,912 389,582 373,576 4.3

 Capital goods...................................... 77,109 77,770 73,402 -0.8 6.0 -5.9 75,367 83,228 66,489 70,139 726,988 646,385 12.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 64,442 67,076 65,015 -3.9 3.2 -7.0 63,716 73,348 60,158 61,593 638,860 565,189 13.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,305 65,069 61,730 -4.2 5.4 0.7 62,472 70,788 56,840 59,798 610,299 546,276 11.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 12,667 10,694 8,387 18.4 27.5 3.1 11,651 9,880 6,331 8,546 88,128 81,196 8.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 143,558 140,494 142,471 2.2 -1.4 1.0 149,888 146,493 147,063 138,480 1,398,642 1,270,413 10.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,565 35,154 35,177 -1.7 -0.1 6.3 36,805 37,667 35,888 38,888 351,339 333,951 5.2

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 108,993 105,340 107,294 3.5 -1.8 -0.6 113,083 108,826 111,175 99,592 1,047,303 936,462 11.8

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 542,981 540,244 535,310 0.5 0.9 0.3 533,212 532,152 531,238 491,677 (X) (X) 8.4

 Construction materials and supplies...... 37,675 36,901 37,135 2.1 -0.6 0.6 36,898 36,388 37,640 31,649 (X) (X) 16.6

 Information technology......................... 130,849 128,794 123,670 1.6 4.1 -0.4 128,879 126,154 121,566 119,511 (X) (X) 7.8

 Computers and related products .......... 8,306 9,059 8,095 -8.3 11.9 -2.9 8,248 9,003 8,198 8,564 (X) (X) -3.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 15,039 15,467 15,337 -2.8 0.8 1.7 14,331 14,974 15,021 12,407 (X) (X) 15.5

 Capital goods...................................... 384,871 381,661 376,294 0.8 1.4 0.1 378,293 375,202 371,882 351,100 (X) (X) 7.7

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................236,244 237,408 234,689 -0.5 1.2 0.2 234,203 234,630 232,512 219,782 (X) (X) 6.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 150,541 151,225 147,909 -0.5 2.2 -0.2 149,021 148,528 146,202 140,049 (X) (X) 6.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 148,627 144,253 141,605 3.0 1.9 0.0 144,090 140,572 139,370 131,318 (X) (X) 9.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 13,635 13,319 13,040 2.4 2.1 1.7 13,496 13,249 13,058 12,310 (X) (X) 9.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 13,635 13,319 13,040 2.4 2.1 1.7 13,496 13,249 13,058 12,310 (X) (X) 9.6 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 464,566 462,377 461,975 0.5 0.1 0.7 467,993 463,013 465,926 441,907 (X) (X) 5.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 50,649 50,441 50,147 0.4 0.6 1.2 50,194 50,087 50,146 45,897 (X) (X) 9.4

 Information technology......................... 40,369 40,019 39,783 0.9 0.6 0.9 40,759 39,901 40,717 39,983 (X) (X) 1.9

 Computers and related products .......... 6,440 6,439 6,283 0.0 2.5 1.3 6,519 6,513 6,637 6,128 (X) (X) 6.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 21,911 21,947 21,666 -0.2 1.3 0.9 21,895 22,110 21,892 20,154 (X) (X) 8.6

 Capital goods...................................... 129,072 128,690 128,857 0.3 -0.1 0.3 130,074 128,288 130,778 125,624 (X) (X) 3.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................109,550 109,235 109,575 0.3 -0.3 0.5 110,501 108,832 111,274 106,596 (X) (X) 3.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 93,007 92,513 91,960 0.5 0.6 0.7 93,440 91,949 93,292 88,397 (X) (X) 5.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 19,522 19,455 19,282 0.3 0.9 -0.5 19,573 19,456 19,504 19,028 (X) (X) 2.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 141,677 142,105 142,721 -0.3 -0.4 0.5 144,692 144,128 144,116 139,011 (X) (X) 4.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,773 29,797 29,461 -0.1 1.1 1.9 29,956 29,962 29,912 27,308 (X) (X) 9.7

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 111,904 112,308 113,260 -0.4 -0.8 0.1 114,736 114,166 114,204 111,703 (X) (X) 2.7

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
 8

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

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. Oct.

2004p 2004r 2004 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 153,314 151,950 151,410 0.9 0.4 0.5 154,022 151,911 151,651 143,745 7.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 92,480 91,382 90,650 1.2 0.8 0.8 92,978 91,344 91,218 84,425 10.1

 Wood products................................... 3,866 3,903 3,953 -0.9 -1.3 1.0 4,121 4,039 3,879 3,912 5.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,361 3,359 3,359 0.1 0.0 -0.5 3,371 3,376 3,384 3,405 -1.0

 Primary metals.................................... 8,036 7,846 7,590 2.4 3.4 3.3 8,218 7,906 7,657 5,788 42.0

 Fabricated metal products..................... 13,352 13,115 12,825 1.8 2.3 3.1 13,274 13,185 12,933 10,915 21.6

 Machinery.......................................... 13,544 13,378 13,154 1.2 1.7 1.1 13,660 13,307 13,257 12,587 8.5

 Computers and electronic products ...... 17,224 16,826 17,018 2.4 -1.1 -1.0 17,201 16,649 17,135 16,603 3.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,897 4,820 4,781 1.6 0.8 2.3 4,860 4,706 4,751 4,598 5.7

 Transportation equipment.................. 17,893 17,805 17,835 0.5 -0.2 -0.3 17,949 17,834 17,944 17,114 4.9

 Furniture and related products............ 3,596 3,644 3,555 -1.3 2.5 -0.9 3,583 3,645 3,574 3,207 11.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,711 6,686 6,580 0.4 1.6 0.5 6,741 6,697 6,704 6,296 7.1

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 60,834 60,568 60,760 0.4 -0.3 0.1 61,044 60,567 60,433 59,320 2.9

 Food products.................................... 9,653 9,654 9,503 0.0 1.6 -1.3 9,844 9,461 9,227 10,795 -8.8

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,344 5,407 5,346 -1.2 1.1 3.3 5,228 5,333 5,143 5,399 -3.2

 Textiles.............................................. 1,291 1,338 1,354 -3.5 -1.2 0.0 1,271 1,333 1,352 1,357 -6.3

 Textile products.................................. 1,909 1,886 1,873 1.2 0.7 -0.1 1,893 1,912 1,906 1,704 11.1

 Apparel............................................. 1,640 1,664 1,646 -1.4 1.1 1.4 1,630 1,655 1,633 1,642 -0.7

 Leather and allied products................... 461 450 451 2.4 -0.2 0.0 460 454 465 438 5.0

 Paper products................................... 6,475 6,487 6,509 -0.2 -0.3 -2.9 6,507 6,544 6,484 6,814 -4.5

 Printing ............................................. 2,928 2,918 2,881 0.3 1.3 0.1 3,035 3,046 2,952 2,774 9.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 5,645 5,500 5,544 2.6 -0.8 -3.9 5,683 5,541 5,555 4,672 21.6

 Basic chemicals................................... 17,615 17,413 17,819 1.2 -2.3 1.4 17,610 17,422 17,873 16,477 6.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 7,873 7,851 7,834 0.3 0.2 2.1 7,883 7,866 7,843 7,248 8.8

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 131,122 130,791 132,238 0.3 -1.1 -0.1 133,348 131,332 133,737 130,244 2.4

 Durable goods industries ........................ 100,450 99,816 100,591 0.6 -0.8 0.0 101,453 99,918 102,049 97,338 4.2

 Wood products................................... 1,949 2,006 1,938 -2.8 3.5 -2.6 1,946 2,014 1,934 1,910 1.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,169 1,173 1,180 -0.3 -0.6 1.4 1,107 1,136 1,177 1,131 -2.1

 Primary metals.................................... 6,872 6,627 6,458 3.7 2.6 3.7 6,887 6,609 6,465 5,808 18.6

 Fabricated metal products..................... 9,839 9,752 9,711 0.9 0.4 -0.5 9,905 9,766 9,854 9,441 4.9

 Machinery.......................................... 15,647 15,663 15,678 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 15,892 15,745 16,045 14,807 7.3

 Computers and electronic products ...... 19,894 19,617 19,835 1.4 -1.1 1.4 20,012 19,512 20,291 18,146 10.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 2,930 3,009 3,041 -2.6 -1.1 1.6 2,873 2,940 3,062 2,845 1.0

 Transportation equipment.................. 37,345 37,233 37,931 0.3 -1.8 -1.4 37,996 37,416 38,312 38,842 -2.2

 Furniture and related products............ 1,561 1,568 1,656 -0.4 -5.3 3.7 1,555 1,569 1,665 1,510 3.0

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,244 3,168 3,163 2.4 0.2 -1.4 3,280 3,211 3,244 2,898 13.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 30,672 30,975 31,647 -1.0 -2.1 -0.1 31,895 31,414 31,688 32,906 -3.1

 Food products.................................... 2,798 3,284 3,377 -14.8 -2.8 3.1 3,342 3,185 3,147 3,607 -7.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,899 4,960 4,994 -1.2 -0.7 4.0 5,348 5,225 4,616 5,129 4.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,263 1,262 1,267 0.1 -0.4 0.8 1,252 1,261 1,262 1,278 -2.0

 Textile products.................................. 679 666 682 2.0 -2.3 -1.0 678 669 686 702 -3.4

 Apparel............................................. 1,141 1,167 1,176 -2.2 -0.8 3.4 1,100 1,142 1,168 1,181 -6.9

 Leather and allied products................... 166 166 170 0.0 -2.4 5.6 168 163 168 179 -6.1

 Paper products................................... 1,298 1,267 1,277 2.4 -0.8 2.1 1,266 1,272 1,310 1,152 9.9

 Printing ............................................. 1,934 1,852 1,789 4.4 3.5 1.5 2,099 1,954 2,013 1,864 12.6

 Petroleum and coal products............... 3,871 3,473 3,476 11.5 -0.1 -9.9 4,035 3,566 3,564 4,653 -13.3

 Basic chemicals................................... 10,047 10,268 10,823 -2.2 -5.1 -0.6 10,005 10,356 11,166 10,690 -6.4

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,576 2,610 2,616 -1.3 -0.2 0.7 2,602 2,621 2,588 2,471 5.3

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 180,130 179,636 178,327 0.3 0.7 1.5 180,623 179,770 180,538 167,918 7.6

 Durable goods industries ........................ 86,782 86,815 85,878 0.0 1.1 2.0 86,253 85,778 86,612 81,503 5.8

 Wood products................................... 4,270 4,376 4,427 -2.4 -1.2 2.3 3,973 4,237 4,256 3,713 7.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,065 4,880 4,824 3.8 1.2 1.3 4,818 4,732 4,806 4,761 1.2

 Primary metals.................................... 5,956 5,688 5,595 4.7 1.7 1.8 5,818 5,599 5,545 5,528 5.2

 Fabricated metal products..................... 11,470 11,472 11,469 0.0 0.0 1.8 11,390 11,287 11,397 10,464 8.8

 Machinery.......................................... 15,789 15,884 15,856 -0.6 0.2 1.4 15,597 15,585 15,618 14,205 9.8

 Computers and electronic products ...... 12,429 12,652 12,145 -1.8 4.2 2.6 12,686 12,445 12,635 12,611 0.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,231 5,230 5,225 0.0 0.1 1.4 5,166 5,039 5,211 4,721 9.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 13,353 13,519 13,289 -1.2 1.7 3.2 13,450 13,672 13,833 12,688 6.0

 Furniture and related products............ 3,191 3,128 3,063 2.0 2.1 2.0 3,245 3,166 3,170 2,970 9.3

 Miscellaneous products........................ 10,028 9,986 9,985 0.4 0.0 1.3 10,110 10,016 10,141 9,842 2.7

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 93,348 92,821 92,449 0.6 0.4 1.1 94,370 93,992 93,926 86,415 9.2

 Food products.................................... 20,692 20,819 21,034 -0.6 -1.0 -0.3 22,071 21,870 21,741 21,332 3.5

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,755 4,776 4,807 -0.4 -0.6 2.9 4,895 4,853 4,888 4,752 3.0

 Textiles.............................................. 2,208 2,210 2,207 -0.1 0.1 -0.4 2,161 2,160 2,244 2,305 -6.2

 Textile products.................................. 2,674 2,678 2,644 -0.1 1.3 0.7 2,646 2,685 2,632 2,583 2.4

 Apparel............................................. 4,517 4,442 4,332 1.7 2.5 1.8 4,502 4,644 4,557 4,281 5.2

 Leather and allied products................... 1,008 989 973 1.9 1.6 -2.1 1,006 1,011 999 1,059 -5.0

 Paper products................................... 7,084 6,922 6,958 2.3 -0.5 4.0 6,983 6,841 6,944 6,622 5.5

 Printing ............................................. 1,936 1,916 1,867 1.0 2.6 2.4 1,970 2,007 2,009 1,752 12.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 8,645 8,338 8,441 3.7 -1.2 3.7 8,766 8,729 8,727 6,426 36.4

 Basic chemicals................................... 27,587 27,817 27,637 -0.8 0.7 -0.1 27,367 27,493 27,817 25,182 8.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 12,242 11,914 11,549 2.8 3.2 2.3 12,003 11,699 11,368 10,121 18.6

p

 Preliminary r Revised

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
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 Oct Sep Aug Jul Oct Sep Aug Jul

2004p 2004r 2004 2004 2004p 2004r 2004 2004

 All manufacturing industries2...... 1.24 1.24 1.23 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries 2

................... 1.40 1.39 1.38 1.39 3.97 3.96 3.90 3.92

 Wood products................................ 1.12 1.09 1.06 1.12 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.27 1.26 1.24 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.44 1.38 1.35 1.34 1.35 1.37 1.39 1.39

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.51 1.48 1.47 1.44 2.07 2.01 2.01 1.99

 Machinery....................................... 1.74 1.77 1.80 1.76 2.17 2.16 2.17 2.13

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.24 1.26 1.23 1.23 4.99 5.03 4.83 4.92

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.46 1.46 1.42 1.42 1.80 1.82 1.73 1.73

 Transportation equipment................. 1.29 1.27 1.26 1.33 7.66 7.66 7.49 7.59

 Furniture and related products........... 1.34 1.35 1.31 1.26 1.12 1.13 1.09 1.06

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.75 1.72 1.74 1.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.05 1.07 1.06 1.05 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.80 0.83 0.83 0.81 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.64 1.64 1.63 1.62 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.66 1.67 1.65 1.65 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.54 1.54 1.54 1.47 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 1.97 1.84 1.76 1.79 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.03 1.02 1.00 1.00 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.86 0.84 0.84 0.81 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.58 0.60 0.60 0.62 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Basic chemicals............................... 1.28 1.33 1.32 1.31 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.34 1.31 1.28 1.27 (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.

Oct2 Oct2 Oct2 Oct2

Industry 2003- 2003- 2003- 2003-

Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep

2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004

 All manufacturing industries........... (X) 0.3 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.2

Durable goods industries ...................... -0.5 0.3 -0.7 0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Primary metals.................................... -0.7 0.7 -1.0 1.6 -0.2 0.9 0.5 0.2

 Fabricated metal products.................... -0.2 0.4 -0.1 1.4 0.0 0.6 0.2 0.4

 Machinery.......................................... -2.8 0.8 -2.0 1.4 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products ..... 0.0 0.8 -0.8 1.6 -0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.1 0.3 -0.5 0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 1.0 (X) 1.0 (X) 0.4

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

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

 Leather and allied products................... (X) 2.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 1.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.9

 Basic chemicals.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.4 (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
10

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-ofmonth 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 4,000 reporting units. 

Units may be divisions of diversified large

companies, large homogenous companies, or singleunit 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-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 4,000 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 4,000 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.

Additional survey documentation can be found on our

web site: http://www.census.gov/m3.

2005 Release Dates for M3 Survey

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

Dec 2004 January 27, 2005 February 3, 2005

Jan 2005 February 24, 2005 March 4, 2005

Feb 2005 March 24, 2005 March 31, 2005

Mar 2005 April 27, 2005 May 3, 2005

Apr 2005 May 25, 2005 June 2, 2005

May 2005 June 24, 2005 July 5, 2005

Jun 2005 July 27, 2005 August 2, 2005

Jul 2005 August 24, 2005 August 30, 2005

Aug 2005 September 28, 2005 October 4, 2005

Sep 2005 October 27, 2005 November 3, 2005

Oct 2005 November 29, 2005 December 6, 2005

Nov 2005 December 23, 2005