FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Jessica Young 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (08)-05 

CB08-103 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

May 2008 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in May, up three 

consecutive months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.6 percent 

to $448.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported 

today. This was at the highest level since the series was 

first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.3 

percent April increase. 

 Shipments, up four of the last five months, increased 

$0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $446.4 billion. This was 

also at the highest level since the series was first stated 

on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 2.7 percent 

April increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up twenty-seven of the last twentyeight months, increased $7.1 billion or 0.9 percent to 

$810.1 billion. This was also at the highest level since 

the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and 

followed a 0.7 percent April increase. The unfilled 

orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.32, up from 5.27 in 

April. 

 Inventories, up eight of the last nine months, increased 

$2.8 billion or 0.5 percent to $548.4 billion. This was 

also at the highest level since the series was first stated 

on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a slight April 

decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.23, 

up from 1.22 in April. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, 

up following two consecutive monthly decreases, 

increased slightly to $213.5 billion, unchanged from the 

previously published increase. This followed a 1.0 

percent April decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, up following two 

consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, 

$1.4 billion or 2.5 percent to $57.2 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $2.7 billion or 1.2 percent to $235.1 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, 

down three of the last four months, decreased $2.4 

billion or 1.1 percent to $211.2 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 1.8 

percent April increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, down three of the last four 

months, had the largest decrease, $2.0 billion or 3.8 

percent to $51.9 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $2.7 billion or 1.2 

percent to $235.1 billion. This was also at the highest 

level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis 

in 1992 and followed a 3.5 percent April increase. This 

increase was led by petroleum and coal products, which 

increased $2.5 billion or 4.0 percent to $65.6 billion. 

Petroleum and coal products was also at the highest level 

since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 

1992. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

May, up twenty-seven of the last twenty-eight months, 

increased $7.1 billion or 0.9 percent to $810.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This was also at the highest level since the series was first 

stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.7 

percent April increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up twenty-three of the last 

twenty-four months, had the largest increase, $5.4 billion 

or 1.2 percent to $458.6 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, up 

ten of the last eleven months, increased $1.4 billion or 

0.4 percent to $330.3 billion, unchanged from the 

previously published increase. This was also at the 

highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS 

basis in 1992 and followed a 0.6 percent April increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up twenty of the last 

twenty-one months, had the largest increase, $0.7 billion or 0.8 percent to $86.3 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up six 

of the last seven months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.6 

percent to $218.1 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent 

April decrease. Petroleum and coal products led the 

increase, up $0.8 billion or 2.1 percent to $39.9 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, May materials and supplies 

increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 1.2 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 1.1 

percent in durable goods and 3.9 percent in nondurable 

goods. Finished goods decreased slightly in durable 

goods and 1.1 percent in nondurable goods. 

Figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. For data, call (301) 763-4673 or go to <http://www.census.gov/m3>. The advance report on durable goods for June is scheduled for release on July 25, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on August 4, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. See back page for survey description. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2008/

2008p 2008r 2008 May Apr. Mar. 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 2008p 2007 2007

 All manufacturing industries .................. 446,368 446,031 434,378 0.1 2.7 1.1 460,694 447,052 447,025 441,067 2,177,136 2,060,847 5.6

 Excluding transportation ................... 394,505 392,145 380,974 0.6 2.9 1.9 406,805 394,044 389,673 379,179 1,905,997 1,771,662 7.6

 Excluding defense .............................. 434,422 434,070 423,061 0.1 2.6 1.1 448,681 435,869 434,507 431,570 2,121,819 2,015,440 5.3

 With unfilled orders ........................... 152,136 152,422 150,445 -0.2 1.3 0.1 154,754 151,526 160,637 153,844 749,650 730,715 2.6

 Durable goods industries ........................211,229 213,591 209,778 -1.1 1.8 -0.9 215,373 213,520 222,176 222,421 1,053,238 1,053,873 -0.1

 Wood products................................. ...... 8,077 8,114 8,081 -0.5 0.4 -0.2 8,519 8,340 7,958 9,269 39,412 41,020 -3.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,257 9,243 9,174 0.2 0.8 0.2 9,855 9,623 9,009 10,964 45,130 49,831 -9.4

 Primary metals............................ .......... 22,215 21,978 21,346 1.1 3.0 1.6 23,509 23,298 22,113 21,921 110,698 102,048 8.5

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,462 11,161 10,439 2.7 6.9 2.3 12,137 11,956 10,905 10,383 55,499 49,089 13.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 8,905 9,040 9,127 -1.5 -1.0 0.5 9,399 9,466 9,385 9,765 46,178 44,554 3.6

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,848 1,777 1,780 4.0 -0.2 3.1 1,973 1,876 1,823 1,773 9,021 8,405 7.3

 Fabricated metal products...................... 27,763 27,803 27,249 -0.1 2.0 1.6 28,957 28,535 27,404 28,843 136,233 134,746 1.1

 Machinery............................................. 28,949 28,816 29,040 0.5 -0.8 -0.6 29,682 30,316 31,856 28,874 146,059 135,772 7.6

 Farm machinery................................. 2,305 2,221 2,137 3.8 3.9 5.3 2,659 3,014 2,683 2,209 12,528 10,582 18.4

 Construction machinery..................... 2,297 2,355 2,264 -2.5 4.0 -4.1 2,512 2,569 2,458 2,399 11,993 10,630 12.8

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery........................ 1,517 1,502 1,431 1.0 5.0 -5.7 1,471 1,467 1,557 1,420 7,329 6,966 5.2

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,164 3,071 3,128 3.0 -1.8 4.5 2,672 3,102 3,389 3,036 14,947 15,670 -4.6

 Photographic equipment...................... 568 570 557 -0.4 2.3 0.9 560 550 577 636 2,634 3,137 -16.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,812 3,890 4,272 -2.0 -8.9 -11.2 3,988 3,676 4,561 3,855 19,653 16,996 15.6

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,456 2,516 2,337 -2.4 7.7 -2.2 2,401 2,379 2,518 2,317 11,930 11,135 7.1

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,932 3,715 3,585 5.8 3.6 3.0 4,102 4,104 3,816 3,586 18,719 16,340 14.6

 Material handling equipment............... 2,505 2,494 2,901 0.4 -14.0 8.6 2,472 2,407 3,385 2,383 13,094 11,214 16.8

 Computers and electronic products ......... 32,578 33,333 31,476 -2.3 5.9 -0.8 30,441 30,524 35,514 30,382 156,166 154,242 1.2

 Computers........................................ 3,227 2,975 3,304 8.5 -10.0 -4.2 2,755 2,748 3,762 3,097 15,372 16,093 -4.5

 Computer storage devices................... 663 704 721 -5.8 -2.4 1.7 531 371 1,067 537 2,892 2,644 9.4

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,449 1,491 1,390 -2.8 7.3 2.7 1,330 1,130 1,739 1,203 6,364 6,013 5.8

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 5,066 4,909 5,109 3.2 -3.9 1.1 4,763 4,157 6,046 4,777 23,369 23,778 -1.7

 Defense communications equipment... 649 630 691 3.0 -8.8 4.4 670 635 758 607 3,247 2,649 22.6

 Audio and video equipment.................. 731 776 672 -5.8 15.5 -1.2 629 638 641 663 3,207 3,609 -11.1

 Semiconductors ................................. 4,794 5,974 4,416 -19.8 35.3 -5.5 4,562 6,408 4,272 5,431 26,783 28,615 -6.4

 Electronic components....................... 4,024 4,095 4,037 -1.7 1.4 1.0 3,831 3,722 4,510 3,978 19,478 19,597 -0.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 982 949 954 3.5 -0.5 0.8 1,012 896 1,063 1,010 4,891 4,735 3.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,996 2,701 2,719 10.9 -0.7 2.2 3,026 2,626 2,927 2,559 13,567 12,948 4.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 7,428 7,563 6,912 -1.8 9.4 -1.6 6,831 6,710 8,172 6,080 34,496 31,058 11.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,724 10,657 10,540 0.6 1.1 -0.1 10,986 10,597 10,976 10,873 52,263 51,768 1.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,028 1,027 1,013 0.1 1.4 -1.4 1,026 1,020 1,058 1,175 5,032 5,625 -10.5

 Household appliances........................ 1,970 1,970 1,949 0.0 1.1 -0.1 2,015 1,936 1,993 2,029 9,295 9,595 -3.1

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,523 3,501 3,479 0.6 0.6 -2.0 3,608 3,434 3,712 3,491 17,557 16,752 4.8

 Batteries........................................... 833 837 788 -0.5 6.2 1.8 802 801 766 655 3,770 3,106 21.4

 Transportation equipment...................... 51,863 53,886 53,404 -3.8 0.9 -4.1 53,889 53,008 57,352 61,888 271,139 289,185 -6.2

 Automobiles..................................... 6,606 6,706 6,849 -1.5 -2.1 -10.4 6,940 6,729 7,248 8,705 36,650 40,964 -10.5

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 8,205 8,835 9,247 -7.1 -4.5 -13.3 8,586 8,604 9,547 13,102 47,289 57,380 -17.6

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,462 1,609 1,505 -9.1 6.9 11.8 1,498 1,610 1,544 1,437 7,424 9,080 -18.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 16,045 16,347 16,966 -1.8 -3.6 -0.9 17,046 17,312 17,450 20,622 86,282 99,024 -12.9

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 8,189 8,647 7,908 -5.3 9.3 -3.7 8,196 7,901 9,310 8,466 40,396 38,438 5.1

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,508 4,628 4,500 -2.6 2.8 -2.0 4,448 4,127 5,111 3,263 20,684 15,447 33.9

 Ships and boats................................. 2,350 2,317 2,321 1.4 -0.2 -2.7 2,594 2,374 2,493 2,404 11,935 11,032 8.2

 Furniture and related products................. 6,514 6,513 6,479 0.0 0.5 -0.4 6,571 6,408 6,391 6,844 32,099 33,870 -5.2

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,289 13,248 12,989 0.3 2.0 0.0 12,964 12,871 13,603 12,563 64,039 61,391 4.3

 Nondurable goods industries................... 235,139 232,440 224,600 1.2 3.5 3.1 245,321 233,532 224,849 218,646 1,123,898 1,006,974 11.6

 Food products....................................... 51,159 51,119 49,771 0.1 2.7 1.0 51,446 49,055 50,131 47,706 247,506 227,915 8.6

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 5,870 5,790 5,805 1.4 -0.3 3.7 5,747 5,526 5,892 4,837 28,306 23,708 19.4

 Dairy products.................................. 7,555 7,467 7,292 1.2 2.4 -3.5 7,703 7,082 7,227 7,267 36,692 32,726 12.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 15,226 15,457 14,816 -1.5 4.3 2.7 15,761 15,088 14,611 14,932 73,942 70,459 4.9

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 11,673 11,454 11,285 1.9 1.5 5.5 12,663 11,316 11,144 12,130 55,353 52,498 5.4

 Beverages......................................... 7,803 7,697 7,764 1.4 -0.9 5.0 8,793 7,559 7,623 8,365 37,574 35,191 6.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,870 3,757 3,521 3.0 6.7 6.7 3,870 3,757 3,521 3,765 17,779 17,307 2.7

 Textile mills........................................... 2,814 2,875 2,894 -2.1 -0.7 0.8 2,880 2,936 2,974 3,151 14,475 15,527 -6.8

 Textile products................................... 2,367 2,356 2,344 0.5 0.5 -0.3 2,433 2,375 2,392 2,622 11,673 12,754 -8.5

 Apparel................................................ 2,594 2,601 2,587 -0.3 0.5 2.1 2,524 2,494 2,574 2,354 12,513 11,797 6.1

 Leather and allied products..................... 489 512 488 -4.5 4.9 0.6 440 486 510 477 2,388 2,557 -6.6

 Paper products...................................... 14,227 14,362 14,314 -0.9 0.3 1.3 14,503 14,303 14,310 14,387 71,385 69,319 3.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,886 6,994 6,846 -1.5 2.2 1.2 6,902 6,964 6,901 6,891 34,592 33,286 3.9

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,013 4,090 4,107 -1.9 -0.4 2.0 4,106 4,070 4,057 4,105 20,092 19,637 2.3

 Printing................................................. 8,228 8,464 8,310 -2.8 1.9 2.8 8,045 8,297 8,426 8,338 40,274 40,923 -1.6

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 65,611 63,112 58,381 4.0 8.1 10.2 70,845 63,344 55,610 50,388 289,432 211,715 36.7

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 62,920 60,454 55,919 4.1 8.1 10.7 67,879 60,673 53,387 47,357 277,360 199,516 39.0

 Chemical products.................................. 58,261 58,032 56,771 0.4 2.2 0.0 60,778 60,650 59,180 58,197 290,569 274,676 5.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 3,354 3,186 3,203 5.3 -0.5 -1.3 4,694 4,824 4,249 3,550 19,657 15,559 26.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 14,100 14,504 14,157 -2.8 2.5 -3.2 14,081 14,833 14,411 15,432 71,492 75,988 -5.9

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,824 2,849 2,767 -0.9 3.0 -0.9 3,112 3,033 2,819 3,134 14,135 13,922 1.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,716 17,553 17,455 0.9 0.6 -0.7 18,764 18,276 17,598 18,896 88,330 87,293 1.2

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Year to date
 3

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2008/

2008p 2008r 2008 May Apr. Mar. 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 2008p 2007 2007

All manufacturing industries 2................... 448,680 445,915 440,216 0.6 1.3 1.5 458,269 444,663 456,231 437,974 2,195,708 2,080,538 5.5

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 391,448 390,058 379,303 0.4 2.8 2.6 402,896 392,839 390,280 374,684 1,901,818 1,762,830 7.9

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 436,182 434,754 428,590 0.3 1.4 1.7 448,104 436,035 440,689 430,876 2,137,935 2,036,076 5.0

 With unfilled orders 2.......................... 159,242 158,280 160,699 0.6 -1.5 0.9 156,891 155,545 174,115 156,182 795,005 779,021 2.1

 Durable goods industries 2..................... 213,541 213,475 215,616 0.0 -1.0 -0.2 212,948 211,131 231,382 219,328 1,071,810 1,073,564 -0.2

 Primary metals............................ ............ 21,964 22,408 21,855 -2.0 2.5 2.5 22,754 23,909 22,928 21,611 113,357 104,201 8.8

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,403 11,603 10,887 -1.7 6.6 5.6 11,775 12,486 11,655 10,141 57,868 50,885 13.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 8,759 9,000 9,198 -2.7 -2.2 -0.5 9,057 9,526 9,476 9,644 46,368 44,722 3.7

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,802 1,805 1,770 -0.2 2.0 -0.3 1,922 1,897 1,797 1,826 9,121 8,594 6.1

 Fabricated metal products...................... 27,674 27,694 28,368 -0.1 -2.4 5.2 29,596 28,901 30,040 29,564 141,202 139,316 1.4

 Machinery............................................. 30,421 32,006 30,526 -5.0 4.8 8.5 30,499 34,178 33,382 27,952 156,654 141,390 10.8

 Construction machinery....................... 2,631 2,896 3,832 -9.2 -24.4 100.9 2,526 3,149 4,216 1,683 15,061 11,426 31.8

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery........................ 1,915 2,170 1,456 -11.8 49.0 -7.0 1,961 2,109 1,530 1,408 8,727 6,584 32.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,205 3,339 3,144 -4.0 6.2 0.5 2,506 3,857 3,257 3,030 16,750 17,941 -6.6

 Photographic equipment...................... 596 566 498 5.3 13.7 -2.0 565 565 544 596 2,845 3,121 -8.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,232 4,991 3,661 -15.2 36.3 -6.1 4,669 4,932 3,822 4,098 20,684 18,346 12.7

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,553 2,854 2,413 -10.5 18.3 2.5 2,465 2,787 2,516 2,301 12,740 11,683 9.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment....... 4,046 3,714 4,178 8.9 -11.1 12.6 4,141 4,049 4,492 3,458 19,715 16,168 21.9

 Material handling equipment............... 2,377 2,445 2,775 -2.8 -11.9 3.3 2,158 2,302 3,296 2,205 13,245 11,461 15.6

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 28,133 27,330 27,889 2.9 -2.0 0.9 25,137 23,812 32,465 25,437 131,463 128,632 2.2

 Computers........................................ 3,432 2,857 3,533 20.1 -19.1 -1.9 2,960 2,630 3,991 3,089 15,266 15,978 -4.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 5,139 5,005 4,988 2.7 0.3 -3.2 4,781 4,601 5,887 5,667 24,603 25,547 -3.7

 Defense communications equipment... 927 784 822 18.2 -4.6 28.6 683 549 1,215 211 3,440 2,177 58.0

 Semiconductors 2

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

 Electronic components....................... 3,919 4,055 4,278 -3.4 -5.2 2.6 3,712 3,665 4,615 4,019 19,917 19,926 0.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 976 1,060 747 -7.9 41.9 -25.8 934 949 860 1,067 5,000 5,172 -3.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,005 2,690 2,767 11.7 -2.8 7.9 2,421 2,274 3,458 2,178 13,696 12,778 7.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,323 7,342 7,420 -0.3 -1.1 2.6 6,655 6,522 8,435 6,363 34,578 32,285 7.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 11,123 10,956 9,279 1.5 18.1 -18.8 11,578 10,987 9,390 11,179 54,345 54,687 -0.6

 Electric lighting equipment................... 985 1,082 1,006 -9.0 7.6 -14.2 1,040 1,144 1,069 1,129 5,338 6,054 -11.8

 Household appliances.......................... 1,924 2,030 2,054 -5.2 -1.2 3.9 1,993 1,961 1,986 2,009 9,476 10,009 -5.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,700 3,572 2,419 3.6 47.7 -42.0 3,857 3,618 2,483 3,805 18,676 18,409 1.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 57,232 55,857 60,913 2.5 -8.3 -5.1 55,373 51,824 65,951 63,290 293,890 317,708 -7.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 16,042 16,298 17,012 -1.6 -4.2 1.6 16,779 17,285 17,104 20,405 85,384 98,831 -13.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 13,295 12,058 16,000 10.3 -24.6 8.7 11,180 9,351 17,084 12,282 62,584 64,914 -3.6

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 5,175 4,510 4,638 14.7 -2.8 6.8 4,630 3,606 6,071 2,038 22,465 12,203 84.1

 Ships and boats................................. 1,860 2,117 2,565 -12.1 -17.5 -22.2 1,718 1,784 2,797 2,872 12,110 12,945 -6.5

 Furniture and related products................. 6,476 6,576 6,653 -1.5 -1.2 2.4 6,778 6,643 6,767 7,261 32,897 35,067 -6.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 235,139 232,440 224,600 1.2 3.5 3.1 245,321 233,532 224,849 218,646 1,123,898 1,006,974 11.6

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

2

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

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

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

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

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

Year to date
 4 

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May May

2008p 2008r 2008 May Apr. Mar. 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 08/07

All manufacturing industries 1................... 810,078 802,972 797,114 0.9 0.7 1.3 817,171 815,034 811,015 706,184 15.7

 Excluding transportation 1................... 351,433 349,696 345,809 0.5 1.1 0.8 357,625 356,972 351,769 329,222 8.6

 Excluding defense 1............................. 657,671 651,117 644,459 1.0 1.0 1.6 663,406 659,421 652,847 560,480 18.4

 Durable goods industries 1..................... 810,078 802,972 797,114 0.9 0.7 1.3 817,171 815,034 811,015 706,184 15.7

 Primary metals........................................ 29,043 29,294 28,864 -0.9 1.5 1.8 29,922 30,677 30,066 29,098 2.8

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 18,228 18,287 17,845 -0.3 2.5 2.6 18,819 19,181 18,651 17,966 4.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 7,846 7,992 8,032 -1.8 -0.5 0.9 8,067 8,409 8,349 7,970 1.2

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,969 3,015 2,987 -1.5 0.9 -0.3 3,036 3,087 3,066 3,162 -4.0

 Fabricated metal products...................... 62,298 62,387 62,496 -0.1 -0.2 1.8 64,388 63,749 63,383 59,819 7.6

 Machinery............................................. 99,044 97,572 94,382 1.5 3.4 1.6 100,982 100,165 96,303 84,002 20.2

 Construction machinery....................... 13,500 13,166 12,625 2.5 4.3 14.2 14,144 14,130 13,550 11,557 22.4

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery........................ 6,134 5,736 5,068 6.9 13.2 0.5 6,229 5,739 5,097 3,899 59.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 16,324 16,283 16,015 0.3 1.7 0.1 16,714 16,880 16,125 15,278 9.4

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,690 1,662 1,666 1.7 -0.2 -3.4 1,717 1,712 1,697 1,604 7.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 14,251 13,831 12,730 3.0 8.6 -4.6 14,529 13,848 12,592 9,933 46.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 8,343 8,246 7,908 1.2 4.3 1.0 8,489 8,425 8,017 6,900 23.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment....... 14,439 14,325 14,326 0.8 0.0 4.3 14,524 14,485 14,540 12,802 13.5

 Material handling equipment............... 9,929 10,057 10,106 -1.3 -0.5 -1.2 10,057 10,371 10,476 8,995 11.8

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 123,274 122,925 122,954 0.3 0.0 0.7 123,847 124,589 124,893 117,758 5.2

 Computers......................................... 3,611 3,406 3,524 6.0 -3.3 6.9 3,611 3,406 3,524 3,370 7.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 29,334 29,261 29,165 0.2 0.3 -0.4 29,961 29,943 29,499 30,044 -0.3

 Defense communications equipment... 8,096 7,818 7,664 3.6 2.0 1.7 7,883 7,870 7,956 6,303 25.1

 Semiconductors 1

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

 Electronic components....................... 10,690 10,795 10,835 -1.0 -0.4 2.3 10,695 10,814 10,871 10,329 3.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 6,656 6,662 6,551 -0.1 1.7 -3.1 6,710 6,788 6,735 5,988 12.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 37,200 37,191 37,202 0.0 0.0 0.1 37,330 37,935 38,287 35,750 4.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 27,687 27,792 28,013 -0.4 -0.8 1.8 27,657 27,833 28,021 25,974 6.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 24,684 24,285 23,986 1.6 1.2 -5.0 25,146 24,554 24,164 24,769 1.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 2,553 2,596 2,541 -1.7 2.2 -0.3 2,662 2,648 2,524 2,423 9.9

 Household appliances.......................... 746 792 732 -5.8 8.2 16.7 753 775 750 924 -18.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 15,654 15,477 15,406 1.1 0.5 -6.4 15,848 15,599 15,415 14,692 7.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 458,645 453,276 451,305 1.2 0.4 1.7 459,546 458,062 459,246 376,962 21.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 17,629 17,632 17,681 0.0 -0.3 0.3 17,667 17,934 17,961 20,240 -12.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 303,229 298,123 294,712 1.7 1.2 2.8 302,803 299,819 298,369 223,734 35.3

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 44,444 43,777 43,895 1.5 -0.3 0.3 45,083 44,901 45,422 38,903 15.9

 Ships and boats................................. 19,902 20,392 20,592 -2.4 -1.0 1.2 20,178 21,054 21,644 21,475 -6.0

 Furniture and related products................. 7,312 7,350 7,287 -0.5 0.9 2.4 7,562 7,355 7,120 7,864 -3.8

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May May

2008p 2008r 2008 May Apr. Mar. 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 08/07

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 548,441 545,633 545,791 0.5 0.0 0.9 552,967 548,589 544,108 521,240 6.1

 Excluding transportation ...................... 462,152 460,037 460,982 0.5 -0.2 0.8 465,689 462,301 459,676 443,549 5.0

 Excluding defense ............................. 523,937 521,129 521,688 0.5 -0.1 1.0 528,323 523,962 520,085 499,482 5.8

 With unfilled orders ............................. 264,398 262,913 260,821 0.6 0.8 1.3 266,870 264,796 259,993 249,866 6.8

 Durable goods industries ........................ 330,323 328,911 327,066 0.4 0.6 1.0 333,202 331,151 326,228 316,398 5.3

 Wood products................................. ....... 10,280 10,311 10,502 -0.3 -1.8 -2.5 10,132 10,201 10,621 11,402 -11.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 12,069 12,019 11,972 0.4 0.4 0.8 12,345 12,321 12,248 11,881 3.9

 Primary metals............................ ............ 32,971 32,282 31,693 2.1 1.9 2.3 33,102 32,339 31,552 30,984 6.8

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,108 17,607 17,185 2.8 2.5 3.0 18,054 17,471 16,965 16,957 6.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 12,306 12,137 11,946 1.4 1.6 2.2 12,434 12,271 11,944 11,413 8.9

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,557 2,538 2,562 0.7 -0.9 -1.5 2,614 2,597 2,643 2,614 0.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 43,039 42,860 42,443 0.4 1.0 0.4 43,379 43,363 42,828 42,194 2.8

 Machinery.............................................. 53,510 53,407 53,549 0.2 -0.3 1.3 53,976 53,942 53,897 51,072 5.7

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,051 3,012 2,960 1.3 1.8 2.2 3,057 3,091 3,215 2,449 24.8

 Construction machinery........................ 5,529 5,476 5,391 1.0 1.6 0.6 5,596 5,575 5,490 5,132 9.0

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 4,298 4,274 4,256 0.6 0.4 0.5 4,390 4,320 4,258 4,073 7.8

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,785 6,745 6,646 0.6 1.5 2.1 6,909 6,698 6,662 6,723 2.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,270 1,255 1,264 1.2 -0.7 -2.0 1,304 1,272 1,246 1,594 -18.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,821 4,826 4,916 -0.1 -1.8 0.5 5,047 5,051 4,979 5,009 0.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,155 5,181 5,213 -0.5 -0.6 2.1 5,157 5,171 5,173 4,779 7.9

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 5,973 5,998 6,250 -0.4 -4.0 4.2 5,907 5,964 6,097 5,359 10.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,422 3,377 3,327 1.3 1.5 1.5 3,441 3,420 3,329 3,039 13.2

 Computers and electronic products ......... 46,426 46,363 46,045 0.1 0.7 1.2 46,808 46,280 44,906 45,786 2.2

 Computers......................................... 1,446 1,458 1,522 -0.8 -4.2 3.8 1,447 1,365 1,489 1,447 0.0

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,668 1,669 1,678 -0.1 -0.5 7.7 1,742 1,710 1,556 1,454 19.8

 Other peripheral equipment................... 2,066 2,051 2,055 0.7 -0.2 0.9 2,130 2,074 1,949 2,062 3.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 8,450 8,465 8,413 -0.2 0.6 2.3 8,470 8,426 8,135 8,119 4.3

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,471 1,468 1,355 0.2 8.3 11.4 1,471 1,468 1,355 1,005 46.4

 Audio and video equipment.................. 982 971 993 1.1 -2.2 0.7 917 843 889 793 15.6

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

 Electronic components.......................... 6,630 6,582 6,648 0.7 -1.0 -0.4 6,685 6,623 6,476 6,577 1.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 4,792 4,756 4,714 0.8 0.9 1.7 4,807 4,757 4,667 4,070 18.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,405 3,379 3,385 0.8 -0.2 0.4 3,459 3,440 3,361 3,209 7.8

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,397 10,482 10,333 -0.8 1.4 1.4 10,514 10,486 10,158 11,425 -8.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,122 15,285 15,119 -1.1 1.1 -0.6 15,371 15,602 15,261 14,552 5.6

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,780 1,787 1,695 -0.4 5.4 -3.8 1,836 1,833 1,707 1,834 0.1

 Household appliances.......................... 1,957 1,974 2,011 -0.9 -1.8 -0.7 2,023 2,057 1,991 2,016 0.3

 Electrical equipment............................. 5,251 5,240 5,254 0.2 -0.3 -1.8 5,285 5,324 5,319 4,872 8.5

 Batteries............................................ 810 804 782 0.7 2.8 4.3 830 821 787 657 26.3

 Transportation equipment......................... 86,289 85,596 84,809 0.8 0.9 1.6 87,278 86,288 84,432 77,691 12.3

 Automobiles....................................... 2,494 2,432 2,723 2.5 -10.7 -1.7 2,502 2,397 2,617 2,654 -5.7

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 2,804 2,912 2,967 -3.7 -1.9 2.1 2,865 3,009 2,918 3,567 -19.7

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,515 1,533 1,432 -1.2 7.1 3.2 1,519 1,516 1,416 1,405 8.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,769 16,843 16,904 -0.4 -0.4 -0.1 16,924 17,110 17,095 18,150 -6.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 37,057 36,356 35,778 1.9 1.6 3.8 37,648 36,561 35,536 29,411 28.0

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 14,218 13,976 13,770 1.7 1.5 0.2 14,314 14,012 13,699 12,489 14.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,935 3,125 3,033 -6.1 3.0 0.6 2,854 3,142 3,100 2,838 0.6

 Furniture and related products................. 7,850 7,903 7,994 -0.7 -1.1 -0.2 7,961 7,893 7,861 8,357 -4.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 22,767 22,885 22,940 -0.5 -0.2 0.1 22,850 22,922 22,622 22,479 1.7

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 218,118 216,722 218,725 0.6 -0.9 0.9 219,765 217,438 217,880 204,842 7.3

 Food products........................................ 37,785 37,564 37,425 0.6 0.4 0.4 36,617 36,650 36,710 34,526 6.1

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,185 5,082 5,000 2.0 1.6 1.7 4,939 4,968 4,996 4,313 14.5

 Dairy products.................................... 4,512 4,469 4,457 1.0 0.3 -0.5 4,669 4,576 4,409 4,707 -0.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 7,613 7,519 7,476 1.3 0.6 0.4 7,604 7,525 7,506 6,926 9.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 15,260 15,193 15,135 0.4 0.4 -0.4 15,050 15,222 15,296 14,871 1.2

 Beverages......................................... 11,417 11,348 11,314 0.6 0.3 0.4 11,290 11,371 11,399 10,924 3.4

 Tobacco............................................ 3,843 3,845 3,821 -0.1 0.6 -2.4 3,760 3,851 3,897 3,947 -4.7

 Textile mills............................................ 3,699 3,710 3,749 -0.3 -1.0 -0.4 3,721 3,709 3,757 3,854 -3.5

 Textile products...................................... 3,255 3,322 3,349 -2.0 -0.8 -0.1 3,300 3,324 3,300 3,443 -4.2

 Apparel................................................. 4,461 4,444 4,427 0.4 0.4 0.0 4,451 4,367 4,282 4,184 6.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 1,020 1,034 1,038 -1.4 -0.4 -1.0 1,010 1,012 1,008 1,054 -4.2

 Paper products....................................... 15,396 15,334 15,292 0.4 0.3 1.1 15,563 15,492 15,465 15,150 2.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,829 6,708 6,672 1.8 0.5 1.1 6,932 6,790 6,800 6,761 2.5

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,215 4,272 4,254 -1.3 0.4 1.2 4,245 4,294 4,271 4,181 1.5

 Printing.................................................. 6,839 6,855 6,897 -0.2 -0.6 2.4 6,710 6,752 6,780 6,538 2.6

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 39,937 39,134 41,580 2.1 -5.9 3.9 42,181 40,046 40,587 34,260 23.1

 Petroleum refineries............................. 37,653 36,813 39,347 2.3 -6.4 5.0 39,824 37,682 38,370 31,541 26.3

 Chemical products..................................... 68,259 67,950 67,739 0.5 0.3 -0.4 68,707 68,218 68,075 65,798 4.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,257 3,140 3,061 3.7 2.6 1.0 3,192 3,255 3,458 2,674 19.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 23,837 23,730 23,754 0.5 -0.1 -1.7 23,887 23,593 23,495 23,697 0.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 3,195 3,199 3,215 -0.1 -0.5 1.8 3,241 3,281 3,327 3,078 5.3

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 22,207 22,182 22,094 0.1 0.4 1.0 22,455 22,646 22,620 21,164 6.1

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

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

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

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

 Topical Series 1

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted2

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2008/

2008p 2008r 2008 May Apr. Mar. 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 2008p 2007 2007

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 446,368 446,031 434,378 0.1 2.7 1.1 460,694 447,052 447,025 441,067 2,177,136 2,060,847 5.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 43,587 43,634 43,444 -0.1 0.4 -0.7 46,001 44,572 43,261 48,180 212,992 218,183 -2.4

 Information technology......................... 27,698 27,156 26,891 2.0 1.0 0.1 26,143 24,350 30,756 25,132 129,148 125,857 2.6

 Computers and related products .......... 5,339 5,170 5,415 3.3 -4.5 -1.8 4,616 4,249 6,568 4,837 24,628 24,750 -0.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 32,318 33,497 34,567 -3.5 -3.1 -6.0 34,070 34,255 35,789 43,866 177,645 206,448 -14.0

 Capital goods...................................... 76,936 77,135 75,338 -0.3 2.4 0.6 76,397 74,670 83,615 73,485 373,863 356,235 4.9

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 67,859 67,879 66,680 0.0 1.8 0.3 67,211 65,825 74,182 65,717 330,647 318,779 3.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,407 63,121 62,500 0.5 1.0 0.8 62,487 61,648 69,101 60,824 308,807 297,581 3.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 9,077 9,256 8,658 -1.9 6.9 2.8 9,186 8,845 9,433 7,768 43,216 37,456 15.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 186,774 185,308 178,994 0.8 3.5 2.3 193,989 183,419 178,353 177,087 894,021 812,989 10.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,968 30,690 31,018 -2.4 -1.1 -6.4 30,736 30,498 32,350 37,360 157,858 174,155 -9.4

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 156,806 154,618 147,976 1.4 4.5 4.3 163,253 152,921 146,003 139,727 736,163 638,834 15.2

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 448,680 445,915 440,216 0.6 1.3 1.5 458,269 444,663 456,231 437,974 2,195,708 2,080,538 5.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 43,611 44,629 43,556 -2.3 2.5 0.7 47,008 46,360 44,357 49,369 217,465 222,825 -2.4

 Information technology......................... 28,491 27,276 27,121 4.5 0.6 -0.7 25,876 24,175 31,480 25,595 131,476 128,936 2.0

 Computers and related products .......... 5,544 5,052 5,644 9.7 -10.5 -0.4 4,821 4,131 6,797 4,829 24,522 24,635 -0.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 32,315 33,448 34,613 -3.4 -3.4 -4.9 33,803 34,228 35,443 43,649 176,747 206,255 -14.3

 Capital goods...................................... 83,729 82,188 83,738 1.9 -1.9 -0.3 78,348 77,200 93,798 76,066 409,413 394,850 3.7

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 74,119 73,609 75,431 0.7 -2.4 1.4 70,770 70,752 82,269 70,233 364,962 357,544 2.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 64,920 65,174 63,222 -0.4 3.1 -1.0 63,291 64,706 69,869 61,438 322,694 311,784 3.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 9,610 8,579 8,307 12.0 3.3 -13.2 7,578 6,448 11,529 5,833 44,451 37,306 19.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 186,510 185,454 179,019 0.6 3.6 2.5 193,740 183,564 178,253 177,371 893,707 814,042 9.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,704 30,836 31,043 -3.7 -0.7 -5.7 30,487 30,643 32,250 37,644 157,544 175,208 -10.1

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 156,806 154,618 147,976 1.4 4.5 4.3 163,253 152,921 146,003 139,727 736,163 638,834 15.2

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 810,078 802,972 797,114 0.9 0.7 1.3 817,171 815,034 811,015 706,184 (X) (X) 15.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 53,144 53,120 52,125 0.0 1.9 0.2 55,041 54,034 52,246 48,486 (X) (X) 13.5

 Information technology......................... 120,005 119,212 119,092 0.7 0.1 0.2 120,752 121,019 121,194 115,763 (X) (X) 4.3

 Computers and related products .......... 3,611 3,406 3,524 6.0 -3.3 6.9 3,611 3,406 3,524 3,370 (X) (X) 7.2

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 17,629 17,632 17,681 0.0 -0.3 0.3 17,667 17,934 17,961 20,240 (X) (X) -12.7

 Capital goods...................................... 607,606 600,813 595,760 1.1 0.8 1.4 611,007 609,056 606,526 514,987 (X) (X) 18.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................470,784 464,524 458,794 1.3 1.2 1.9 473,130 469,571 464,644 382,560 (X) (X) 23.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 199,542 198,029 195,976 0.8 1.0 0.4 202,671 201,867 198,809 187,225 (X) (X) 8.2

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 136,822 136,289 136,966 0.4 -0.5 -0.3 137,877 139,485 141,882 132,427 (X) (X) 4.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 8,824 9,088 8,942 -2.9 1.6 0.3 8,850 9,099 8,954 9,830 (X) (X) -10.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 8,824 9,088 8,942 -2.9 1.6 0.3 8,850 9,099 8,954 9,830 (X) (X) -10.0 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 548,441 545,633 545,791 0.5 0.0 0.9 552,967 548,589 544,108 521,240 (X) (X) 6.1

 Construction materials and supplies...... 59,551 59,445 59,202 0.2 0.4 -0.6 60,162 60,247 59,921 60,397 (X) (X) -0.4

 Information technology......................... 41,708 41,879 41,541 -0.4 0.8 2.0 42,098 41,843 40,687 40,800 (X) (X) 3.2

 Computers and related products .......... 5,180 5,178 5,255 0.0 -1.5 3.9 5,319 5,149 4,994 4,963 (X) (X) 7.2

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 23,582 23,720 24,026 -0.6 -1.3 0.2 23,810 24,032 24,046 25,776 (X) (X) -7.6

 Capital goods...................................... 154,856 153,972 152,616 0.6 0.9 1.8 156,234 154,692 151,858 142,034 (X) (X) 10.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................135,528 134,612 133,603 0.7 0.8 2.0 136,862 135,245 132,854 124,873 (X) (X) 9.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 106,720 106,620 106,149 0.1 0.4 1.3 107,673 107,162 105,461 102,650 (X) (X) 4.9

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 19,328 19,360 19,013 -0.2 1.8 0.5 19,372 19,447 19,004 17,161 (X) (X) 12.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 163,917 163,008 165,924 0.6 -1.8 1.0 164,940 162,842 163,562 154,899 (X) (X) 6.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 28,228 28,589 29,227 -1.3 -2.2 -0.1 28,255 28,573 28,776 29,493 (X) (X) -4.2

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 135,689 134,419 136,697 0.9 -1.7 1.2 136,685 134,269 134,786 125,406 (X) (X) 9.0

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable.

1

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

2

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

3

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

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

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

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

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

and supplies.

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS

UNFILLED ORDERS

TOTAL INVENTORIES
 7

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May May

2008p 2008r 2008 May Apr. Mar. 2008p 2008r 2008 2007 08/07

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 188,107 187,142 186,775 0.5 0.2 0.4 188,765 187,111 185,764 180,663 4.5

 Durable goods industries........................ 112,170 112,097 111,560 0.1 0.5 0.8 111,956 111,752 110,565 108,863 2.8

 Wood products................................... 4,178 4,200 4,288 -0.5 -2.1 -1.8 3,837 3,829 4,108 4,289 -10.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,975 4,960 4,897 0.3 1.3 1.2 4,985 4,967 4,914 4,586 8.7

 Primary metals.................................... 12,051 12,102 11,562 -0.4 4.7 0.9 11,896 11,874 11,226 11,581 2.7

 Fabricated metal products..................... 15,823 15,789 15,496 0.2 1.9 1.4 15,839 15,875 15,584 15,554 1.8

 Machinery.......................................... 20,374 20,234 20,310 0.7 -0.4 1.2 20,392 20,385 20,153 19,113 6.7

 Computers and electronic products ...... 15,402 15,689 15,894 -1.8 -1.3 1.1 15,362 15,472 15,619 16,633 -7.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,110 6,213 6,065 -1.7 2.4 0.2 6,182 6,284 6,085 5,696 8.5

 Transportation equipment..................... 21,922 21,656 21,726 1.2 -0.3 0.5 22,079 21,777 21,701 20,349 8.5

 Furniture and related products............... 3,876 3,783 3,821 2.5 -1.0 1.3 3,902 3,786 3,799 3,800 2.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,459 7,471 7,501 -0.2 -0.4 0.5 7,482 7,503 7,376 7,262 3.0

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 75,937 75,045 75,215 1.2 -0.2 -0.3 76,809 75,359 75,199 71,800 7.0

 Food products.................................... 14,158 14,014 14,010 1.0 0.0 1.1 13,843 13,936 14,001 12,629 9.6

 Beverage and tobacco products............. 4,492 4,451 4,483 0.9 -0.7 -2.1 4,469 4,438 4,532 4,615 -3.2

 Textiles.............................................. 1,164 1,179 1,173 -1.3 0.5 -2.9 1,181 1,192 1,181 1,277 -7.5

 Textile products.................................. 1,296 1,317 1,302 -1.6 1.2 1.4 1,312 1,311 1,284 1,245 5.4

 Apparel............................................. 1,111 1,085 1,091 2.4 -0.5 1.4 1,101 1,079 1,081 1,024 7.5

 Leather and allied products................... 378 389 404 -2.8 -3.7 -0.7 374 382 390 365 2.5

 Paper products.................................... 7,374 7,401 7,311 -0.4 1.2 0.5 7,398 7,427 7,388 7,191 2.9

 Printing ............................................. 3,167 3,145 3,147 0.7 -0.1 3.6 3,118 3,098 3,146 2,852 9.3

 Petroleum and coal products................ 13,031 12,552 12,617 3.8 -0.5 1.4 14,070 12,917 12,308 12,291 14.5

 Chemical products................................ 20,970 20,756 20,925 1.0 -0.8 -3.2 21,137 20,809 21,098 19,818 6.7

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 8,796 8,756 8,752 0.5 0.0 1.0 8,806 8,770 8,790 8,493 3.7

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 163,333 160,384 159,777 1.8 0.4 1.3 164,688 161,542 159,519 145,154 13.5

 Durable goods industries........................ 121,232 119,869 118,227 1.1 1.4 1.6 122,613 120,893 117,805 109,033 12.5

 Wood products................................... 1,869 1,913 1,918 -2.3 -0.3 -1.8 1,904 1,953 1,940 2,233 -14.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,353 1,333 1,317 1.5 1.2 -2.4 1,424 1,399 1,379 1,391 2.4

 Primary metals.................................... 10,788 10,332 10,219 4.4 1.1 1.8 10,916 10,457 10,259 10,156 7.5

 Fabricated metal products..................... 13,160 13,091 13,116 0.5 -0.2 -0.1 13,280 13,132 13,071 12,432 6.8

 Machinery.......................................... 14,574 14,607 14,823 -0.2 -1.5 1.3 14,921 14,790 14,870 14,460 3.2

 Computers and electronic products ...... 21,053 20,811 20,057 1.2 3.8 1.5 21,349 20,898 19,424 18,963 12.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,097 3,130 3,161 -1.1 -1.0 -1.6 3,196 3,230 3,203 3,146 1.6

 Transportation equipment..................... 50,614 49,937 48,880 1.4 2.2 2.7 50,853 50,276 48,944 41,403 22.8

 Furniture and related products............... 1,284 1,312 1,297 -2.1 1.2 -0.7 1,292 1,313 1,290 1,382 -6.5

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,440 3,403 3,439 1.1 -1.0 -0.2 3,478 3,445 3,425 3,467 0.3

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 42,101 40,515 41,550 3.9 -2.5 0.5 42,075 40,649 41,714 36,121 16.5

 Food products.................................... 2,484 2,504 2,533 -0.8 -1.1 -1.4 2,191 2,337 2,457 2,403 -8.8

 Beverage and tobacco products............. 4,223 4,264 4,269 -1.0 -0.1 -0.8 4,068 4,179 4,296 4,450 -8.6

 Textiles.............................................. 943 896 897 5.2 -0.1 -0.7 938 886 892 972 -3.5

 Textile products.................................. 407 412 421 -1.2 -2.1 -3.4 419 420 419 501 -16.4

 Apparel............................................. 652 650 634 0.3 2.5 -2.5 661 668 627 689 -4.1

 Leather and allied products................... 89 87 92 2.3 -5.4 -3.2 90 90 96 110 -18.2

 Paper products.................................... 1,474 1,469 1,475 0.3 -0.4 0.5 1,494 1,474 1,480 1,383 8.0

 Printing ............................................. 1,765 1,752 1,809 0.7 -3.2 0.8 1,661 1,674 1,735 1,768 -6.1

 Petroleum and coal products................ 13,165 11,920 13,044 10.4 -8.6 2.7 13,464 12,432 13,447 8,121 65.8

 Chemical products................................ 14,393 14,060 13,906 2.4 1.1 -0.3 14,561 13,945 13,720 13,309 9.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,506 2,501 2,470 0.2 1.3 -0.4 2,528 2,544 2,545 2,415 4.7

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 197,001 198,107 199,239 -0.6 -0.6 1.2 199,514 199,936 198,825 195,423 2.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 96,921 96,945 97,279 0.0 -0.3 0.5 98,633 98,506 97,858 98,502 0.1

 Wood products................................... 4,233 4,198 4,296 0.8 -2.3 -3.4 4,391 4,419 4,573 4,880 -10.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,741 5,726 5,758 0.3 -0.6 1.1 5,936 5,955 5,955 5,904 0.5

 Primary metals.................................... 10,132 9,848 9,912 2.9 -0.6 4.5 10,290 10,008 10,067 9,247 11.3

 Fabricated metal products..................... 14,056 13,980 13,831 0.5 1.1 -0.3 14,260 14,356 14,173 14,208 0.4

 Machinery.......................................... 18,562 18,566 18,416 0.0 0.8 1.5 18,663 18,767 18,874 17,499 6.7

 Computers and electronic products ...... 9,971 9,863 10,094 1.1 -2.3 0.7 10,097 9,910 9,863 10,190 -0.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 5,915 5,942 5,893 -0.5 0.8 -0.9 5,993 6,088 5,973 5,710 5.0

 Transportation equipment..................... 13,753 14,003 14,203 -1.8 -1.4 -0.1 14,346 14,235 13,787 15,939 -10.0

 Furniture and related products............... 2,690 2,808 2,876 -4.2 -2.4 -1.8 2,767 2,794 2,772 3,175 -12.9

 Miscellaneous products........................ 11,868 12,011 12,000 -1.2 0.1 -0.2 11,890 11,974 11,821 11,750 1.2

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 100,080 101,162 101,960 -1.1 -0.8 1.9 100,881 101,430 100,967 96,921 4.1

 Food products.................................... 21,143 21,046 20,882 0.5 0.8 0.1 20,583 20,377 20,252 19,494 5.6

 Beverage and tobacco products............. 6,545 6,478 6,383 1.0 1.5 1.2 6,513 6,605 6,468 5,806 12.2

 Textiles.............................................. 1,592 1,635 1,679 -2.6 -2.6 1.5 1,602 1,631 1,684 1,605 -0.2

 Textile products.................................. 1,552 1,593 1,626 -2.6 -2.0 -0.4 1,569 1,593 1,597 1,697 -7.5

 Apparel............................................. 2,698 2,709 2,702 -0.4 0.3 0.0 2,689 2,620 2,574 2,471 8.8

 Leather and allied products................... 553 558 542 -0.9 3.0 -0.9 546 540 522 579 -5.7

 Paper products.................................... 6,548 6,464 6,506 1.3 -0.6 1.9 6,671 6,591 6,597 6,576 1.4

 Printing ............................................. 1,907 1,958 1,941 -2.6 0.9 1.9 1,931 1,980 1,899 1,918 0.7

 Petroleum and coal products................ 13,741 14,662 15,919 -6.3 -7.9 7.0 14,647 14,697 14,832 13,848 5.8

 Chemical products................................ 32,896 33,134 32,908 -0.7 0.7 1.5 33,009 33,464 33,257 32,671 1.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 10,905 10,925 10,872 -0.2 0.5 1.3 11,121 11,332 11,285 10,256 8.4

p

 Preliminary r Revised

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
 8

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry May Apr Mar Feb May Apr Mar Feb

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

 All manufacturing industries2

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

Durable goods industries2

................... 1.56 1.54 1.56 1.53 5.32 5.27 5.30 5.24

 Wood products................................ 1.27 1.27 1.30 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.48 1.47 1.48 1.47 1.31 1.33 1.35 1.35

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.55 1.54 1.56 1.58 2.32 2.32 2.38 2.38

 Machinery....................................... 1.85 1.85 1.84 1.81 3.80 3.75 3.58 3.49

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.43 1.39 1.46 1.43 5.06 5.16 5.18 5.13

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.41 1.43 1.43 1.44 2.50 2.47 2.46 2.58

 Transportation equipment................. 1.66 1.59 1.59 1.50 12.89 12.34 12.61 12.31

 Furniture and related products........... 1.21 1.21 1.23 1.23 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.24

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.71 1.73 1.77 1.77 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 0.93 0.93 0.97 1.00 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.74 0.73 0.75 0.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.31 1.33 1.34 1.42 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.31 1.29 1.30 1.31 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.38 1.41 1.43 1.43 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.72 1.71 1.71 1.75 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 2.09 2.02 2.13 2.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.08 1.07 1.07 1.07 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.83 0.81 0.83 0.83 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.61 0.62 0.71 0.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products............................. 1.17 1.17 1.19 1.20 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.24 (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.

May2 May2 May2 May2

Industry 2007- 2007- 2007- 2007-

May1 Apr May1 Apr May1 Apr May1 Apr

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

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

Durable goods industries...................... 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

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

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

 Primary metals.................................... 0.0 0.2 -0.7 0.7 -0.7 0.6 0.0 0.2

 Fabricated metal products................... 0.0 0.4 -0.2 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.4 0.3 1.1 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products ..... -0.1 1.0 0.9 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.0 0.5 0.0 3.0 0.0 1.3 -0.1 0.5

 Transportation equipment................... -0.1 0.6 -0.1 1.4 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.1

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

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.4 (X) 0.6 (X) 1.0 (X) 0.1

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.9

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 1.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.1

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... (X) 1.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.8

 Chemical products................................ (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 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
9

Survey Description 

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

(M3) survey. This survey provides statistics on manufacturers' value of shipments, new orders (net of cancellations), 

end-of-month order backlog (unfilled orders), end-of-month total inventory (at current cost or market value), and 

inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods). The M3 includes 

approximately 4,300 reporting units. Units may be divisions of diversified large companies, large homogenous 

companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 89 industry categories. Due to the small monthly sample, these 89 

categories have been combined into 59 publication levels. The survey methodology assumes that the month-tomonth changes of the total operations of those companies in the monthly survey effectively represent the month-tomonth movements of all establishments that make up the category. The current coverage levels in the survey show 

that reported data in the monthly survey represent approximately 61 percent of the shipments estimates at the total 

manufacturing level. Data published represent manufacturing in a calendar month. The data collection is based on a 

voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

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

indication of the activity within the manufacturing sector. The results differ from what would be obtained from a 

complete enumeration of all manufacturing companies. In addition, a different panel of 4,300 companies would 

yield different results. The M3 panel is comprised of companies with $500 million or more in shipments and a 

limited number of smaller companies. From a statistical perspective, the panel is not a probability sample; therefore, 

the sampling errors that are normally provided with sample surveys cannot be measured. Nonsampling errors are 

attributable to many sources. The use of company or divisional reports to estimate the monthly change for 

establishments is one source of nonsampling error. The use of primarily large companies to represent the month-tomonth movement of all companies is another potential source. Any corrections in the data will be released in the 

next month’s advance report. Any revisions made later than two months will be reflected in the annual benchmark 

publication. 

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