FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (11)-03 

CB11-80 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

March 2011 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in March, up five consecutive months, increased $13.5 billion or 3.0 

percent to $462.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 0.7 percent February 

increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 

2.6 percent. 

 Shipments, up seven consecutive months, increased 

$12.0 billion or 2.7 percent to $461.4 billion. This 

followed a 0.6 percent February increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up eleven of the last twelve months, 

increased $7.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $844.0 billion. 

This followed a 0.7 percent February increase. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.54, down from 

5.63 in February. 

 Inventories, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, 

increased $6.3 billion or 1.1 percent to $572.3 billion. 

This followed a 1.0 percent February increase. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.24, down from 1.26 

in February. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up three consecutive months, increased $5.9 billion or 

2.9 percent to $209.5 billion, revised from the previously 

published 2.5 percent increase. This followed a 0.8 

percent February increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive 

months, had the largest increase, $3.2 billion or 6.2 

percent to $54.9 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $7.6 billion or 3.1 percent to $253.4 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up five consecutive months, increased $4.4 billion or 2.1 

percent to $208.1 billion, revised from the previously 

published 1.8 percent increase. This followed a 0.6 

percent February increase. 

 Transportation equipment, up four consecutive 

months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 3.4 

percent to $51.1 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

eight consecutive months, increased $7.6 billion or 3.1 

percent to $253.4 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent 

February increase. Petroleum and coal products, up 

seven of the last eight months, led the increase, up $5.4 

billion or 7.8 percent to $74.5 billion. This followed a 

0.4 percent February decrease. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

March, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased 

$7.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $844.0 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This followed a 

0.7 percent February increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up three consecutive 

months, had the largest increase, $3.7 billion or 0.8 

percent to $482.1 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up fifteen consecutive months, increased $4.5 billion or 

1.4 percent to $334.3 billion, revised from the previously 

published 1.3 percent increase. This followed a 1.3 

percent February increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up fifteen consecutive 

months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 1.9 

percent to $89.8 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

seven consecutive months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.8 

percent to $238.1 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent 

February increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up 

seven consecutive months, led the increase, up $1.2 

billion or 2.2 percent to $55.1 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies 

increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and 0.3 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 2.4 

percent in durable goods and 0.2 percent in nondurable 

goods. Finished goods increased 1.0 percent in durable 

goods and 1.3 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 April is scheduled for release on May 25, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on June 2, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. See back page for survey description and benchmark notice. 
 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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

 All manufacturing industries.................. 461,449 449,434 446,860 2.7 0.6 1.7 487,260 412,652 408,986 437,300 1,308,898 1,186,070 10.4

 Excluding transportation................... 410,303 399,946 398,420 2.6 0.4 1.9 428,846 365,613 367,144 383,866 1,161,603 1,043,400 11.3

 Excluding defense.............................. 450,239 438,553 436,199 2.7 0.5 1.9 474,698 402,192 400,325 422,467 1,277,215 1,145,943 11.5

 With unfilled orders............................ 152,261 148,596 147,561 2.5 0.7 -0.7 166,728 137,397 131,498 154,163 435,623 405,789 7.4

 Durable goods industries......................... 208,065 203,698 202,461 2.1 0.6 0.2 226,157 188,147 182,103 207,098 596,407 555,035 7.5

 Wood products....................................... 6,501 6,302 6,513 3.2 -3.2 -1.2 6,543 5,552 5,416 6,778 17,511 18,207 -3.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,344 8,266 8,279 0.9 -0.2 2.3 8,469 6,971 6,983 8,144 22,423 21,461 4.5

 Primary metals....................................... 24,299 23,621 23,025 2.9 2.6 4.1 26,324 22,441 21,661 21,113 70,426 55,904 26.0

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,323 11,068 11,188 2.3 -1.1 5.9 12,293 10,430 10,460 10,049 33,183 26,232 26.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 11,594 11,171 10,453 3.8 6.9 2.6 12,528 10,722 9,931 9,753 33,181 26,335 26.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,382 1,382 1,384 0.0 -0.1 2.1 1,503 1,289 1,270 1,311 4,062 3,337 21.7

 Fabricated metal products....................... 28,583 28,031 27,994 2.0 0.1 -0.1 30,069 25,600 25,312 28,200 80,981 76,440 5.9

 Machinery............................................. 27,105 25,985 25,288 4.3 2.8 -7.3 30,559 24,236 22,894 27,032 77,689 69,138 12.4

 Farm machinery................................. 2,308 2,188 1,911 5.5 14.5 -11.3 2,799 2,336 1,686 2,261 6,821 6,015 13.4

 Construction machinery..................... 3,138 3,111 3,113 0.9 -0.1 6.3 3,462 2,858 2,740 2,383 9,060 5,792 56.4

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,332 1,302 1,361 2.3 -4.3 -1.4 1,530 1,240 1,365 1,767 4,135 4,685 -11.7

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,501 3,292 2,742 6.3 20.1 -14.6 4,089 2,754 2,600 3,108 9,443 7,758 21.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 811 790 810 2.7 -2.5 13.4 877 687 646 820 2,210 2,098 5.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,249 2,297 2,312 -2.1 -0.6 -2.9 2,288 1,817 1,848 2,561 5,953 6,643 -10.4

 Metalworking machinery..................... 1,640 1,651 1,724 -0.7 -4.2 -8.0 1,812 1,473 1,561 1,958 4,846 5,000 -3.1

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,895 3,282 3,155 18.7 4.0 -27.6 4,178 3,233 3,075 3,414 10,486 8,132 28.9

 Material handling equipment............... 1,751 1,722 1,755 1.7 -1.9 0.8 2,040 1,671 1,613 1,782 5,324 4,712 13.0

 Computers and electronic products2.......... 32,500 32,822 33,808 -1.0 -2.9 1.9 34,059 28,944 31,693 33,168 94,696 91,971 3.0

 Computers........................................ 4,348 4,272 4,295 1.8 -0.5 0.2 4,313 3,511 4,127 4,310 11,951 11,284 5.9

 Computer storage devices..................... 681 686 710 -0.7 -3.4 -2.5 892 485 560 884 1,937 1,914 1.2

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,254 1,105 1,054 13.5 4.8 -9.8 1,598 770 677 1,325 3,045 2,701 12.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,545 2,757 2,903 -7.7 -5.0 -0.1 2,891 2,256 2,234 3,865 7,381 8,802 -16.1

 Defense communications equipment.... 509 484 512 5.2 -5.5 -6.6 509 468 449 534 1,426 1,482 -3.8

 Audio and video equipment.................... 444 450 439 -1.3 2.5 -4.4 412 373 381 378 1,166 1,094 6.6

 Electronic components......................... 3,820 3,848 3,870 -0.7 -0.6 0.5 4,126 3,501 3,471 4,172 11,098 11,036 0.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,210 1,086 1,056 11.4 2.8 -3.6 1,440 1,045 906 1,284 3,391 3,204 5.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,771 2,653 2,663 4.4 -0.4 -5.4 3,098 2,573 2,225 3,421 7,896 9,178 -14.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 8,976 9,003 9,187 -0.3 -2.0 0.7 10,211 8,170 8,080 9,447 26,461 24,611 7.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,096 9,983 9,939 1.1 0.4 -0.9 10,951 9,126 8,708 10,006 28,785 26,407 9.0

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,173 1,190 1,205 -1.4 -1.2 1.7 1,221 1,148 1,094 1,204 3,463 3,372 2.7

 Household appliances........................ 1,697 1,667 1,630 1.8 2.3 1.5 1,934 1,458 1,292 1,902 4,684 4,666 0.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,312 3,259 3,238 1.6 0.6 -2.0 3,750 3,016 2,840 3,258 9,606 8,378 14.7

 Batteries........................................... 749 747 739 0.3 1.1 0.0 757 630 618 735 2,005 2,001 0.2

 Transportation equipment........................ 51,146 49,488 48,440 3.4 2.2 0.4 58,414 47,039 41,842 53,434 147,295 142,670 3.2

 Automobiles..................................... 6,346 5,914 5,684 7.3 4.0 0.2 7,188 5,597 5,284 6,063 18,069 17,067 5.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 6,719 6,718 6,318 0.0 6.3 5.7 8,017 6,524 5,543 5,841 20,084 15,997 25.5

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,574 1,545 1,483 1.9 4.2 2.1 1,870 1,551 1,418 1,903 4,839 5,067 -4.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,546 17,745 17,499 4.5 1.4 1.9 20,391 17,092 16,124 17,491 53,607 48,572 10.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 7,362 7,154 7,059 2.9 1.3 -5.9 9,132 6,383 5,174 8,442 20,689 19,401 6.6

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,670 4,537 4,507 2.9 0.7 -3.8 5,278 4,205 3,482 6,225 12,965 16,362 -20.8

 Ships and boats................................. 2,209 2,192 2,096 0.8 4.6 -2.0 2,437 2,225 1,850 2,570 6,512 6,698 -2.8

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,947 5,809 5,803 2.4 0.1 2.3 6,113 5,635 5,381 5,593 17,129 15,944 7.4

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,544 13,391 13,372 1.1 0.1 3.4 14,656 12,603 12,213 13,630 39,472 36,893 7.0

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 253,384 245,736 244,399 3.1 0.5 3.0 261,103 224,505 226,883 230,202 712,491 631,035 12.9

 Food products....................................... 60,088 59,723 58,731 0.6 1.7 2.5 62,200 57,797 56,232 56,931 176,229 161,690 9.0

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 7,964 8,192 8,376 -2.8 -2.2 4.6 8,499 7,991 8,272 8,582 24,762 24,374 1.6

 Dairy products.................................. 8,313 8,238 7,687 0.9 7.2 1.0 8,530 7,563 7,283 7,669 23,376 21,408 9.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,476 17,143 16,700 1.9 2.7 1.3 17,771 16,920 15,933 15,701 50,624 45,260 11.9

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 10,975 10,548 10,324 4.0 2.2 -1.3 11,112 9,621 9,382 10,518 30,115 28,514 5.6

 Beverages......................................... 7,893 7,832 7,787 0.8 0.6 0.3 8,030 6,905 6,845 7,463 21,780 20,154 8.1

 Tobacco............................................ 3,082 2,716 2,537 13.5 7.1 -6.0 3,082 2,716 2,537 3,055 8,335 8,360 -0.3

 Textile mills........................................... 2,494 2,509 2,461 -0.6 2.0 2.8 2,589 2,462 2,354 2,419 7,405 6,824 8.5

 Textile products................................... 1,944 1,928 1,861 0.8 3.6 0.5 2,018 1,869 1,660 1,937 5,547 5,448 1.8

 Apparel................................................ 1,332 1,322 1,338 0.8 -1.2 -0.4 1,325 1,280 1,165 1,292 3,770 3,671 2.7

 Leather and allied products...................... 415 408 407 1.7 0.2 -1.9 434 433 330 421 1,197 1,187 0.8

 Paper products...................................... 14,517 14,405 14,459 0.8 -0.4 0.1 14,888 13,450 14,058 14,530 42,396 40,691 4.2

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,786 6,739 6,769 0.7 -0.4 -0.2 6,939 6,272 6,683 6,745 19,894 19,007 4.7

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,192 4,130 4,131 1.5 0.0 -0.7 4,338 3,824 3,966 4,141 12,128 11,319 7.1

 Printing................................................. 7,419 7,354 7,354 0.9 0.0 0.1 7,729 6,640 6,852 7,458 21,221 20,375 4.2

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 74,458 69,070 69,361 7.8 -0.4 7.9 71,630 57,873 62,395 54,179 191,898 146,476 31.0

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 70,874 65,525 65,911 8.2 -0.6 7.5 68,217 55,038 59,844 51,274 183,099 138,801 31.9

 Chemical products..................................... 63,641 62,513 62,101 1.8 0.7 1.4 70,257 58,485 57,842 64,266 186,584 172,175 8.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,578 4,673 4,593 -2.0 1.7 3.4 6,801 4,705 3,544 5,577 15,050 11,880 26.7

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 15,447 15,206 15,198 1.6 0.1 -2.1 16,289 13,966 14,238 16,207 44,493 44,963 -1.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,601 2,565 2,487 1.4 3.1 0.1 2,779 2,332 2,087 2,798 7,198 7,194 0.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 16,101 15,956 16,002 0.9 -0.3 -0.5 16,921 14,595 14,613 16,251 46,129 43,984 4.9

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

All manufacturing industries2...................... 462,914 449,387 446,417 3.0 0.7 3.3 494,762 413,236 412,703 436,921 1,320,701 1,184,405 11.5

 Excluding transportation2...................... 408,048 397,739 395,225 2.6 0.6 0.7 430,715 365,970 367,047 387,310 1,163,732 1,041,346 11.8

 Excluding defense2.............................. 451,628 438,669 433,222 3.0 1.3 3.0 479,683 402,675 399,489 419,941 1,281,847 1,140,052 12.4

 With unfilled orders2

............................. 159,260 154,602 153,776 3.0 0.5 4.7 178,412 143,403 143,394 156,869 465,209 419,560 10.9

 Durable goods industries2........................ 209,530 203,651 202,018 2.9 0.8 3.7 233,659 188,731 185,820 206,719 608,210 553,370 9.9

 Primary metals........................................ 24,598 23,602 23,375 4.2 1.0 2.9 26,818 22,256 23,286 21,324 72,360 58,338 24.0

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,535 10,898 11,358 5.8 -4.1 3.2 12,547 9,986 11,767 9,928 34,300 28,053 22.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,594 11,252 10,596 3.0 6.2 2.6 12,704 10,891 10,137 10,082 33,732 26,808 25.8

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,469 1,452 1,421 1.2 2.2 3.3 1,567 1,379 1,382 1,314 4,328 3,477 24.5

 Fabricated metal products........................ 28,807 29,169 28,387 -1.2 2.8 1.3 31,370 27,481 26,106 29,778 84,957 79,339 7.1

 Machinery............................................. 29,136 27,906 27,772 4.4 0.5 -12.8 33,238 26,215 27,411 29,470 86,864 73,080 18.9

 Construction machinery....................... 3,422 3,505 3,562 -2.4 -1.6 -1.4 3,743 3,454 3,551 2,856 10,748 6,110 75.9

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,795 1,926 1,562 -6.8 23.3 11.2 1,948 1,839 1,467 1,758 5,254 4,459 17.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,664 3,230 2,234 13.4 44.6 -43.4 4,121 2,645 2,779 3,324 9,545 8,536 11.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 765 766 764 -0.1 0.3 41.5 818 698 730 810 2,246 2,159 4.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 2,608 2,828 3,338 -7.8 -15.3 -7.3 3,340 1,847 3,361 3,761 8,548 8,357 2.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,839 2,258 1,946 -18.6 16.0 -8.8 1,975 2,206 1,897 1,886 6,078 5,068 19.9

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,364 3,050 3,527 43.1 -13.5 -37.4 4,666 3,006 3,454 3,444 11,126 7,810 42.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 1,881 1,640 1,955 14.7 -16.1 -4.5 2,232 1,700 1,902 1,959 5,834 5,107 14.2

 Computers and electronic products2......... 26,962 27,191 27,154 -0.8 0.1 -5.2 30,413 24,604 23,665 31,151 78,682 77,149 2.0

 Computers........................................ 4,477 4,004 4,070 11.8 -1.6 -3.6 4,442 3,243 3,902 4,683 11,587 11,063 4.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,601 2,651 2,664 -1.9 -0.5 -19.6 2,581 2,461 1,988 3,091 7,030 8,346 -15.8

 Defense communications equipment...... 321 375 536 -14.4 -30.0 -16.6 566 364 547 977 1,477 2,064 -28.4

 Electronic components......................... 3,849 3,743 3,777 2.8 -0.9 -4.1 4,078 3,544 3,508 4,218 11,130 11,736 -5.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 885 1,180 1,161 -25.0 1.6 16.8 1,071 1,254 1,098 1,303 3,423 3,154 8.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,503 3,142 2,757 -20.3 14.0 -24.3 3,165 3,417 2,227 3,824 8,809 8,878 -0.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 9,539 9,430 9,525 1.2 -1.0 5.1 11,221 8,323 8,373 10,005 27,917 24,970 11.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,756 10,391 10,190 3.5 2.0 -5.1 11,501 10,057 9,744 10,858 31,302 28,703 9.1

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,159 1,113 1,268 4.1 -12.2 4.3 1,223 1,114 1,213 1,337 3,550 3,381 5.0

 Household appliances.......................... 1,772 1,743 1,521 1.7 14.6 -13.2 1,940 1,631 1,353 1,857 4,924 4,826 2.0

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,721 3,443 3,626 8.1 -5.0 -6.9 4,066 3,394 3,542 3,572 11,002 9,554 15.2

 Transportation equipment........................ 54,866 51,648 51,192 6.2 0.9 29.7 64,047 47,266 45,656 49,611 156,969 143,059 9.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,561 17,839 17,448 4.0 2.2 1.2 20,121 17,271 16,268 17,123 53,660 48,270 11.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 10,876 10,780 7,978 0.9 35.1 5,558.2 13,325 8,080 4,979 4,609 26,384 18,271 44.4

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 4,758 4,476 5,334 6.3 -16.1 18.9 6,005 4,170 5,471 6,444 15,646 18,178 -13.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,774 1,061 3,707 161.5 -71.4 136.0 3,251 1,236 4,113 2,262 8,600 7,233 18.9

 Furniture and related products................. 6,150 5,867 5,778 4.8 1.5 1.2 6,738 5,808 5,334 5,949 17,880 16,652 7.4

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 253,384 245,736 244,399 3.1 0.5 3.0 261,103 224,505 226,883 230,202 712,491 631,035 12.9

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. Mar.

2011p 2011r 2011 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

All manufacturing industries2...................... 843,978 836,979 830,973 0.8 0.7 0.8 854,071 842,387 836,381 806,457 5.9

 Excluding transportation2...................... 361,890 358,611 354,765 0.9 1.1 1.0 365,999 359,948 354,169 323,111 13.3

 Excluding defense2............................. 687,657 680,734 674,565 1.0 0.9 0.5 693,253 684,086 678,181 648,679 6.9

 Durable goods industries2

........................ 843,978 836,979 830,973 0.8 0.7 0.8 854,071 842,387 836,381 806,457 5.9

 Primary metals........................................ 22,428 22,129 22,148 1.4 -0.1 1.6 22,900 22,406 22,591 18,805 21.8

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 13,426 13,214 13,384 1.6 -1.3 1.3 13,518 13,264 13,708 10,590 27.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,669 6,669 6,588 0.0 1.2 2.2 7,004 6,828 6,659 6,232 12.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,333 2,246 2,176 3.9 3.2 1.7 2,378 2,314 2,224 1,983 19.9

 Fabricated metal products......................... 55,739 55,515 54,377 0.4 2.1 0.7 56,609 55,308 53,427 54,973 3.0

 Machinery.............................................. 117,303 115,272 113,351 1.8 1.7 2.2 118,312 115,633 113,654 91,108 29.9

 Construction machinery....................... 12,736 12,452 12,058 2.3 3.3 3.9 13,149 12,868 12,272 9,734 35.1

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 9,113 8,650 8,026 5.4 7.8 2.6 9,024 8,606 8,007 5,838 54.6

 Industrial machinery............................ 14,131 13,968 14,030 1.2 -0.4 -3.5 14,258 14,226 14,335 11,769 21.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,093 2,139 2,163 -2.2 -1.1 -2.1 2,097 2,156 2,145 2,496 -16.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 25,613 25,254 24,723 1.4 2.1 4.3 25,581 24,529 24,499 20,022 27.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 7,731 7,532 6,925 2.6 8.8 3.3 7,833 7,670 6,937 6,431 21.8

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 20,034 19,565 19,797 2.4 -1.2 1.9 20,154 19,666 19,893 12,491 61.3

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,514 8,384 8,466 1.6 -1.0 2.4 8,693 8,501 8,472 7,294 19.2

 Computers and electronic products2......... 124,911 124,915 124,493 0.0 0.3 0.0 126,480 125,944 124,862 122,123 3.6

 Computers......................................... 5,215 5,086 5,354 2.5 -5.0 -4.0 5,215 5,086 5,354 5,150 1.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 22,256 22,200 22,306 0.3 -0.5 -1.1 22,252 22,562 22,357 22,323 -0.3

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,988 6,176 6,285 -3.0 -1.7 0.4 6,227 6,170 6,274 6,577 -5.3

 Electronic components.......................... 11,558 11,529 11,634 0.3 -0.9 -0.8 11,574 11,622 11,579 11,393 1.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 7,884 8,209 8,115 -4.0 1.2 1.3 7,964 8,333 8,124 8,324 -4.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 41,098 41,366 40,877 -0.6 1.2 0.2 41,907 41,840 40,996 39,286 6.7

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 30,912 30,349 29,922 1.9 1.4 1.1 31,341 30,331 30,178 29,070 7.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 28,471 27,811 27,403 2.4 1.5 0.9 28,670 28,120 27,189 23,397 22.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 2,439 2,453 2,530 -0.6 -3.0 2.6 2,365 2,363 2,397 2,134 10.8

 Household appliances.......................... 721 646 570 11.6 13.3 -16.1 786 780 607 550 42.9

 Electrical equipment............................. 18,123 17,714 17,530 2.3 1.0 2.3 18,089 17,773 17,395 14,736 22.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 482,088 478,368 476,208 0.8 0.5 0.6 488,072 482,439 482,212 483,346 1.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 14,280 14,265 14,171 0.1 0.7 -0.4 14,505 14,775 14,596 14,346 1.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 332,625 329,111 325,485 1.1 1.1 0.3 335,177 330,984 329,287 322,435 4.0

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 49,527 49,439 49,500 0.2 -0.1 1.7 51,036 50,309 50,344 49,564 3.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 14,877 14,312 15,443 3.9 -7.3 11.6 15,671 14,857 15,846 18,913 -17.1

 Furniture and related products................. 6,991 6,788 6,730 3.0 0.9 -0.4 6,981 6,356 6,183 6,598 5.8

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. Mar.

2011p 2011r 2011 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

 All manufacturing industries..................... 572,329 566,065 560,437 1.1 1.0 1.5 573,658 569,063 557,895 517,238 10.9

 Excluding transportation...................... 482,530 477,922 473,435 1.0 0.9 1.6 483,769 480,487 471,198 439,307 10.1

 Excluding defense............................. 548,476 542,933 537,511 1.0 1.0 1.6 549,656 545,841 534,937 493,599 11.4

 With unfilled orders............................. 272,716 268,689 265,374 1.5 1.2 0.9 272,154 270,340 265,273 242,092 12.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 334,262 329,774 325,599 1.4 1.3 0.9 334,029 332,554 325,583 299,195 11.6

 Wood products........................................ 9,140 9,098 8,910 0.5 2.1 1.0 9,281 9,333 9,018 8,975 3.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,471 11,416 11,348 0.5 0.6 0.5 11,756 11,675 11,352 11,569 1.6

 Primary metals......................................... 33,887 33,424 32,721 1.4 2.1 2.4 33,438 33,164 32,514 28,192 18.6

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 20,299 19,907 19,378 2.0 2.7 3.1 19,845 19,628 19,212 16,204 22.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,659 11,624 11,510 0.3 1.0 1.6 11,627 11,582 11,450 10,243 13.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,929 1,893 1,833 1.9 3.3 0.3 1,966 1,954 1,852 1,745 12.7

 Fabricated metal products......................... 43,885 43,406 42,999 1.1 0.9 1.1 44,196 43,743 43,087 40,825 8.3

 Machinery.............................................. 55,025 54,279 53,636 1.4 1.2 1.3 55,540 55,323 53,889 49,869 11.4

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,898 2,868 2,839 1.0 1.0 4.3 3,168 3,150 2,985 2,527 25.4

 Construction machinery........................ 5,900 5,735 5,615 2.9 2.1 -1.6 6,013 5,837 5,569 4,728 27.2

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 6,399 6,186 5,987 3.4 3.3 0.6 6,404 6,166 5,941 5,674 12.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,105 7,066 7,008 0.6 0.8 0.3 7,164 7,127 6,866 6,507 10.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,628 1,620 1,664 0.5 -2.6 4.2 1,587 1,648 1,691 1,453 9.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,449 3,411 3,357 1.1 1.6 -0.5 3,483 3,427 3,297 3,484 0.0

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,097 4,083 4,054 0.3 0.7 0.9 4,104 4,093 4,003 3,882 5.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 7,082 6,938 6,854 2.1 1.2 5.7 6,922 7,136 6,972 5,750 20.4

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,118 3,100 3,080 0.6 0.6 -0.6 3,132 3,141 3,129 2,939 6.6

 Computers and electronic products2......... 47,680 46,811 46,126 1.9 1.5 0.2 46,860 47,360 46,228 42,445 10.4

 Computers......................................... 1,970 2,027 2,037 -2.8 -0.5 2.5 1,918 2,062 1,926 2,032 -5.6

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,077 1,082 1,079 -0.5 0.3 1.9 1,007 1,101 1,049 950 6.0

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,440 1,445 1,428 -0.3 1.2 0.9 1,392 1,468 1,378 1,387 0.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,192 5,960 5,769 3.9 3.3 -3.9 6,064 6,136 5,908 5,261 15.3

 Defense communications equipment...... 2,236 2,173 2,152 2.9 1.0 -3.1 2,236 2,173 2,152 2,050 9.1

 Audio and video equipment.................. 369 366 356 0.8 2.8 1.4 334 345 350 363 -8.0

 Electronic components.......................... 8,269 8,146 8,098 1.5 0.6 1.8 8,029 8,191 8,235 6,806 18.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 4,023 3,947 3,882 1.9 1.7 1.4 3,998 3,895 3,859 3,711 7.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,531 3,465 3,407 1.9 1.7 2.2 3,538 3,497 3,392 3,641 -2.8

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 12,518 12,367 12,282 1.2 0.7 0.7 12,403 12,620 12,361 11,359 9.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,056 15,011 14,819 0.3 1.3 0.3 15,069 15,178 14,807 13,737 9.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,624 1,632 1,642 -0.5 -0.6 0.2 1,622 1,630 1,635 1,563 3.8

 Household appliances.......................... 2,716 2,694 2,721 0.8 -1.0 -0.4 2,646 2,713 2,692 2,171 21.9

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,612 4,666 4,538 -1.2 2.8 -1.8 4,676 4,840 4,636 4,381 6.7

 Batteries............................................ 1,034 1,039 1,018 -0.5 2.1 2.0 1,031 1,019 979 952 8.3

 Transportation equipment......................... 89,799 88,143 87,002 1.9 1.3 0.8 89,889 88,576 86,697 77,931 15.3

 Automobiles....................................... 1,832 1,853 1,704 -1.1 8.7 -7.4 1,825 1,983 1,835 1,518 20.2

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 2,222 2,261 2,210 -1.7 2.3 12.2 2,282 2,264 2,014 1,849 23.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,355 1,340 1,325 1.1 1.1 1.7 1,319 1,335 1,324 1,282 2.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,796 16,780 16,665 0.1 0.7 0.4 16,930 17,111 16,944 15,369 10.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 44,406 43,181 42,571 2.8 1.4 1.4 44,351 43,021 42,071 34,691 27.8

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 12,435 12,021 12,006 3.4 0.1 0.0 12,393 11,975 11,937 12,204 1.5

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,998 3,941 3,786 1.4 4.1 0.3 4,164 4,070 3,837 3,486 19.4

 Furniture and related products................. 6,658 6,644 6,622 0.2 0.3 0.8 6,574 6,597 6,620 5,917 11.1

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 21,661 21,542 21,416 0.6 0.6 0.6 21,426 21,605 21,371 19,735 8.6

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 238,067 236,291 234,838 0.8 0.6 2.3 239,629 236,509 232,312 218,043 9.9

 Food products........................................ 43,457 43,079 42,910 0.9 0.4 1.3 42,680 43,040 43,072 39,516 8.0

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,559 5,729 5,970 -3.0 -4.0 3.2 5,529 5,867 6,215 5,288 4.6

 Dairy products.................................... 5,791 5,623 5,466 3.0 2.9 1.3 5,758 5,542 5,324 5,262 9.4

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 8,998 8,981 8,890 0.2 1.0 2.6 8,975 9,050 8,842 7,796 15.1

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 15,778 15,811 15,857 -0.2 -0.3 0.7 15,993 16,197 16,153 15,925 0.4

 Beverages......................................... 12,254 12,233 12,242 0.2 -0.1 0.7 12,376 12,413 12,351 12,072 2.5

 Tobacco............................................ 3,524 3,578 3,615 -1.5 -1.0 0.6 3,617 3,784 3,802 3,853 -6.1

 Textile mills............................................ 3,400 3,386 3,351 0.4 1.0 2.0 3,419 3,432 3,399 3,005 13.8

 Textile products...................................... 3,178 3,167 3,144 0.3 0.7 2.9 3,154 3,177 3,171 2,807 12.4

 Apparel................................................. 2,940 2,891 2,870 1.7 0.7 1.9 2,813 2,836 2,859 2,305 22.0

 Leather and allied products...................... 997 981 965 1.6 1.7 1.7 981 985 995 841 16.6

 Paper products....................................... 14,441 14,393 14,323 0.3 0.5 0.1 14,487 14,534 14,364 13,894 4.3

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 5,964 5,928 5,888 0.6 0.7 0.5 5,999 6,010 5,937 5,785 3.7

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,124 4,107 4,058 0.4 1.2 0.5 4,139 4,165 4,091 3,832 8.0

 Printing.................................................. 5,596 5,638 5,653 -0.7 -0.3 1.1 5,561 5,648 5,514 5,326 4.4

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 55,109 53,902 53,240 2.2 1.2 4.7 56,597 52,315 50,361 45,737 23.7

 Petroleum refineries............................. 52,265 51,031 50,317 2.4 1.4 4.8 53,715 49,428 47,466 43,151 24.5

 Chemical products..................................... 72,972 72,928 72,634 0.1 0.4 2.2 73,433 73,940 72,477 69,440 5.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,371 4,365 4,339 0.1 0.6 6.6 4,913 5,079 4,780 4,714 4.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 24,370 24,888 24,758 -2.1 0.5 -0.3 24,237 24,917 24,374 24,659 -1.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 3,517 3,489 3,486 0.8 0.1 0.5 3,623 3,605 3,490 3,246 11.6

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 20,199 20,115 19,891 0.4 1.1 1.6 20,511 20,405 19,947 19,247 6.6

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 461,449 449,434 446,860 2.7 0.6 1.7 487,260 412,652 408,986 437,300 1,308,898 1,186,070 10.4

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,395 40,699 40,829 1.7 -0.3 1.5 42,317 35,523 34,783 41,044 112,623 109,616 2.7

 Information technology......................... 27,122 26,831 27,217 1.1 -1.4 -1.1 29,917 23,582 23,553 29,638 77,052 75,587 1.9

 Computers and related products........... 6,283 6,063 6,059 3.6 0.1 -2.0 6,803 4,766 5,364 6,519 16,933 15,899 6.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 33,185 31,922 30,984 4.0 3.0 2.3 37,466 30,764 28,369 31,298 96,599 86,703 11.4

 Capital goods...................................... 76,228 74,343 73,573 2.5 1.0 -3.8 85,233 68,298 64,314 81,476 217,845 210,305 3.6

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 67,323 65,857 65,331 2.2 0.8 -3.3 75,343 59,946 57,515 69,534 192,804 177,454 8.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,234 61,793 61,486 2.3 0.5 -2.5 70,107 56,391 55,233 64,403 181,731 166,386 9.2

 Defense capital goods4....................... 8,905 8,486 8,242 4.9 3.0 -7.9 9,890 8,352 6,799 11,942 25,041 32,851 -23.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 199,337 192,155 190,461 3.7 0.9 3.3 203,899 175,795 176,570 176,223 556,264 487,417 14.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,543 25,900 24,990 2.5 3.6 1.9 30,222 24,928 22,291 25,989 77,441 70,343 10.1

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 172,794 166,255 165,471 3.9 0.5 3.5 173,677 150,867 154,279 150,234 478,823 417,074 14.8

 All manufacturing industries5.................. 462,914 449,387 446,417 3.0 0.7 3.3 494,762 413,236 412,703 436,921 1,320,701 1,184,405 11.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,779 41,622 42,422 0.4 -1.9 1.9 43,943 36,292 37,010 43,033 117,245 112,248 4.5

 Information technology......................... 27,233 27,559 27,177 -1.2 1.4 -4.2 30,668 25,046 23,905 31,100 79,619 76,513 4.1

 Computers and related products........... 6,412 5,795 5,834 10.6 -0.7 -4.6 6,932 4,498 5,139 6,892 16,569 15,678 5.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 33,200 32,016 30,933 3.7 3.5 1.9 37,196 30,943 28,513 30,930 96,652 86,401 11.9

 Capital goods...................................... 82,823 79,600 78,563 4.0 1.3 9.9 95,058 72,930 71,534 81,849 239,522 216,450 10.7

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 73,787 71,205 67,454 3.6 5.6 6.7 82,902 64,434 60,355 68,022 207,691 180,659 15.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 66,029 63,403 62,850 4.1 0.9 -5.9 73,397 59,407 58,769 66,600 191,573 170,560 12.3

 Defense capital goods4....................... 9,036 8,395 11,109 7.6 -24.4 33.9 12,156 8,496 11,179 13,827 31,831 35,791 -11.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 199,312 192,178 190,303 3.7 1.0 3.1 203,917 176,022 176,663 176,343 556,602 488,520 13.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,518 25,923 24,832 2.3 4.4 0.5 30,240 25,155 22,384 26,109 77,779 71,446 8.9

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 172,794 166,255 165,471 3.9 0.5 3.5 173,677 150,867 154,279 150,234 478,823 417,074 14.8

 All manufacturing industries5

.................. 843,978 836,979 830,973 0.8 0.7 0.8 854,071 842,387 836,381 806,457 (X) (X) 5.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 59,460 59,076 58,153 0.7 1.6 2.8 59,691 58,065 57,296 52,877 (X) (X) 12.9

 Information technology......................... 122,634 122,523 121,795 0.1 0.6 0.0 124,433 123,682 122,218 119,203 (X) (X) 4.4

 Computers and related products........... 5,215 5,086 5,354 2.5 -5.0 -4.0 5,215 5,086 5,354 5,150 (X) (X) 1.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 14,280 14,265 14,171 0.1 0.7 -0.4 14,505 14,775 14,596 14,346 (X) (X) 1.1

 Capital goods...................................... 655,800 649,205 643,948 1.0 0.8 0.8 663,527 653,702 649,070 626,597 (X) (X) 5.9

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 514,198 507,734 502,386 1.3 1.1 0.4 518,061 510,502 506,014 483,374 (X) (X) 7.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 213,585 210,790 209,180 1.3 0.8 0.7 215,480 212,190 209,174 191,036 (X) (X) 12.8

 Defense capital goods4....................... 141,602 141,471 141,562 0.1 -0.1 2.1 145,466 143,200 143,056 143,223 (X) (X) 1.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 8,819 8,844 8,821 -0.3 0.3 -1.8 9,053 9,035 8,808 9,120 (X) (X) -0.7

 Consumer durable goods..................... 8,819 8,844 8,821 -0.3 0.3 -1.8 9,053 9,035 8,808 9,120 (X) (X) -0.7

 All manufacturing industries................... 572,329 566,065 560,437 1.1 1.0 1.5 573,658 569,063 557,895 517,238 (X) (X) 10.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 56,643 56,224 55,592 0.7 1.1 0.7 57,228 57,001 55,687 54,593 (X) (X) 4.8

 Information technology......................... 40,426 39,790 39,310 1.6 1.2 0.4 39,923 40,268 39,278 37,183 (X) (X) 7.4

 Computers and related products........... 4,487 4,554 4,544 -1.5 0.2 1.9 4,317 4,631 4,353 4,369 (X) (X) -1.2

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 22,205 22,234 21,904 -0.1 1.5 0.9 22,356 22,693 22,117 20,018 (X) (X) 11.7

 Capital goods...................................... 161,273 158,103 156,126 2.0 1.3 1.0 161,362 159,508 155,697 142,175 (X) (X) 13.5

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 142,964 140,436 138,621 1.8 1.3 1.1 142,862 141,705 138,091 123,832 (X) (X) 15.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 107,065 105,796 104,519 1.2 1.2 0.8 106,898 107,260 104,452 97,285 (X) (X) 9.9

 Defense capital goods4

....................... 18,309 17,667 17,505 3.6 0.9 0.2 18,500 17,803 17,606 18,343 (X) (X) 0.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 178,839 177,652 176,402 0.7 0.7 1.9 179,240 176,941 173,984 161,779 (X) (X) 10.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,190 24,210 24,006 -0.1 0.8 0.8 23,983 24,654 24,274 21,325 (X) (X) 12.5

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 154,649 153,442 152,396 0.8 0.7 2.1 155,257 152,287 149,710 140,454 (X) (X) 10.5

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. Mar.

2011p 2011r 2011 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 190,795 189,859 187,844 0.5 1.1 1.6 191,079 190,909 188,136 175,689 8.8

 Durable goods industries........................ 111,122 110,455 109,631 0.6 0.8 0.9 110,621 111,060 110,111 102,403 8.0

 Wood products................................... 3,355 3,322 3,198 1.0 3.9 -0.7 3,300 3,415 3,322 3,121 5.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,682 4,634 4,590 1.0 1.0 3.4 4,713 4,660 4,573 4,636 1.7

 Primary metals.................................... 13,476 12,981 12,719 3.8 2.1 1.6 12,993 12,632 12,661 10,705 21.4

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,187 16,159 16,170 0.2 -0.1 1.4 16,246 16,246 16,324 15,040 8.0

 Machinery.......................................... 21,597 21,379 21,169 1.0 1.0 2.2 21,649 21,488 21,329 19,238 12.5

 Computers and electronic products...... 16,371 16,101 15,907 1.7 1.2 1.2 16,101 16,167 15,988 14,051 14.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,700 5,658 5,572 0.7 1.5 -1.5 5,776 5,685 5,579 5,506 4.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 19,497 19,948 20,091 -2.3 -0.7 -0.7 19,641 20,460 20,072 20,580 -4.6

 Furniture and related products............ 3,201 3,219 3,225 -0.6 -0.2 1.0 3,203 3,228 3,238 2,905 10.3

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,056 7,054 6,990 0.0 0.9 -0.5 6,999 7,079 7,025 6,621 5.7

 Nondurable goods industries................. 79,673 79,404 78,213 0.3 1.5 2.6 80,458 79,849 78,025 73,286 9.8

 Food products................................... 14,528 14,622 14,472 -0.6 1.0 -1.1 14,511 14,788 14,928 13,951 4.0

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,116 4,172 4,175 -1.3 -0.1 0.0 4,201 4,321 4,344 4,397 -4.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,258 1,254 1,245 0.3 0.7 3.2 1,264 1,261 1,252 1,111 13.8

 Textile products.................................. 1,292 1,305 1,285 -1.0 1.6 3.5 1,273 1,293 1,280 1,124 13.3

 Apparel............................................. 878 845 816 3.9 3.6 3.8 867 836 817 603 43.8

 Leather and allied products................ 378 368 357 2.7 3.1 0.6 370 367 361 311 19.0

 Paper products................................... 7,150 7,110 7,033 0.6 1.1 0.6 7,161 7,144 7,076 6,848 4.6

 Printing ............................................ 2,452 2,491 2,491 -1.6 0.0 1.5 2,440 2,481 2,443 2,263 7.8

 Petroleum and coal products............... 15,319 15,140 14,786 1.2 2.4 9.3 15,846 14,764 13,859 12,721 24.6

 Chemical products............................. 23,588 23,438 23,051 0.6 1.7 2.0 23,765 23,853 23,112 22,034 7.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,714 8,659 8,502 0.6 1.8 2.6 8,760 8,741 8,553 7,923 10.6

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 176,021 173,013 171,307 1.7 1.0 1.2 176,680 173,818 170,447 155,101 13.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 126,255 123,354 121,652 2.4 1.4 0.9 125,815 123,874 121,466 108,592 15.9

 Wood products................................... 1,753 1,744 1,716 0.5 1.6 0.9 1,756 1,727 1,689 1,679 4.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,292 1,290 1,338 0.2 -3.6 -1.5 1,362 1,337 1,323 1,384 -1.6

 Primary metals.................................... 9,650 9,666 9,489 -0.2 1.9 2.7 9,482 9,607 9,351 8,274 14.6

 Fabricated metal products.................. 12,281 12,081 11,955 1.7 1.1 2.0 12,227 12,098 11,939 11,206 9.1

 Machinery.......................................... 14,730 14,595 14,467 0.9 0.9 0.6 14,735 14,800 14,309 13,848 6.4

 Computers and electronic products...... 20,861 20,194 19,842 3.3 1.8 -1.7 20,594 20,462 19,897 19,048 8.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,476 3,450 3,420 0.8 0.9 2.6 3,497 3,499 3,426 3,042 15.0

 Transportation equipment.................. 57,778 55,889 54,982 3.4 1.6 1.4 57,763 55,882 55,144 46,064 25.4

 Furniture and related products............ 1,082 1,057 1,035 2.4 2.1 1.3 1,083 1,060 1,039 994 9.0

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,352 3,388 3,408 -1.1 -0.6 0.5 3,316 3,402 3,349 3,053 8.6

 Nondurable goods industries................. 49,766 49,659 49,655 0.2 0.0 1.8 50,865 49,944 48,981 46,509 9.4

 Food products................................... 3,793 3,833 3,768 -1.0 1.7 -1.6 3,728 3,967 4,037 3,496 6.6

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,750 5,747 5,779 0.1 -0.6 0.3 5,845 5,972 6,062 5,842 0.1

 Textiles.............................................. 739 730 715 1.2 2.1 1.4 739 732 724 652 13.3

 Textile products.................................. 556 544 547 2.2 -0.5 5.2 556 549 551 482 15.4

 Apparel............................................. 364 373 358 -2.4 4.2 3.5 347 363 350 312 11.2

 Leather and allied products................ 81 81 77 0.0 5.2 -2.5 84 86 83 75 12.0

 Paper products................................... 1,412 1,406 1,398 0.4 0.6 2.7 1,407 1,411 1,407 1,328 5.9

 Printing ............................................ 1,291 1,297 1,301 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 1,287 1,364 1,281 1,347 -4.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... 17,304 17,208 17,132 0.6 0.4 3.4 18,469 17,057 15,970 14,586 26.6

 Chemical products............................. 16,089 16,071 16,193 0.1 -0.8 1.2 15,966 16,012 16,094 16,201 -1.5

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,387 2,369 2,387 0.8 -0.8 4.4 2,437 2,431 2,422 2,188 11.4

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 205,513 203,193 201,286 1.1 0.9 1.7 205,899 204,336 199,312 186,448 10.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 96,885 95,965 94,316 1.0 1.7 1.1 97,593 97,620 94,006 88,200 10.6

 Wood products................................... 4,032 4,032 3,996 0.0 0.9 2.5 4,225 4,191 4,007 4,175 1.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,497 5,492 5,420 0.1 1.3 -1.3 5,681 5,678 5,456 5,549 2.4

 Primary metals.................................... 10,761 10,777 10,513 -0.1 2.5 3.1 10,963 10,925 10,502 9,213 19.0

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,417 15,166 14,874 1.7 2.0 0.0 15,723 15,399 14,824 14,579 7.8

 Machinery.......................................... 18,698 18,305 18,000 2.1 1.7 0.9 19,156 19,035 18,251 16,783 14.1

 Computers and electronic products...... 10,448 10,516 10,377 -0.6 1.3 2.3 10,165 10,731 10,343 9,346 8.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,880 5,903 5,827 -0.4 1.3 0.7 5,796 5,994 5,802 5,189 11.7

 Transportation equipment.................. 12,524 12,306 11,929 1.8 3.2 0.8 12,485 12,234 11,481 11,287 10.6

 Furniture and related products............ 2,375 2,368 2,362 0.3 0.3 0.3 2,288 2,309 2,343 2,018 13.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 11,253 11,100 11,018 1.4 0.7 1.3 11,111 11,124 10,997 10,061 10.4

 Nondurable goods industries................. 108,628 107,228 106,970 1.3 0.2 2.3 108,306 106,716 105,306 98,248 10.2

 Food products................................... 25,136 24,624 24,670 2.1 -0.2 3.2 24,441 24,285 24,107 22,069 10.7

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,912 5,892 5,903 0.3 -0.2 1.6 5,947 5,904 5,747 5,686 4.6

 Textiles.............................................. 1,403 1,402 1,391 0.1 0.8 1.2 1,416 1,439 1,423 1,242 14.0

 Textile products.................................. 1,330 1,318 1,312 0.9 0.5 1.4 1,325 1,335 1,340 1,201 10.3

 Apparel............................................. 1,698 1,673 1,696 1.5 -1.4 0.7 1,599 1,637 1,692 1,390 15.0

 Leather and allied products................ 538 532 531 1.1 0.2 3.1 527 532 551 455 15.8

 Paper products................................... 5,879 5,877 5,892 0.0 -0.3 -1.0 5,919 5,979 5,881 5,718 3.5

 Printing ............................................ 1,853 1,850 1,861 0.2 -0.6 1.6 1,834 1,803 1,790 1,716 6.9

 Petroleum and coal products............... 22,486 21,554 21,322 4.3 1.1 2.7 22,282 20,494 20,532 18,430 20.9

 Chemical products............................. 33,295 33,419 33,390 -0.4 0.1 2.9 33,702 34,075 33,271 31,205 8.0

 Plastics and rubber products............... 9,098 9,087 9,002 0.1 0.9 0.0 9,314 9,233 8,972 9,136 1.9

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 Mar Feb Jan Dec Mar Feb Jan Dec

2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2011r 2011 2010

All manufacturing industries2

............................ 1.24 1.26 1.25 1.26 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.61 1.62 1.61 1.60 5.54 5.63 5.63 5.55

 Wood products.............................................. 1.41 1.44 1.37 1.34 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.37 1.38 1.37 1.39 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.39 1.42 1.42 1.44 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.99

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.54 1.55 1.54 1.52 2.01 2.04 2.01 1.99

 Machinery..................................................... 2.03 2.09 2.12 1.94 4.88 4.99 5.00 4.54

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.47 1.43 1.36 1.39 5.17 5.18 5.08 5.06

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.49 1.50 1.49 1.47 3.05 3.01 2.98 2.92

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.76 1.78 1.80 1.79 13.21 13.55 13.62 13.48

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.12 1.14 1.14 1.16 1.36 1.35 1.33 1.37

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.60 1.61 1.60 1.65 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.94 0.96 0.96 0.97 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.44 1.50 1.54 1.51 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.36 1.35 1.36 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.63 1.64 1.69 1.65 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.21 2.19 2.14 2.10 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.40 2.40 2.37 2.29 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 0.99 1.00 0.99 0.99 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.75 0.77 0.77 0.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.74 0.78 0.77 0.79 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.15 1.17 1.17 1.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.25 1.26 1.24 1.22 (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.

Mar2 Mar2 Mar2 Mar2

Industry 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010-

Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb

2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011

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

Durable goods industries....................... 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... 0.3 0.8 0.3 2.0 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.4

 Fabricated metal products.................... 1.1 0.5 1.1 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.8 0.2 2.2 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.2 0.9 0.3 0.9 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.2 0.6 0.4 1.4 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 1.1 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.4

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.4 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.2 (X) 0.2

Nondurable goods industries................... (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.7 (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 59 

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.

 

Benchmark Notice

Revised historical data for Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders will be issued on 

May 13, 2011. These revisions reflect:

o benchmarking the shipments and inventory data to the 2009 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) 

data;

o incorporating the unfilled orders to shipments ratios obtained from the 2008/2009 Manufacturers’ 

Unfilled Orders Survey by applying these ratios to the respective ASM shipments data;

o adjusting new orders to be consistent with the benchmarked shipments and unfilled orders data;

o correcting monthly data for late receipts, reclassifications of reported data, and revisions to previously 

reported data; and

o updating the seasonal adjustment factors for all series.

An accompanying press release will include the revised 2011 January through March data. Please call 

Heather Dudash on (301)763-4832 with any questions.