FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Adriana Stoica 

Economic Indicators Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (16)-09 

CB 16-179 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

September 2016 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in September, up 

three consecutive months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.3 

percent to $455.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 0.4 percent August 

increase. 

 Shipments, up six of the last seven months, increased 

$3.9 billion or 0.8 percent to $463.0 billion. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August increase. 

 Unfilled orders, down four consecutive months, 

decreased $4.3 billion or 0.4 percent to $1,118.8 billion. 

This followed a 0.2 percent August decrease. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.69, down from 

6.79 in August. 

 Inventories, down following two consecutive monthly 

increases, decreased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged 

to $621.4 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent August 

increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.34, 

down from 1.35 in August. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, down following two consecutive monthly 

increases, decreased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $226.8 

billion, down from the previously published 0.1 percent 

decrease. This followed a 0.2 percent August increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.9 

billion or 1.1 percent to $77.2 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $2.1 billion or 0.9 percent to $228.7 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

September, up three of the last four months, increased 

$1.8 billion or 0.8 percent to $234.3 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published increase. This 

followed a virtually unchanged August decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, up following two 

consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $1.7 

billion or 2.2 percent to $82.0 billion. 

 

 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up six 

of the last seven months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.9 

percent to $228.7 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent 

August increase. Petroleum and coal products, up six of 

the last seven months, led the increase, $1.5 billion or 

4.3 percent to $37.1 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, down four consecutive months, decreased 

$4.3 billion or 0.4 percent to $1,118.8 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also down four consecutive 

months, drove the decrease, $4.7 billion or 0.6 percent to 

$764.1 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

September, up three consecutive months, increased $0.3 

billion or 0.1 percent to $383.8 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published increase. This 

followed a 0.1 percent August increase. 

 

 Machinery, up three of the last four months, led the 

increase, $0.3 billion or 0.4 percent to $65.9 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

two of the last three months, decreased $0.5 billion or 

0.2 percent to $237.6 billion. This followed a 0.1 

percent August increase. Petroleum and coal products, 

also down two of the last three months, drove the 

decrease, $0.6 billion or 2.2 percent to $24.6 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, September materials and 

supplies were virtually unchanged in durable goods and 

decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in 

process increased 0.2 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Finished 

goods were virtually unchanged in durable goods and 

decreased 0.3 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 www.census.gov/m3. The Advance Report on durable goods for October is scheduled for release on November 23, 2016 at 

8:30 a.m. EST and the Full Report on December 6, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description. To receive the latest updates on the 

Nation's key economic indicators, download the America's Economy app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. 

“Virtually unchanged” indicates that the change is less than 0.05 percent for a percent increase or decrease. 
 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 % Change

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Sep. Aug. July 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

 All manufacturing industries.................. 463,012 459,111 458,002 0.8 0.2 -0.4 484,622 480,925 436,303 487,337 4,143,261 4,247,639 -2.5

 Excluding transportation................... 381,048 378,875 377,223 0.6 0.4 -0.4 395,839 396,577 368,746 397,839 3,412,404 3,521,841 -3.1

 Excluding defense.............................. 450,411 446,417 445,391 0.9 0.2 -0.4 470,392 468,538 425,020 473,044 4,033,364 4,140,221 -2.6

 With unfilled orders............................ 167,204 165,300 165,699 1.2 -0.2 0.1 179,010 172,425 152,814 178,454 1,493,191 1,505,029 -0.8

 Durable goods industries......................... 234,337 232,525 232,559 0.8 0.0 0.0 250,616 243,977 213,250 252,078 2,107,432 2,124,080 -0.8

 Wood products....................................... 8,406 8,330 8,266 0.9 0.8 1.4 8,819 9,036 8,542 8,203 75,887 73,165 3.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 9,873 9,890 9,843 -0.2 0.5 -1.0 10,707 11,223 10,111 10,405 90,174 86,045 4.8

 Primary metals....................................... 17,764 17,751 17,882 0.1 -0.7 0.1 18,270 18,963 17,210 19,015 162,562 178,814 -9.1

 Iron and steel mills............................ 7,867 7,998 8,154 -1.6 -1.9 0.2 8,054 8,689 7,906 8,767 73,279 83,754 -12.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 8,500 8,299 8,273 2.4 0.3 0.4 8,707 8,706 7,957 8,448 75,628 80,004 -5.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,397 1,454 1,455 -3.9 -0.1 -2.1 1,509 1,568 1,347 1,800 13,655 15,056 -9.3

 Fabricated metal products....................... 30,073 30,159 30,086 -0.3 0.2 0.9 31,660 32,569 29,060 30,919 272,551 269,310 1.2

 Machinery............................................. 29,871 29,896 29,713 -0.1 0.6 -0.9 30,936 30,316 27,821 33,328 274,515 293,385 -6.4

 Farm machinery................................. 1,776 1,726 1,749 2.9 -1.3 -4.6 1,615 1,583 1,642 1,880 16,884 19,631 -14.0

 Construction machinery..................... 2,516 2,496 2,429 0.8 2.8 -10.3 2,538 2,462 2,261 3,521 24,752 33,526 -26.2

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 976 891 830 9.5 7.3 -3.7 1,010 900 777 1,599 8,851 16,116 -45.1

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,252 2,449 2,425 -8.0 1.0 4.0 2,584 2,338 2,250 2,910 21,496 21,224 1.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 396 420 421 -5.7 -0.2 -0.9 431 433 371 469 3,745 3,748 -0.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,467 3,565 3,449 -2.7 3.4 3.3 3,733 3,887 3,677 3,732 32,062 32,561 -1.5

 Metalworking machinery..................... 3,181 3,084 3,116 3.1 -1.0 2.0 3,444 3,226 2,743 3,113 27,255 24,380 11.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 4,077 3,965 4,095 2.8 -3.2 0.5 4,054 4,044 3,944 4,568 36,622 40,744 -10.1

 Material handling equipment............... 2,956 2,960 2,989 -0.1 -1.0 -1.1 3,087 3,173 2,784 2,837 26,768 23,208 15.3

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 27,313 27,433 27,279 -0.4 0.6 2.4 30,559 27,680 25,538 29,479 239,270 231,078 3.5

 Computers........................................ 563 612 603 -8.0 1.5 7.7 657 585 553 850 5,324 7,063 -24.6

 Computer storage devices..................... 497 593 693 -16.2 -14.4 21.6 752 476 443 859 4,968 4,905 1.3

 Other peripheral equipment................ 609 643 652 -5.3 -1.4 5.2 743 564 535 873 5,802 7,198 -19.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,252 3,142 3,077 3.5 2.1 -6.1 3,997 3,050 2,704 3,738 27,938 27,688 0.9

 Defense communications equipment.... 300 337 294 -11.0 14.6 4.3 344 330 271 322 2,619 2,787 -6.0

 Audio and video equipment.................... 377 375 365 0.5 2.7 1.7 401 352 323 358 2,982 2,141 39.3

 Electronic components......................... 5,001 4,950 4,788 1.0 3.4 2.6 5,252 5,332 4,869 4,738 43,178 38,463 12.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,397 1,369 1,395 2.0 -1.9 2.0 1,606 1,417 1,183 1,567 12,373 11,348 9.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,602 2,572 2,676 1.2 -3.9 3.9 2,824 2,579 2,477 2,750 22,580 22,293 1.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,163 9,270 9,245 -1.2 0.3 2.5 10,522 9,005 8,366 10,167 80,855 75,973 6.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,665 9,598 9,520 0.7 0.8 0.7 10,446 10,123 9,072 10,669 85,963 92,195 -6.8

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,085 1,091 1,098 -0.5 -0.6 1.8 1,149 1,149 1,070 1,125 9,550 9,086 5.1

 Household appliances........................ 1,405 1,388 1,364 1.2 1.8 -1.3 1,510 1,448 1,267 1,578 12,521 13,984 -10.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,930 2,910 2,881 0.7 1.0 -1.0 3,265 3,028 2,654 3,397 26,792 29,305 -8.6

 Batteries........................................... 807 820 795 -1.6 3.1 0.6 897 865 680 899 6,970 7,297 -4.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 81,964 80,236 80,779 2.2 -0.7 -0.3 88,783 84,348 67,557 89,498 730,857 725,798 0.7

 Automobiles..................................... 9,223 9,471 9,436 -2.6 0.4 -1.7 9,797 10,195 7,189 11,203 87,950 95,922 -8.3

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 15,314 15,265 14,999 0.3 1.8 2.7 16,835 16,731 11,793 17,226 137,473 132,421 3.8

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,100 2,050 2,099 2.4 -2.3 -5.5 2,215 2,142 2,000 2,757 20,454 24,359 -16.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 29,081 28,363 28,223 2.5 0.5 -1.2 30,403 30,662 24,136 27,106 255,679 232,648 9.9

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 14,117 12,974 14,028 8.8 -7.5 1.2 15,758 12,737 11,999 16,385 121,204 126,046 -3.8

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,149 4,475 4,052 -7.3 10.4 -2.5 4,853 4,247 3,472 6,136 37,550 43,008 -12.7

 Ships and boats................................. 3,174 3,143 3,152 1.0 -0.3 10.5 3,355 3,107 2,947 3,029 27,440 24,927 10.1

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,363 6,292 6,269 1.1 0.4 0.0 6,616 6,789 6,328 6,413 57,152 54,851 4.2

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,045 12,940 12,922 0.8 0.1 -2.5 13,820 12,930 12,011 14,149 118,501 119,439 -0.8

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 228,675 226,586 225,443 0.9 0.5 -0.8 234,006 236,948 223,053 235,259 2,035,829 2,123,559 -4.1

 Food products....................................... 65,059 65,011 64,960 0.1 0.1 -0.1 66,705 66,389 62,056 66,749 577,166 575,019 0.4

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 7,981 7,870 8,087 1.4 -2.7 -1.7 7,978 8,306 7,550 8,185 70,749 70,475 0.4

 Dairy products.................................. 9,279 9,290 9,151 -0.1 1.5 2.1 9,518 9,631 8,919 9,354 81,632 82,124 -0.6

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,704 17,752 17,791 -0.3 -0.2 -1.3 17,987 18,062 17,577 18,624 160,319 168,054 -4.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,450 12,640 12,472 -1.5 1.3 1.0 12,822 13,220 12,543 12,743 110,855 109,864 0.9

 Beverages......................................... 9,301 9,524 9,444 -2.3 0.8 1.9 9,673 10,104 9,515 9,587 84,056 81,698 2.9

 Tobacco............................................ 3,149 3,116 3,028 1.1 2.9 -1.5 3,149 3,116 3,028 3,156 26,799 28,166 -4.9

 Textile mills........................................... 2,458 2,525 2,499 -2.7 1.0 -0.5 2,530 2,670 2,459 2,646 23,002 23,568 -2.4

 Textile products................................... 1,982 2,018 1,982 -1.8 1.8 0.1 1,968 2,131 2,019 2,019 18,159 18,702 -2.9

 Apparel................................................ 1,044 1,065 1,075 -2.0 -0.9 -0.1 1,114 1,193 1,073 1,078 9,226 8,696 6.1

 Leather and allied products...................... 333 336 331 -0.9 1.5 -2.1 337 343 326 379 3,067 3,613 -15.1

 Paper products...................................... 15,183 15,096 15,027 0.6 0.5 -1.1 15,488 15,871 14,913 15,457 137,380 137,326 0.0

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,718 6,683 6,699 0.5 -0.2 -0.8 6,829 7,063 6,720 6,859 61,137 61,820 -1.1

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,684 4,648 4,579 0.8 1.5 -1.1 4,821 4,940 4,577 4,774 42,300 41,833 1.1

 Printing................................................. 7,171 7,171 7,111 0.0 0.8 -0.5 7,483 7,401 6,621 7,491 64,044 63,819 0.4

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 37,127 35,597 34,977 4.3 1.8 -3.5 38,118 38,688 38,160 39,339 314,834 417,131 -24.5

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 33,250 31,780 31,122 4.6 2.1 -4.2 33,788 34,050 33,960 35,659 281,020 386,182 -27.2

 Chemical products..................................... 66,466 65,918 65,799 0.8 0.2 -0.7 67,482 68,589 63,878 67,973 602,967 591,382 2.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,183 4,239 4,135 -1.3 2.5 1.7 3,691 3,684 3,334 3,613 39,549 37,115 6.6

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 21,725 21,381 21,481 1.6 -0.5 -0.4 22,245 22,295 20,672 22,254 194,779 172,230 13.1

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 3,648 3,642 3,615 0.2 0.7 0.1 3,746 3,931 3,687 3,531 33,894 31,507 7.6

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 19,402 19,209 19,210 1.0 0.0 0.0 19,959 20,453 19,005 19,385 175,129 174,439 0.4

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 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 % Change

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Sep. Aug. July 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries2........................ 455,471 454,056 452,391 0.3 0.4 1.4 475,863 467,452 430,190 475,312 4,085,574 4,181,205 -2.3

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 378,242 375,953 374,758 0.6 0.3 -0.1 391,577 390,113 364,865 392,705 3,391,729 3,492,384 -2.9

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 442,992 439,667 440,164 0.8 -0.1 1.0 461,332 455,745 420,532 463,340 3,975,631 4,086,842 -2.7

 With unfilled orders2............................. 162,921 163,548 163,299 -0.4 0.2 5.2 173,391 162,660 150,254 169,345 1,463,569 1,466,995 -0.2

 Durable goods industries2

......................... 226,796 227,470 226,948 -0.3 0.2 3.6 241,857 230,504 207,137 240,053 2,049,745 2,057,646 -0.4

 Primary metals........................................ 17,782 17,827 17,818 -0.3 0.1 1.2 17,578 18,467 17,028 17,729 163,530 176,901 -7.6

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 7,887 8,167 8,129 -3.4 0.5 2.3 7,430 8,398 7,641 7,456 74,520 82,275 -9.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 8,397 8,198 8,295 2.4 -1.2 0.9 8,602 8,567 8,070 8,538 75,009 79,777 -6.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,498 1,462 1,394 2.5 4.9 -2.7 1,546 1,502 1,317 1,735 14,001 14,849 -5.7

 Fabricated metal products........................ 30,036 30,223 30,296 -0.6 -0.2 1.4 30,903 32,019 29,351 30,339 275,129 268,840 2.3

 Machinery............................................. 30,003 29,672 29,671 1.1 0.0 1.0 30,463 29,878 27,645 32,379 271,367 287,703 -5.7

 Construction machinery........................ 2,347 2,316 2,385 1.3 -2.9 -4.9 2,284 2,376 2,082 3,228 23,052 30,403 -24.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 941 836 791 12.6 5.7 48.4 919 895 701 1,399 6,545 14,517 -54.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,157 2,369 2,234 -8.9 6.0 1.8 2,364 2,162 2,079 2,652 20,800 20,627 0.8

 Photographic equipment....................... 455 475 414 -4.2 14.7 5.9 512 497 379 481 3,776 3,985 -5.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,345 3,291 3,620 1.6 -9.1 7.4 3,593 3,498 3,799 3,865 31,710 33,130 -4.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,275 3,213 3,199 1.9 0.4 2.2 3,474 3,298 2,843 2,923 28,094 23,950 17.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 4,161 4,030 4,045 3.3 -0.4 -0.7 4,091 4,004 3,952 4,563 36,576 38,568 -5.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,078 3,055 3,071 0.8 -0.5 2.0 3,255 3,100 2,622 3,091 27,258 24,604 10.8

 Computers and electronic products2

........... 24,211 24,427 24,464 -0.9 -0.2 2.5 28,180 23,127 21,917 27,365 215,975 209,316 3.2

 Computers........................................ 586 615 595 -4.7 3.4 7.8 680 588 545 839 5,298 7,153 -25.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,304 3,348 3,382 -1.3 -1.0 -1.2 4,278 2,871 2,871 4,128 30,075 30,752 -2.2

 Defense communications equipment....... 279 281 265 -0.7 6.0 -15.3 346 261 239 349 2,659 2,912 -8.7

 Electronic components......................... 4,988 4,900 4,923 1.8 -0.5 7.3 5,098 5,354 5,075 4,579 43,278 38,867 11.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,469 1,452 1,500 1.2 -3.2 2.5 1,674 1,466 1,306 1,696 13,224 13,412 -1.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,567 2,667 2,413 -3.7 10.5 -4.0 3,041 2,343 1,982 3,033 23,504 21,852 7.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,241 9,286 9,396 -0.5 -1.2 2.3 10,846 8,570 8,337 10,310 81,599 77,305 5.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,714 9,625 9,837 0.9 -2.2 3.6 10,365 10,058 9,135 10,511 87,194 92,089 -5.3

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,118 1,087 1,081 2.9 0.6 1.0 1,144 1,135 1,043 1,073 9,597 9,051 6.0

 Household appliances.......................... 1,436 1,384 1,452 3.8 -4.7 0.6 1,556 1,432 1,296 1,569 12,543 13,827 -9.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,893 2,849 2,907 1.5 -2.0 2.1 3,096 2,901 2,737 3,284 26,687 29,863 -10.6

 Transportation equipment........................ 77,229 78,103 77,633 -1.1 0.6 8.9 84,286 77,339 65,325 82,607 693,845 688,821 0.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 29,051 28,321 28,048 2.6 1.0 -1.0 30,385 30,873 23,595 26,972 253,549 231,538 9.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,671 8,626 11,394 12.1 -24.3 72.9 11,400 5,310 11,710 12,618 88,278 107,306 -17.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 2,749 5,251 4,444 -47.6 18.2 22.0 3,270 4,064 3,419 7,781 37,987 37,764 0.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,826 3,439 2,965 -17.8 16.0 11.2 2,920 3,076 2,556 -977 25,278 17,829 41.8

 Furniture and related products................... 6,507 6,430 6,192 1.2 3.8 0.5 6,746 6,424 6,066 6,373 58,139 55,332 5.1

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 228,675 226,586 225,443 0.9 0.5 -0.8 234,006 236,948 223,053 235,259 2,035,829 2,123,559 -4.1

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 % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Sep. Aug. July 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries2...................... 1,118,802 1,123,085 1,124,837 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 1,110,078 1,115,697 1,125,462 1,129,535 -1.7

 Excluding transportation2...................... 354,739 354,287 353,906 0.1 0.1 0.2 352,232 353,354 356,110 350,419 0.5

 Excluding defense2

............................. 944,542 948,703 952,150 -0.4 -0.4 -0.2 936,815 942,735 951,820 959,462 -2.4

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,118,802 1,123,085 1,124,837 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 1,110,078 1,115,697 1,125,462 1,129,535 -1.7

 Primary metals........................................ 32,506 32,488 32,412 0.1 0.2 -0.2 31,581 32,273 32,769 31,202 1.2

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,333 18,313 18,144 0.1 0.9 -0.1 17,601 18,225 18,516 15,750 11.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 10,286 10,389 10,490 -1.0 -1.0 0.2 10,197 10,302 10,441 11,938 -14.6

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 3,887 3,786 3,778 2.7 0.2 -1.6 3,783 3,746 3,812 3,514 7.7

 Fabricated metal products......................... 74,099 74,136 74,072 0.0 0.1 0.3 74,025 74,782 75,332 73,644 0.5

 Machinery.............................................. 92,691 92,559 92,783 0.1 -0.2 0.0 91,808 92,281 92,719 98,035 -6.4

 Construction machinery......................... 3,942 4,111 4,291 -4.1 -4.2 -1.0 3,695 3,949 4,035 5,747 -35.7

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 5,862 5,897 5,952 -0.6 -0.9 -0.7 5,864 5,955 5,960 10,029 -41.5

 Industrial machinery............................. 7,332 7,427 7,507 -1.3 -1.1 -2.5 7,221 7,441 7,617 8,449 -14.5

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,283 1,224 1,169 4.8 4.7 -0.6 1,306 1,225 1,161 1,383 -5.6

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 6,126 6,248 6,522 -2.0 -4.2 2.7 5,976 6,116 6,505 6,177 -3.3

 Metalworking machinery........................ 7,543 7,449 7,320 1.3 1.8 1.1 7,458 7,428 7,356 6,732 10.8

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 25,724 25,640 25,575 0.3 0.3 -0.2 25,646 25,609 25,649 25,452 0.8

 Material handling equipment................... 12,211 12,089 11,994 1.0 0.8 0.7 12,123 11,955 12,028 11,272 7.5

 Computers and electronic products2............. 129,272 129,116 128,819 0.1 0.2 0.3 128,961 128,200 129,045 123,007 4.8

 Computers......................................... 2,421 2,398 2,395 1.0 0.1 -0.3 2,421 2,398 2,395 2,370 2.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 32,852 32,800 32,594 0.2 0.6 0.9 32,662 32,381 32,560 29,778 9.7

 Defense communications equipment........ 2,224 2,245 2,301 -0.9 -2.4 -1.2 2,277 2,275 2,344 2,414 -5.7

 Electronic components.......................... 12,107 12,120 12,170 -0.1 -0.4 1.1 12,054 12,208 12,186 11,801 2.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 17,896 17,824 17,741 0.4 0.5 0.6 17,976 17,908 17,859 16,876 6.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 28,298 28,333 28,238 -0.1 0.3 -0.9 28,279 28,062 28,298 27,380 3.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 33,474 33,396 33,380 0.2 0.0 0.5 33,292 32,968 33,403 32,388 2.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 17,717 17,668 17,641 0.3 0.2 1.8 17,534 17,615 17,680 16,646 5.3

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,352 1,319 1,323 2.5 -0.3 -1.3 1,315 1,320 1,334 1,238 6.2

 Household appliances........................... 1,221 1,190 1,194 2.6 -0.3 8.0 1,173 1,127 1,143 1,063 10.3

 Electrical equipment............................. 7,851 7,888 7,949 -0.5 -0.8 0.3 7,758 7,927 8,054 7,975 -2.7

 Transportation equipment......................... 764,063 768,798 770,931 -0.6 -0.3 -0.4 757,846 762,343 769,352 779,116 -2.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 21,922 21,952 21,994 -0.1 -0.2 -0.8 21,429 21,447 21,236 22,885 -6.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 582,268 586,714 591,062 -0.8 -0.7 -0.4 577,710 582,068 589,495 597,159 -3.3

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 70,125 71,525 70,749 -2.0 1.1 0.6 69,055 70,638 70,821 64,762 6.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 16,483 16,831 16,535 -2.1 1.8 -1.1 16,428 16,863 16,894 21,292 -22.8

 Furniture and related products................... 8,212 8,068 7,930 1.8 1.7 -1.0 8,081 7,951 8,316 7,651 5.6

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Sep. Aug. July 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

 All manufacturing industries...................... 621,350 621,552 620,953 0.0 0.1 0.2 621,341 626,826 625,169 633,336 -1.9

 Excluding transportation........................ 497,810 497,959 497,184 0.0 0.2 0.2 498,388 502,410 500,543 508,388 -2.0

 Excluding defense............................. 595,863 596,000 595,074 0.0 0.2 0.1 595,842 601,188 598,956 606,655 -1.8

 With unfilled orders............................. 311,817 311,286 311,123 0.2 0.1 0.4 310,623 314,287 314,148 318,121 -2.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 383,795 383,467 383,221 0.1 0.1 0.4 382,054 386,776 386,083 388,997 -1.8

 Wood products........................................ 11,408 11,384 11,284 0.2 0.9 0.6 11,300 11,281 11,111 11,197 0.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 13,136 13,113 13,032 0.2 0.6 0.3 12,912 13,013 13,041 12,618 2.3

 Primary metals......................................... 31,706 31,718 31,648 0.0 0.2 1.3 31,757 31,938 31,751 34,705 -8.5

 Iron and steel mills............................... 17,410 17,377 17,251 0.2 0.7 1.9 17,567 17,516 17,278 19,918 -11.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 12,285 12,298 12,321 -0.1 -0.2 0.6 12,235 12,371 12,406 12,757 -4.1

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,011 2,043 2,076 -1.6 -1.6 -0.4 1,955 2,051 2,067 2,030 -3.7

 Fabricated metal products......................... 48,946 48,886 49,107 0.1 -0.5 0.7 48,604 48,902 49,503 49,170 -1.2

 Machinery.............................................. 65,911 65,645 65,350 0.4 0.5 -0.5 65,767 66,467 65,865 67,878 -3.1

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,019 2,967 2,893 1.8 2.6 -0.7 2,823 2,871 2,823 3,142 -10.2

 Construction machinery......................... 5,496 5,554 5,481 -1.0 1.3 0.7 5,521 5,535 5,419 6,506 -15.1

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,437 7,364 7,233 1.0 1.8 0.6 7,397 7,488 7,277 7,766 -4.8

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,471 6,439 6,383 0.5 0.9 -0.6 6,501 6,489 6,319 6,304 3.1

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,582 1,563 1,583 1.2 -1.3 -0.2 1,604 1,619 1,623 1,590 0.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,584 4,431 4,339 3.5 2.1 -1.0 4,449 4,410 4,404 4,493 -1.0

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,696 5,692 5,684 0.1 0.1 1.1 5,791 5,817 5,740 5,789 0.0

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 9,387 9,278 9,377 1.2 -1.1 -3.0 9,440 9,565 9,592 9,895 -4.6

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,656 4,633 4,613 0.5 0.4 -0.5 4,791 4,806 4,763 4,520 6.0

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 42,568 42,651 42,568 -0.2 0.2 -0.3 42,236 43,524 43,156 42,311 -0.2

 Computers......................................... 1,628 1,642 1,589 -0.9 3.3 1.2 1,689 1,750 1,691 1,514 11.6

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,016 995 984 2.1 1.1 -0.2 1,016 1,028 1,009 967 5.1

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,031 1,061 1,034 -2.8 2.6 0.3 989 1,098 1,055 1,052 -6.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,921 3,986 3,972 -1.6 0.4 -0.3 3,856 4,078 3,966 4,154 -7.2

 Defense communications equipment........ 549 565 602 -2.8 -6.1 -2.4 549 565 602 758 -27.6

 Audio and video equipment.................... 798 792 793 0.8 -0.1 0.8 903 854 806 821 10.0

 Electronic components.......................... 7,626 7,660 7,685 -0.4 -0.3 -0.8 7,511 7,709 7,805 7,457 0.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,085 3,069 3,055 0.5 0.5 -0.5 3,084 3,123 3,095 3,068 0.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,081 3,024 2,955 1.9 2.3 -0.7 3,009 3,045 3,055 2,700 11.4

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 14,178 14,051 14,053 0.9 0.0 -0.3 14,007 14,453 14,248 14,319 -2.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 16,300 16,210 16,350 0.6 -0.9 1.1 16,075 16,479 16,639 16,408 -2.0

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,998 2,001 2,001 -0.1 0.0 0.1 1,986 2,035 2,058 1,926 3.1

 Household appliances........................... 2,251 2,240 2,220 0.5 0.9 -0.4 2,262 2,330 2,288 2,275 -0.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,857 4,868 4,863 -0.2 0.1 -0.6 4,605 4,905 4,909 4,781 -3.7

 Batteries............................................ 1,308 1,306 1,315 0.2 -0.7 -1.1 1,358 1,398 1,386 1,459 -6.9

 Transportation equipment......................... 123,540 123,593 123,769 0.0 -0.1 0.5 122,953 124,416 124,626 124,948 -1.6

 Automobiles....................................... 4,359 4,361 4,682 0.0 -6.9 -5.1 4,333 4,398 4,671 4,446 -2.5

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 4,426 4,392 4,283 0.8 2.5 -0.6 4,365 4,418 4,261 4,060 7.5

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,864 2,028 2,091 -8.1 -3.0 -0.1 1,814 2,033 2,069 2,124 -14.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 23,946 23,940 23,857 0.0 0.3 1.0 23,828 24,118 24,034 23,508 1.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 62,670 62,426 62,128 0.4 0.5 -0.4 62,155 62,707 62,538 63,154 -1.6

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,093 11,285 11,547 -1.7 -2.3 7.5 11,070 11,300 11,629 11,413 -3.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,925 2,945 2,950 -0.7 -0.2 0.1 2,936 2,931 2,931 2,989 -1.8

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,165 7,147 7,137 0.3 0.1 -0.2 7,170 7,300 7,338 7,130 0.6

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 23,115 23,120 22,976 0.0 0.6 1.5 23,280 23,456 23,053 22,632 2.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 237,555 238,085 237,732 -0.2 0.1 0.0 239,287 240,050 239,086 244,339 -2.1

 Food products........................................ 53,920 53,995 53,724 -0.1 0.5 -0.1 54,745 54,545 53,263 54,436 0.6

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,780 5,766 5,730 0.2 0.6 -0.6 5,551 5,527 5,537 5,640 -1.6

 Dairy products.................................... 7,396 7,410 7,361 -0.2 0.7 0.5 7,442 7,595 7,600 7,484 -0.6

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 8,968 8,950 8,993 0.2 -0.5 -0.7 8,928 9,053 9,043 9,574 -6.7

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 20,656 20,664 20,531 0.0 0.6 0.3 20,655 20,099 19,765 20,637 0.1

 Beverages......................................... 16,794 16,850 16,748 -0.3 0.6 0.4 16,893 16,525 16,225 16,833 0.4

 Tobacco............................................ 3,862 3,814 3,783 1.3 0.8 -0.1 3,762 3,574 3,540 3,804 -1.1

 Textile mills............................................ 3,196 3,183 3,178 0.4 0.2 0.1 3,206 3,198 3,198 3,144 2.0

 Textile products...................................... 3,053 3,063 3,069 -0.3 -0.2 0.1 3,067 3,076 3,069 3,093 -0.8

 Apparel................................................. 2,477 2,530 2,560 -2.1 -1.2 0.0 2,576 2,694 2,695 2,469 4.3

 Leather and allied products....................... 782 789 796 -0.9 -0.9 0.3 798 808 807 836 -4.5

 Paper products....................................... 16,164 16,111 16,194 0.3 -0.5 0.4 16,145 16,168 16,269 16,542 -2.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 6,661 6,646 6,669 0.2 -0.3 0.8 6,582 6,619 6,684 6,728 -2.2

 Paperboard containers......................... 5,115 5,070 5,127 0.9 -1.1 0.1 5,118 5,079 5,128 5,261 -2.7

 Printing.................................................. 5,825 5,861 5,867 -0.6 -0.1 -0.5 5,896 6,062 5,911 6,032 -2.3

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 24,636 25,192 24,978 -2.2 0.9 -0.5 26,115 26,440 26,472 31,885 -18.1

 Petroleum refineries............................. 20,060 20,582 20,331 -2.5 1.2 -0.7 21,642 21,786 21,762 27,237 -20.5

 Chemical products..................................... 81,496 81,406 81,491 0.1 -0.1 0.1 80,890 81,744 82,248 80,068 1.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,178 4,206 4,234 -0.7 -0.7 1.0 3,935 3,987 3,958 4,251 -7.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 32,815 32,807 32,903 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 32,509 32,844 33,276 31,044 4.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,747 3,744 3,692 0.1 1.4 -0.1 3,657 3,699 3,722 3,518 4.0

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 25,350 25,291 25,344 0.2 -0.2 0.1 25,194 25,216 25,389 25,197 0.0

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

1

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

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

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

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

Industry % Change6

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Sep. Aug. July 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 463,012 459,111 458,002 0.8 0.2 -0.4 484,622 480,925 436,303 487,337 4,143,261 4,247,639 -2.5

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,390 46,571 46,326 -0.4 0.5 -0.1 49,122 51,279 47,087 48,303 425,592 416,961 2.1

 Information technology......................... 22,888 22,989 23,083 -0.4 -0.4 2.1 26,223 22,706 20,888 25,964 201,902 200,486 0.7

 Computers and related products........... 1,669 1,848 1,948 -9.7 -5.1 11.3 2,152 1,625 1,531 2,582 16,094 19,166 -16.0

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 55,718 55,149 54,757 1.0 0.7 -0.5 59,250 59,730 45,118 58,292 501,556 485,350 3.3

 Capital goods...................................... 82,311 80,679 82,021 2.0 -1.6 0.2 90,214 81,075 74,832 94,303 734,180 767,591 -4.4

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 71,879 70,340 71,442 2.2 -1.5 -0.4 78,471 70,854 65,276 82,785 643,903 681,769 -5.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,484 62,263 62,204 0.4 0.1 -0.7 67,538 62,706 57,492 71,100 566,486 596,598 -5.0

 Defense capital goods4........................ 10,432 10,339 10,579 0.9 -2.3 3.7 11,743 10,221 9,556 11,518 90,277 85,822 5.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 186,744 185,049 183,924 0.9 0.6 -0.6 192,944 193,490 176,568 195,501 1,654,183 1,731,830 -4.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 37,815 37,872 37,562 -0.2 0.8 0.5 40,609 40,104 31,107 42,212 344,404 345,907 -0.4

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 148,929 147,177 146,362 1.2 0.6 -0.9 152,335 153,386 145,461 153,289 1,309,779 1,385,923 -5.5

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 455,471 454,056 452,391 0.3 0.4 1.4 475,863 467,452 430,190 475,312 4,085,574 4,181,205 -2.3

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,034 46,206 46,230 -0.4 -0.1 -0.1 48,411 50,366 47,052 48,131 426,440 418,531 1.9

 Information technology......................... 23,138 23,487 23,557 -1.5 -0.3 2.4 27,266 21,995 20,600 26,953 207,870 206,485 0.7

 Computers and related products........... 1,692 1,851 1,940 -8.6 -4.6 11.4 2,175 1,628 1,523 2,571 16,068 19,256 -16.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 55,688 55,107 54,582 1.1 1.0 -0.3 59,232 59,941 44,577 58,158 499,426 484,240 3.1

 Capital goods...................................... 79,467 79,511 79,627 -0.1 -0.1 10.7 86,441 74,164 72,390 82,946 709,187 734,902 -3.5

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 68,153 67,265 70,020 1.3 -3.9 7.7 73,410 64,043 64,851 75,242 617,152 659,841 -6.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,846 63,681 62,931 -1.3 1.2 0.8 67,378 62,537 57,273 70,011 570,207 593,580 -3.9

 Defense capital goods4........................ 11,314 12,246 9,607 -7.6 27.5 38.4 13,031 10,121 7,539 7,704 92,035 75,061 22.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 186,854 185,060 184,019 1.0 0.6 -0.6 193,125 193,361 176,639 195,549 1,654,353 1,731,530 -4.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 37,925 37,883 37,657 0.1 0.6 0.7 40,790 39,975 31,178 42,260 344,574 345,607 -0.3

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 148,929 147,177 146,362 1.2 0.6 -0.9 152,335 153,386 145,461 153,289 1,309,779 1,385,923 -5.5

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 1,118,802 1,123,085 1,124,837 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 1,110,078 1,115,697 1,125,462 1,129,535 (X) (X) -1.7

 Construction materials and supplies....... 45,184 45,540 45,905 -0.8 -0.8 -0.2 45,155 45,866 46,779 45,678 (X) (X) -1.1

 Information technology......................... 125,741 125,491 124,993 0.2 0.4 0.4 125,501 124,458 125,169 118,959 (X) (X) 5.5

 Computers and related products........... 2,421 2,398 2,395 1.0 0.1 -0.3 2,421 2,398 2,395 2,370 (X) (X) 2.2

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 21,922 21,952 21,994 -0.1 -0.2 -0.8 21,429 21,447 21,236 22,885 (X) (X) -6.4

 Capital goods...................................... 831,108 833,952 835,120 -0.3 -0.1 -0.3 825,883 829,656 836,567 849,921 (X) (X) -2.8

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 692,617 696,343 699,418 -0.5 -0.4 -0.2 687,721 692,782 699,593 714,721 (X) (X) -3.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 222,745 222,383 220,965 0.2 0.6 0.3 221,407 221,567 221,736 222,761 (X) (X) -0.6

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 138,491 137,609 135,702 0.6 1.4 -0.7 138,162 136,874 136,974 135,200 (X) (X) 2.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,543 4,433 4,422 2.5 0.2 2.2 4,362 4,181 4,310 4,028 (X) (X) 8.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,543 4,433 4,422 2.5 0.2 2.2 4,362 4,181 4,310 4,028 (X) (X) 8.3

 All manufacturing industries................... 621,350 621,552 620,953 0.0 0.1 0.2 621,341 626,826 625,169 633,336 (X) (X) -1.9

 Construction materials and supplies....... 65,603 65,399 65,296 0.3 0.2 0.6 64,969 65,248 65,561 65,059 (X) (X) -0.1

 Information technology......................... 36,948 36,743 36,773 0.6 -0.1 0.4 36,760 37,633 37,348 37,116 (X) (X) -1.0

 Computers and related products........... 3,675 3,698 3,607 -0.6 2.5 0.6 3,694 3,876 3,755 3,533 (X) (X) 4.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 34,595 34,721 34,913 -0.4 -0.5 -0.1 34,340 34,967 35,035 34,138 (X) (X) 0.6

 Capital goods...................................... 191,061 190,693 190,460 0.2 0.1 0.4 190,402 193,002 192,393 194,689 (X) (X) -2.2

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 170,278 169,875 169,334 0.2 0.3 -0.1 169,584 172,113 171,015 172,918 (X) (X) -1.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 118,682 118,591 118,394 0.1 0.2 0.2 118,409 120,671 119,620 120,828 (X) (X) -2.0

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 20,783 20,818 21,126 -0.2 -1.5 4.0 20,818 20,889 21,378 21,771 (X) (X) -4.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 176,985 177,611 177,222 -0.4 0.2 -0.2 179,244 179,568 178,038 182,779 (X) (X) -1.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 29,744 29,713 29,786 0.1 -0.2 -0.9 29,780 30,152 29,797 29,191 (X) (X) 2.0

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 147,241 147,898 147,436 -0.4 0.3 -0.1 149,464 149,416 148,241 153,588 (X) (X) -2.7

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 % Change

Industry September

Sep. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sep. Aug. July Sep. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Sep. Aug. July 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 208,368 208,409 209,615 0.0 -0.6 1.1 208,465 209,570 210,588 209,597 -0.5

 Durable goods industries.......................... 129,953 129,925 130,872 0.0 -0.7 1.6 130,157 131,226 131,610 130,464 -0.2

 Wood products................................... 4,698 4,694 4,643 0.1 1.1 0.9 4,811 4,731 4,585 4,774 0.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,267 5,259 5,216 0.2 0.8 -1.0 5,258 5,257 5,224 5,218 0.8

 Primary metals.................................... 12,665 12,747 12,535 -0.6 1.7 0.6 12,787 12,785 12,464 13,235 -3.4

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,003 17,934 17,995 0.4 -0.3 1.4 18,025 17,957 18,113 18,054 -0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 23,732 23,664 23,783 0.3 -0.5 -0.9 23,711 23,979 24,294 25,660 -7.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 17,406 17,473 17,642 -0.4 -1.0 0.6 17,320 17,686 17,835 16,767 3.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,516 6,470 6,537 0.7 -1.0 0.7 6,413 6,560 6,641 6,773 -5.3

 Transportation equipment..................... 30,627 30,553 31,426 0.2 -2.8 5.8 30,768 30,976 31,211 28,991 6.1

 Furniture and related products............... 3,623 3,664 3,642 -1.1 0.6 1.1 3,621 3,693 3,695 3,636 -0.4

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,416 7,467 7,453 -0.7 0.2 1.1 7,443 7,602 7,548 7,356 1.2

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 78,415 78,484 78,743 -0.1 -0.3 0.2 78,308 78,344 78,978 79,133 -1.0

 Food products.................................... 18,263 18,189 18,271 0.4 -0.4 -0.5 18,131 17,925 18,076 18,036 0.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 5,071 5,057 5,053 0.3 0.1 0.6 4,931 4,778 4,787 4,894 0.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,161 1,164 1,165 -0.3 -0.1 0.9 1,162 1,171 1,168 1,176 -1.2

 Textile products................................... 1,058 1,059 1,066 -0.1 -0.7 -0.4 1,064 1,062 1,068 1,072 -0.7

 Apparel............................................. 653 679 690 -3.8 -1.6 0.6 682 701 705 767 -11.1

 Leather and allied products.................... 231 235 238 -1.7 -1.3 -0.4 235 241 243 257 -8.6

 Paper products.................................... 8,270 8,249 8,254 0.3 -0.1 0.5 8,269 8,256 8,255 8,466 -2.3

 Printing ............................................. 2,669 2,687 2,675 -0.7 0.4 -1.3 2,717 2,744 2,715 2,911 -6.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. 5,509 5,802 5,963 -5.0 -2.7 -0.2 5,763 6,062 6,255 7,358 -21.7

 Chemical products................................ 25,463 25,303 25,336 0.6 -0.1 0.9 25,288 25,363 25,622 24,070 5.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 10,067 10,060 10,032 0.1 0.3 0.1 10,066 10,041 10,084 10,126 -0.6

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 191,864 191,724 190,486 0.1 0.6 -0.7 190,590 192,737 192,178 197,013 -3.3

 Durable goods industries.......................... 143,582 143,327 142,480 0.2 0.6 -0.6 142,747 144,557 144,379 148,728 -4.0

 Wood products................................... 2,300 2,260 2,196 1.8 2.9 0.1 2,284 2,235 2,187 2,149 6.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,481 1,476 1,468 0.3 0.5 1.2 1,448 1,471 1,478 1,390 4.2

 Primary metals.................................... 9,255 9,214 9,151 0.4 0.7 1.1 9,233 9,393 9,328 10,581 -12.7

 Fabricated metal products........................ 12,831 12,835 12,865 0.0 -0.2 -0.1 12,857 12,963 12,979 12,976 -0.9

 Machinery.......................................... 19,268 19,177 19,321 0.5 -0.7 0.2 19,323 19,559 19,435 18,628 3.7

 Computers and electronic products........ 13,241 13,277 13,023 -0.3 2.0 -0.6 12,955 13,533 13,365 14,063 -7.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,454 3,443 3,518 0.3 -2.1 1.9 3,410 3,490 3,557 3,465 -1.6

 Transportation equipment..................... 76,677 76,621 75,977 0.1 0.8 -1.4 76,108 76,813 77,057 80,606 -5.6

 Furniture and related products............... 1,084 1,070 1,068 1.3 0.2 -2.0 1,083 1,079 1,083 1,031 5.0

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,991 3,954 3,893 0.9 1.6 2.3 4,046 4,021 3,910 3,839 5.4

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 48,282 48,397 48,006 -0.2 0.8 -0.9 47,843 48,180 47,799 48,285 -0.9

 Food products.................................... 6,284 6,156 6,081 2.1 1.2 -0.8 5,734 5,655 5,632 5,420 5.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,585 7,572 7,549 0.2 0.3 0.3 7,587 7,088 6,962 7,592 -0.1

 Textiles.............................................. 670 660 671 1.5 -1.6 -2.9 678 667 679 695 -2.4

 Textile products................................... 431 439 442 -1.8 -0.7 -0.5 437 443 443 439 -0.5

 Apparel............................................. 329 332 326 -0.9 1.8 2.5 343 357 349 338 1.5

 Leather and allied products.................... 108 108 108 0.0 0.0 1.9 110 109 109 107 2.8

 Paper products.................................... 1,256 1,231 1,254 2.0 -1.8 -0.5 1,258 1,254 1,269 1,314 -4.3

 Printing ............................................. 1,508 1,543 1,574 -2.3 -2.0 -0.9 1,513 1,682 1,595 1,535 -1.4

 Petroleum and coal products................. 7,958 7,923 7,884 0.4 0.5 -3.8 8,404 8,350 8,389 9,987 -15.9

 Chemical products................................ 19,067 19,377 19,089 -1.6 1.5 -0.4 18,719 19,527 19,330 17,915 4.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 3,086 3,056 3,028 1.0 0.9 0.1 3,060 3,048 3,042 2,943 4.0

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 221,118 221,419 220,852 -0.1 0.3 0.2 222,286 224,519 222,403 226,726 -2.0

 Durable goods industries.......................... 110,260 110,215 109,869 0.0 0.3 0.3 109,150 110,993 110,094 109,805 -0.6

 Wood products................................... 4,410 4,430 4,445 -0.5 -0.3 0.5 4,205 4,315 4,339 4,274 -1.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,388 6,378 6,348 0.2 0.5 1.2 6,206 6,285 6,339 6,010 3.3

 Primary metals.................................... 9,786 9,757 9,962 0.3 -2.1 2.3 9,737 9,760 9,959 10,889 -10.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,112 18,117 18,247 0.0 -0.7 0.5 17,722 17,982 18,411 18,140 -2.3

 Machinery.......................................... 22,911 22,804 22,246 0.5 2.5 -0.6 22,733 22,929 22,136 23,590 -3.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,921 11,901 11,903 0.2 0.0 -1.4 11,961 12,305 11,956 11,481 4.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,330 6,297 6,295 0.5 0.0 1.0 6,252 6,429 6,441 6,170 1.3

 Transportation equipment..................... 16,236 16,419 16,366 -1.1 0.3 -0.1 16,077 16,627 16,358 15,351 4.7

 Furniture and related products............... 2,458 2,413 2,427 1.9 -0.6 -1.1 2,466 2,528 2,560 2,463 0.1

 Miscellaneous products......................... 11,708 11,699 11,630 0.1 0.6 1.5 11,791 11,833 11,595 11,437 3.1

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 110,858 111,204 110,983 -0.3 0.2 0.2 113,136 113,526 112,309 116,921 -3.2

 Food products.................................... 29,373 29,650 29,372 -0.9 0.9 0.2 30,880 30,965 29,555 30,980 -0.3

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 8,000 8,035 7,929 -0.4 1.3 0.0 8,137 8,233 8,016 8,151 -0.2

 Textiles.............................................. 1,365 1,359 1,342 0.4 1.3 0.9 1,366 1,360 1,351 1,273 7.3

 Textile products................................... 1,564 1,565 1,561 -0.1 0.3 0.5 1,566 1,571 1,558 1,582 -1.0

 Apparel............................................. 1,495 1,519 1,544 -1.6 -1.6 -0.8 1,551 1,636 1,641 1,364 13.7

 Leather and allied products.................... 443 446 450 -0.7 -0.9 0.2 453 458 455 472 -4.0

 Paper products.................................... 6,638 6,631 6,686 0.1 -0.8 0.5 6,618 6,658 6,745 6,762 -2.1

 Printing ............................................. 1,648 1,631 1,618 1.0 0.8 1.4 1,666 1,636 1,601 1,586 5.0

 Petroleum and coal products................. 11,169 11,467 11,131 -2.6 3.0 1.8 11,948 12,028 11,828 14,540 -17.8

 Chemical products................................ 36,966 36,726 37,066 0.7 -0.9 -0.2 36,883 36,854 37,296 38,083 -3.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 12,197 12,175 12,284 0.2 -0.9 0.1 12,068 12,127 12,263 12,128 -0.5

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 Group 1

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio2

Industry Sep Aug Jul Jun Sep Aug Jul Jun

2016p 2016r 2016 2016 2016p 2016r 2016 2016

All manufacturing industries3............................ 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries3.................................. 1.64 1.65 1.65 1.64 6.69 6.79 6.79 6.81

 Wood products.............................................. 1.36 1.37 1.37 1.38 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.33 1.33 1.32 1.31 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.78 1.79 1.77 1.75 1.83 1.83 1.81 1.82

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.63 1.62 1.63 1.64 2.53 2.53 2.53 2.55

 Machinery..................................................... 2.21 2.20 2.20 2.19 3.39 3.38 3.41 3.39

 Computers and electronic products3

................ 1.56 1.55 1.56 1.60 5.80 5.80 5.83 5.91

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.69 1.69 1.72 1.71 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.00

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.51 1.54 1.53 1.52 13.81 14.38 14.21 14.17

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.53 1.52 1.50 1.53

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.77 1.79 1.78 1.71 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.83 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.66 1.63 1.65 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Textile products............................................ 1.54 1.52 1.55 1.55 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.37 2.38 2.38 2.38 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.35 2.35 2.40 2.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.06 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.66 0.71 0.71 0.69 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.23 1.23 1.24 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.31 1.32 1.32 1.32 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

2

 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.

3 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Sep3 Sep3 Sep3 Sep3

Industry 2015- 2015- 2015- 2015-

Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug Sep2 Aug

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

 

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

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

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

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.5 0.0 0.7 -0.2 0.3 -0.1 0.4

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

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.6 -0.1 0.6 -0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.1

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.1 0.4 -0.6 0.9 -0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.1 0.3 -0.3 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

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

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.5 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.2

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 1.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

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

 The current month revisions are the difference between the advance percent change and the percent change as shown in this

 publication.

3

 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 1

[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, which is a voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

This survey provides statistics on a calendar-month basis for 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). Data published from the M3 survey are based on a panel of approximately 

4,800 reporting units that represent approximately 3,000 companies and provide an indication of monthto-month change for the Manufacturing Sector. These reporting units may be divisions of diversified 

large companies, large homogenous companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 92 industry categories, 

which are combined into 65 publication levels due to the small monthly panel size. The survey 

methodology assumes that the month-to-month changes of the total operations of the reporting units in the 

M3 panel effectively represent the month-to-month movements of all establishments that make up the 

category. 

The companies for which shipments data are currently reported or imputed in the M3 survey represent 

approximately 61 percent of the total value of shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 

Economic Census, and these companies include almost two-thirds of the manufacturing companies with 

$500 million or more in shipments in the 2012 Economic Census. The companies for which shipments 

data are currently reported in the M3 survey represent approximately 54 percent of the total value of 

shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 Economic Census. Statistics based on the M3 

panel differ from the results that would be obtained from a complete enumeration of all manufacturing 

companies. The M3 panel is not based on 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. 

2017 Release Dates for the M3 Survey 

Survey month Advance Report 

(8:30 a.m. release time) 

Full Report 

(10:00 a.m. release time) 

Nov-16 Thu 12/22/2016 Fri 1/6/2017 

Dec-16 Fri 1/27/2017 Fri 2/3/2017 

Jan-17 Mon 2/27/2017 Mon 3/6/2017 

Feb-17 Fri 3/24/2017 Tue 4/4/2017 

Mar-17 Thu 4/27/2017 Thu 5/4/2017 

Apr-17 Fri 5/26/2017 Mon 6/5/2017 

May-17 Mon 6/26/2017 Wed 7/5/2017 

Jun-17 Thu 7/27/2017 Thu 8/3/2017 

Jul-17 Fri 8/25/2017 Tue 9/5/2017 

Aug-17 Wed 9/27/2017 Thu 10/5/2017 

Sep-17 Wed 10/25/2017 Fri 11/3/2017 

Oct-17 Wed 11/22/2017 Mon 12/4/2017 

Nov-17 Fri 12/22/2017 Not available at this time