1 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010 

Chris Savage or Jessica Young 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (10)-10 

CB10-179 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

October 2010 

The Census Bureau identified a processing error that occurred with the October 2010 Full Report affecting "Table 6 - Value of 

Manufacturers’ Inventories, by Stage of Fabrication, by Industry Group" for seasonally adjusted data for September and the 

corresponding Total Inventory NAICS Historic time series. Although the affect on the data is minor, approximately $74 million 

was improperly distributed across the stages of fabrication portion of the inventory data for the Machinery industry and the 

corresponding aggregates of "Durable Goods Industries” and "All Manufacturing Industries". Total inventory for this report is not 

affected. The error in the distribution of the inventories across these categories was due to an error in the program sequencing that 

distributes inventories across the stages of fabrication and it has since been corrected. Effective December 16, 2010, all data have 

been corrected. 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in October, down 

following three consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $3.6 billion or 0.9 percent to $420.1 billion, 

the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 

3.0 percent September increase. Excluding 

transportation, new orders decreased 0.2 percent. 

 Shipments, up three of the last four months, increased 

$1.5 billion or 0.3 percent to $421.0 billion. This 

followed a 0.7 percent September increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up nine of the last ten months, 

increased $5.2 billion or 0.6 percent to $821.6 billion. 

This followed a 1.3 percent September increase. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.76, up from 

5.67 in September. 

 Inventories, up nine of the last ten months, increased 

$4.7 billion or 0.9 percent to $538.2 billion. This 

followed a 1.1 percent September increase. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.28, up from 1.27 in 

September. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

October, down two of the last three months, decreased 

$6.9 billion or 3.4 percent to $195.7 billion, revised from 

the previously published 3.3 percent decrease. This 

followed a 4.9 percent September increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down two of the last 

three months, had the largest decrease, $2.8 billion or 

5.2 percent to $52.3 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $3.2 billion or 1.5 percent to $224.4 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, 

also down two of the last three months, decreased $1.8 

billion or 0.9 percent to $196.6 billion, unchanged from 

the previously published decrease. This followed a 

slight September increase. 

 Machinery, down following two consecutive monthly 

increases, had the largest decrease, $0.9 billion or 3.7 

percent to $24.6 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $3.2 billion or 1.5 

percent to $224.4 billion. This followed a 1.4 percent 

September increase. Petroleum and coal products, also 

up three consecutive months, drove the increase, up $3.8 

billion or 7.5 percent to $54.7 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

October, up nine of the last ten months, increased $5.2 

billion or 0.6 percent to $821.6 billion, revised from the 

previously published 0.7 percent increase. This 

followed a 1.3 percent September increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up two consecutive months, had the largest increase, $3.7 billion or 0.8 percent to 

$484.2 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in October, 

up ten consecutive months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.5 

percent to $316.9 billion, revised from the previously 

published 0.4 percent increase. This followed a 0.7 

percent September increase. 

 
2 

 Machinery, up eight consecutive months, had the 

largest increase, $0.5 billion or 0.9 percent to $52.4 

billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three of the last four months, increased $3.2 billion or 

1.5 percent to $221.3 billion. This followed a 1.7 

percent September increase. Petroleum and coal 

products, also up three of the last four months, led the 

increase, up $1.6 billion or 3.6 percent to $44.7 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, October materials and supplies 

increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and 1.0 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.4 

percent in durable goods and 2.8 percent in nondurable 

goods. Finished goods increased 0.6 percent in durable 

goods and 1.2 percent in nondurable goods. 

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

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

The advance report on durable goods for November is scheduled for release on December 23, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. EST and the full report on 

January 4, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description and 2011 release schedule.
 3

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2010/

2010p 2010r 2010 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 2010p 2009 2009

 All manufacturing industries.................. 421,020 419,568 416,480 0.3 0.7 -0.2 432,283 436,668 431,794 408,694 4,174,119 3,818,207 9.3

 Excluding transportation ................... 372,483 370,676 367,334 0.5 0.9 0.7 382,021 382,838 380,879 356,898 3,687,308 3,344,024 10.3

 Excluding defense.............................. 409,620 407,376 404,687 0.6 0.7 -0.2 421,178 423,228 420,393 394,822 4,049,072 3,686,415 9.8

 With unfilled orders ............................ 142,741 144,009 143,694 -0.9 0.2 -1.2 145,138 154,980 147,428 138,197 1,428,149 1,323,831 7.9

 Durable goods industries ......................... 196,642 198,431 198,420 -0.9 0.0 -1.3 202,973 211,363 203,624 194,066 1,963,745 1,822,738 7.7

 Wood products................................. ...... 6,396 6,224 6,328 2.8 -1.6 -3.7 6,718 6,670 6,861 7,046 67,822 66,325 2.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,160 8,153 8,213 0.1 -0.7 -0.2 8,660 8,759 9,172 8,454 83,010 81,063 2.4

 Primary metals............................ ........... 19,983 20,024 19,912 -0.2 0.6 0.6 20,537 21,155 21,181 17,050 200,965 150,369 33.6

 Iron and steel mills............................ 9,256 9,447 9,486 -2.0 -0.4 1.6 9,462 10,154 10,151 7,532 95,816 65,927 45.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,473 9,328 9,188 1.6 1.5 -0.3 9,805 9,632 9,731 8,392 92,896 73,760 25.9

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,254 1,249 1,238 0.4 0.9 0.5 1,270 1,369 1,299 1,126 12,253 10,682 14.7

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,240 27,293 27,308 -0.2 -0.1 1.0 28,304 29,039 29,553 27,529 274,898 262,314 4.8

 Machinery............................................. 24,572 25,518 25,169 -3.7 1.4 3.4 24,549 26,583 24,512 22,116 245,799 230,410 6.7

 Farm machinery................................. 2,184 2,192 2,355 -0.4 -6.9 11.3 1,980 2,142 2,184 1,613 21,415 19,798 8.2

 Construction machinery..................... 2,674 2,548 2,543 4.9 0.2 -0.3 2,913 2,543 2,475 1,852 23,465 18,207 28.9

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,302 1,298 1,349 0.3 -3.8 -1.1 1,370 1,322 1,279 1,562 13,948 16,230 -14.1

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,589 2,748 2,842 -5.8 -3.3 13.3 2,603 3,120 2,556 2,057 27,027 22,305 21.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 716 734 743 -2.5 -1.2 3.6 739 821 763 806 7,326 7,316 0.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,336 2,403 2,430 -2.8 -1.1 -1.7 2,186 2,619 2,551 2,507 25,164 27,406 -8.2

 Metalworking machinery..................... 1,684 1,883 1,924 -10.6 -2.1 1.4 1,671 2,134 1,893 1,661 17,955 16,423 9.3

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,136 3,848 3,084 -18.5 24.8 4.6 3,291 3,815 3,027 2,812 30,890 28,425 8.7

 Material handling equipment............... 1,701 1,668 1,682 2.0 -0.8 4.3 1,703 1,702 1,736 1,583 16,168 15,308 5.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

.......... 33,746 34,397 34,268 -1.9 0.4 -0.3 35,683 36,292 32,643 32,977 326,909 292,046 11.9

 Computers........................................ 4,662 4,857 4,716 -4.0 3.0 6.3 5,353 4,891 4,410 3,994 43,228 36,328 19.0

 Computer storage devices..................... 675 668 719 1.0 -7.1 -4.4 519 937 546 499 6,445 5,302 21.6

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,156 1,148 1,121 0.7 2.4 -3.7 970 1,440 999 903 10,333 9,804 5.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,789 2,832 2,958 -1.5 -4.3 -0.2 2,454 3,426 2,859 2,941 29,236 30,439 -4.0

 Defense communications equipment.... 522 570 511 -8.4 11.5 -14.3 529 613 505 586 5,421 5,626 -3.6

 Audio and video equipment.................... 411 415 421 -1.0 -1.4 2.4 578 422 366 616 3,865 3,742 3.3

 Electronic components......................... 4,039 3,931 4,089 2.7 -3.9 1.0 3,925 4,324 4,136 3,455 38,889 33,669 15.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,131 1,167 998 -3.1 16.9 2.3 1,055 1,340 1,004 995 10,550 10,333 2.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,841 2,918 2,865 -2.6 1.8 0.7 2,796 3,092 2,823 3,222 29,469 30,442 -3.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 8,932 8,712 8,794 2.5 -0.9 -2.1 8,771 10,238 8,460 7,800 85,501 72,699 17.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,622 9,554 9,642 0.7 -0.9 0.5 9,732 10,230 10,048 9,210 95,224 89,908 5.9

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,179 1,167 1,177 1.0 -0.8 -1.7 1,219 1,236 1,184 1,228 11,650 11,155 4.4

 Household appliances........................ 1,637 1,567 1,626 4.5 -3.6 0.4 1,652 1,660 1,687 1,573 16,574 16,168 2.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,204 3,239 3,247 -1.1 -0.2 1.8 2,976 3,479 3,301 2,641 31,022 28,185 10.1

 Batteries........................................... 736 748 752 -1.6 -0.5 0.7 864 859 797 967 7,351 7,026 4.6

 Transportation equipment........................ 48,537 48,892 49,146 -0.7 -0.5 -6.6 50,262 53,830 50,915 51,796 486,811 474,183 2.7

 Automobiles..................................... 5,733 5,998 6,104 -4.4 -1.7 -5.5 6,264 6,691 6,624 6,555 59,224 50,182 18.0

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 6,001 5,964 5,826 0.6 2.4 -7.2 6,834 6,941 6,373 6,418 56,378 57,712 -2.3

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,660 1,651 1,612 0.5 2.4 -1.5 1,667 1,721 1,594 1,503 16,039 13,093 22.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 16,972 16,807 17,095 1.0 -1.7 -6.4 18,417 17,960 18,393 18,044 171,014 151,841 12.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 7,250 7,002 7,454 3.5 -6.1 -13.5 6,387 7,549 7,320 6,736 68,045 77,330 -12.0

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,800 5,072 4,978 -5.4 1.9 -0.6 4,662 5,872 4,727 5,353 51,921 53,224 -2.4

 Ships and boats................................. 2,127 2,405 2,239 -11.6 7.4 -7.3 2,132 2,484 2,193 2,237 22,589 21,690 4.1

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,398 5,537 5,550 -2.5 -0.2 -0.6 5,478 5,740 5,943 5,474 55,567 54,906 1.2

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 12,988 12,839 12,884 1.2 -0.3 -0.5 13,050 13,065 12,796 12,414 126,740 121,214 4.6

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 224,378 221,137 218,060 1.5 1.4 0.8 229,310 225,305 228,170 214,628 2,210,374 1,995,469 10.8

 Food products....................................... 56,278 55,713 55,076 1.0 1.2 0.2 59,453 57,575 55,859 56,196 550,692 526,919 4.5

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 7,878 7,699 7,804 2.3 -1.3 4.9 8,438 8,121 8,042 8,364 77,866 77,592 0.4

 Dairy products.................................. 7,869 7,889 7,688 -0.3 2.6 1.2 8,055 8,049 7,832 7,100 75,132 69,062 8.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 15,979 15,973 15,687 0.0 1.8 -1.1 16,509 15,752 15,882 14,923 156,973 142,548 10.1

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 10,687 10,809 10,806 -1.1 0.0 2.8 10,722 10,734 11,316 10,167 105,074 100,320 4.7

 Beverages......................................... 7,688 7,665 7,624 0.3 0.5 1.7 7,723 7,590 8,134 7,188 75,149 70,637 6.4

 Tobacco............................................ 2,999 3,144 3,182 -4.6 -1.2 5.6 2,999 3,144 3,182 2,979 29,925 29,683 0.8

 Textile mills........................................... 2,337 2,365 2,405 -1.2 -1.7 0.1 2,451 2,452 2,477 2,295 23,878 21,224 12.5

 Textile products................................... 1,822 1,829 1,826 -0.4 0.2 -0.4 1,888 1,840 1,945 1,861 18,958 18,388 3.1

 Apparel................................................ 1,302 1,279 1,291 1.8 -0.9 0.5 1,473 1,349 1,430 1,477 13,016 12,886 1.0

 Leather and allied products...................... 393 391 393 0.5 -0.5 -1.5 415 451 427 419 4,059 4,196 -3.3

 Paper products...................................... 14,348 14,435 14,393 -0.6 0.3 0.1 14,488 14,799 14,838 13,586 141,837 134,223 5.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,702 6,786 6,777 -1.2 0.1 0.7 6,810 6,947 7,020 6,351 66,469 62,009 7.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,094 4,119 4,033 -0.6 2.1 -0.3 4,148 4,200 4,171 3,766 39,956 37,655 6.1

 Printing................................................. 7,138 7,267 7,233 -1.8 0.5 0.3 7,614 7,658 7,298 7,506 71,761 71,627 0.2

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 54,697 50,884 49,393 7.5 3.0 0.4 55,664 51,589 55,283 49,021 529,240 408,803 29.5

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 51,601 47,807 46,354 7.9 3.1 0.3 52,149 47,976 51,566 45,972 496,920 379,605 30.9

 Chemical products..................................... 60,036 60,865 59,939 -1.4 1.5 1.9 59,276 61,048 60,956 56,706 595,788 549,630 8.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,597 4,359 4,030 5.5 8.2 8.6 3,174 3,525 3,479 1,796 39,727 27,440 44.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 15,295 16,064 15,726 -4.8 2.1 1.9 16,032 16,203 16,055 16,363 154,694 157,900 -2.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,571 2,579 2,650 -0.3 -2.7 1.9 2,550 2,666 2,861 2,559 26,763 26,049 2.7

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 15,340 15,300 15,305 0.3 0.0 -0.5 15,866 15,810 16,341 15,394 156,071 147,253 6.0

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.

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

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

 aggregate totals. 

Year to date
 4 

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2010/

2010p 2010r 2010 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 2010p 2009 2009

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 420,086 423,713 411,259 -0.9 3.0 0.0 426,642 440,837 423,790 395,112 4,135,697 3,674,770 12.5

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 367,804 368,592 363,927 -0.2 1.3 1.3 374,230 382,378 376,364 348,142 3,654,457 3,263,552 12.0

 Excluding defense 2

.............................. 409,945 410,381 399,270 -0.1 2.8 0.1 417,644 426,617 413,354 384,015 4,013,927 3,556,220 12.9

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 147,932 154,856 145,045 -4.5 6.8 -0.4 147,686 164,187 145,470 132,032 1,449,129 1,229,276 17.9

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 195,708 202,576 193,199 -3.4 4.9 -0.8 197,332 215,532 195,620 180,484 1,925,323 1,679,301 14.7

 Primary metals............................ ............ 20,215 20,331 19,927 -0.6 2.0 -1.6 20,095 20,809 21,463 16,682 203,200 146,744 38.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,283 9,626 9,411 -3.6 2.3 -4.7 8,847 9,778 10,418 7,071 97,418 64,139 51.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 9,608 9,456 9,226 1.6 2.5 0.8 9,917 9,696 9,702 8,545 93,303 72,593 28.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,324 1,249 1,290 6.0 -3.2 5.8 1,331 1,335 1,343 1,066 12,479 10,012 24.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 26,900 27,305 27,529 -1.5 -0.8 1.6 27,384 28,676 29,271 26,833 275,711 252,369 9.2

 Machinery............................................. 26,714 27,740 26,948 -3.7 2.9 5.4 27,322 29,161 25,931 22,293 263,357 217,970 20.8

 Construction machinery....................... 2,716 2,623 2,798 3.5 -6.3 -2.7 2,900 2,758 2,653 1,569 24,662 12,894 91.3

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,038 1,644 1,442 -36.9 14.0 31.2 1,194 1,671 1,530 1,435 15,646 13,505 15.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,585 3,212 3,040 11.6 5.7 8.7 4,032 3,237 2,489 2,265 29,868 18,652 60.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 718 580 722 23.8 -19.7 0.7 735 686 764 765 7,281 7,288 -0.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 2,909 2,674 2,746 8.8 -2.6 13.8 2,793 3,214 2,828 2,721 29,566 31,183 -5.2

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,714 1,874 1,953 -8.5 -4.0 8.3 1,741 2,136 1,917 1,689 17,808 15,180 17.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,821 4,900 3,857 -22.0 27.0 17.3 3,908 4,803 3,788 2,936 34,936 27,672 26.3

 Material handling equipment.................. 1,729 1,784 1,654 -3.1 7.9 -19.4 1,625 2,014 1,573 1,431 17,129 14,084 21.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 26,751 29,044 28,468 -7.9 2.0 3.9 26,202 33,583 26,927 24,746 268,176 239,720 11.9

 Computers........................................ 4,519 4,997 4,770 -9.6 4.8 18.4 5,210 5,031 4,464 4,042 43,186 35,635 21.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,679 2,963 3,450 -9.6 -14.1 12.3 2,401 3,808 3,669 2,996 28,879 31,268 -7.6

 Defense communications equipment...... 504 659 522 -23.5 26.2 -3.0 423 837 355 449 5,516 5,563 -0.8

 Electronic components......................... 4,030 3,880 3,961 3.9 -2.0 -1.2 3,890 4,200 4,200 3,421 39,759 34,175 16.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,067 952 977 12.1 -2.6 -6.0 985 1,149 990 962 10,233 9,004 13.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,403 3,422 3,283 -29.8 4.2 8.3 2,177 3,879 2,830 2,849 29,204 29,661 -1.5

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 8,844 9,463 8,740 -6.5 8.3 -1.0 8,505 11,349 8,019 7,460 86,186 70,786 21.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,759 10,109 10,037 -3.5 0.7 4.3 9,806 10,396 10,206 9,402 99,427 88,364 12.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,149 1,278 1,217 -10.1 5.0 2.5 1,117 1,313 1,211 1,258 11,978 11,136 7.6

 Household appliances.......................... 1,634 1,587 1,547 3.0 2.6 -4.9 1,653 1,683 1,601 1,566 16,655 16,333 2.0

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,296 3,331 3,487 -1.1 -4.5 7.1 3,146 3,332 3,465 2,718 33,364 26,781 24.6

 Transportation equipment........................ 52,282 55,121 47,332 -5.2 16.5 -8.8 52,412 58,459 47,426 46,970 481,240 411,218 17.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 17,098 16,999 17,138 0.6 -0.8 -4.5 18,679 18,036 18,099 18,233 169,978 150,084 13.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 12,739 13,328 6,268 -4.4 112.6 -30.0 10,567 13,195 5,343 4,257 74,222 36,177 105.2

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 4,695 6,266 4,831 -25.1 29.7 0.8 4,362 6,634 3,786 4,888 51,643 49,965 3.4

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,676 1,714 1,430 -2.2 19.9 -22.0 1,541 1,643 1,480 1,337 17,899 15,812 13.2

 Furniture and related products................. 5,382 5,660 5,630 -4.9 0.5 10.0 5,522 5,904 5,664 5,566 56,176 55,061 2.0

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 224,378 221,137 218,060 1.5 1.4 0.8 229,310 225,305 228,170 214,628 2,210,374 1,995,469 10.8

p

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

 Data on 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
 5

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2010p 2010r 2010 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 10/09

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 821,562 816,371 805,524 0.6 1.3 0.2 813,666 811,118 801,911 798,095 2.0

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 337,376 335,930 331,312 0.4 1.4 1.0 336,280 335,882 331,304 311,101 8.1

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 668,012 661,562 651,855 1.0 1.5 0.2 663,391 658,736 650,309 643,023 3.2

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 821,562 816,371 805,524 0.6 1.3 0.2 813,666 811,118 801,911 798,095 2.0

 Primary metals........................................ 19,054 18,822 18,515 1.2 1.7 0.1 18,606 19,048 19,394 16,311 14.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,596 10,569 10,390 0.3 1.7 -0.7 10,371 10,986 11,362 9,001 15.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,332 6,197 6,069 2.2 2.1 0.6 6,166 6,054 5,990 5,557 11.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,126 2,056 2,056 3.4 0.0 2.6 2,069 2,008 2,042 1,753 18.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 53,772 54,112 54,100 -0.6 0.0 0.4 52,887 53,807 54,170 52,168 1.4

 Machinery.............................................. 104,032 101,890 99,668 2.1 2.2 1.8 104,724 101,951 99,373 88,018 19.0

 Construction machinery....................... 10,723 10,681 10,606 0.4 0.7 2.5 10,613 10,626 10,411 9,906 7.1

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 7,601 7,865 7,519 -3.4 4.6 1.3 7,762 7,938 7,589 6,119 26.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 13,847 12,851 12,387 7.8 3.7 1.6 13,832 12,403 12,286 10,961 26.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,385 2,383 2,537 0.1 -6.1 -0.8 2,390 2,394 2,529 2,432 -1.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 22,059 21,486 21,215 2.7 1.3 1.5 22,710 22,103 21,508 18,218 24.7

 Metalworking machinery....................... 6,209 6,179 6,188 0.5 -0.1 0.5 6,216 6,146 6,144 6,490 -4.2

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 17,018 16,333 15,281 4.2 6.9 5.3 16,859 16,242 15,254 12,705 32.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 7,949 7,921 7,805 0.4 1.5 -0.4 7,860 7,938 7,626 7,082 11.0

 Computers and electronic products 2......... 122,561 123,431 122,082 -0.7 1.1 0.6 122,178 123,470 121,141 121,401 0.6

 Computers......................................... 5,329 5,472 5,332 -2.6 2.6 1.0 5,329 5,472 5,332 4,825 10.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 22,108 22,218 22,087 -0.5 0.6 2.3 22,422 22,475 22,093 23,076 -2.8

 Defense communications equipment...... 6,199 6,217 6,128 -0.3 1.5 0.2 6,090 6,196 5,972 6,202 -1.8

 Electronic components.......................... 11,496 11,505 11,556 -0.1 -0.4 -1.1 11,563 11,598 11,722 10,352 11.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 8,071 8,135 8,350 -0.8 -2.6 -0.3 8,057 8,127 8,318 8,527 -5.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 39,784 40,222 39,718 -1.1 1.3 1.1 39,321 39,940 39,153 40,393 -2.7

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 29,574 29,662 28,911 -0.3 2.6 -0.2 29,396 29,662 28,551 28,026 4.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 25,462 25,325 24,770 0.5 2.2 1.6 25,304 25,230 25,064 21,745 16.4

 Electric lighting equipment................... 2,421 2,451 2,340 -1.2 4.7 1.7 2,453 2,555 2,478 2,289 7.2

 Household appliances.......................... 475 478 458 -0.6 4.4 -14.7 471 470 447 491 -4.1

 Electrical equipment............................. 15,871 15,779 15,687 0.6 0.6 1.6 15,902 15,732 15,879 13,902 14.4

 Transportation equipment........................ 484,186 480,441 474,212 0.8 1.3 -0.4 477,386 475,236 470,607 486,994 -2.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 13,838 13,712 13,520 0.9 1.4 0.3 13,612 13,350 13,274 14,471 -5.9

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 333,810 328,321 321,995 1.7 2.0 -0.4 329,742 325,562 319,916 324,865 1.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 48,655 48,760 47,566 -0.2 2.5 -0.3 47,470 47,770 47,008 47,774 -0.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 14,310 14,761 15,452 -3.1 -4.5 -5.0 13,688 14,279 15,120 19,481 -29.7

 Furniture and related products................. 6,413 6,429 6,306 -0.2 2.0 1.3 6,499 6,455 6,291 6,277 3.5

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.

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.
 6

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2010p 2010r 2010 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 10/09

 All manufacturing industries..................... 538,241 533,549 527,696 0.9 1.1 0.4 542,544 532,888 532,464 511,668 6.0

 Excluding transportation...................... 455,147 450,702 446,173 1.0 1.0 0.2 458,818 450,337 450,333 434,925 5.5

 Excluding defense............................. 515,568 510,868 504,764 0.9 1.2 0.5 519,791 510,264 509,600 488,326 6.4

 With unfilled orders............................. 258,075 256,578 254,514 0.6 0.8 0.7 259,449 255,599 256,228 239,965 8.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 316,916 315,405 313,187 0.5 0.7 0.7 318,291 314,070 315,208 297,135 7.1

 Wood products........................................ 8,790 8,875 8,851 -1.0 0.3 -0.2 8,927 8,977 8,838 8,662 3.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,344 11,309 11,248 0.3 0.5 0.1 11,015 11,098 11,138 11,325 -2.7

 Primary metals......................................... 30,833 30,593 30,580 0.8 0.0 -0.8 31,220 30,855 30,918 26,996 15.6

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 18,204 18,129 18,242 0.4 -0.6 -1.7 18,616 18,390 18,482 15,540 19.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,804 10,644 10,524 1.5 1.1 0.7 10,789 10,684 10,640 9,736 10.8

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,825 1,820 1,814 0.3 0.3 0.5 1,815 1,781 1,796 1,720 5.5

 Fabricated metal products......................... 42,048 41,850 42,049 0.5 -0.5 0.2 41,944 41,729 42,092 39,515 6.1

 Machinery.............................................. 52,435 51,983 51,738 0.9 0.5 0.9 52,398 51,467 51,785 50,301 4.2

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,640 2,537 2,520 4.1 0.7 -1.2 2,414 2,342 2,406 2,207 9.4

 Construction machinery........................ 5,325 5,287 5,146 0.7 2.7 2.4 5,329 5,262 5,076 4,776 11.6

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 5,980 5,901 5,897 1.3 0.1 0.7 5,906 5,857 5,969 5,687 3.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,011 6,909 6,770 1.5 2.1 1.6 6,913 6,908 6,844 6,393 8.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,549 1,571 1,576 -1.4 -0.3 0.4 1,566 1,543 1,579 1,554 0.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,441 3,462 3,499 -0.6 -1.1 -0.4 3,438 3,384 3,508 3,504 -1.9

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,937 3,987 3,957 -1.3 0.8 0.3 3,983 4,048 4,012 4,091 -2.6

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 6,442 6,238 6,301 3.3 -1.0 2.2 6,721 6,212 6,410 6,263 7.3

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,038 3,034 3,038 0.1 -0.1 0.8 3,050 2,998 3,018 2,986 2.1

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 46,136 45,824 45,462 0.7 0.8 0.5 46,541 45,339 46,188 43,721 6.4

 Computers......................................... 2,255 2,063 2,226 9.3 -7.3 -5.4 2,240 2,168 2,395 1,936 15.7

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,077 1,083 1,061 -0.6 2.1 1.2 1,096 1,034 1,101 987 11.0

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,426 1,449 1,453 -1.6 -0.3 -0.5 1,445 1,390 1,523 1,463 -1.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,221 6,091 5,955 2.1 2.3 -0.6 6,233 5,899 5,981 5,641 10.5

 Defense communications equipment...... 2,138 2,136 2,139 0.1 -0.1 3.5 2,138 2,136 2,139 1,945 9.9

 Audio and video equipment.................. 373 375 375 -0.5 0.0 -3.4 426 412 389 683 -37.6

 Electronic components.......................... 7,901 7,731 7,566 2.2 2.2 1.1 8,022 7,619 7,634 6,621 21.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,862 3,862 3,779 0.0 2.2 0.3 3,964 3,937 3,817 3,666 8.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,510 3,521 3,589 -0.3 -1.9 -1.2 3,519 3,480 3,605 3,387 3.9

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 11,999 12,013 11,818 -0.1 1.7 1.1 12,051 11,772 12,064 11,575 4.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 14,932 14,834 14,640 0.7 1.3 1.4 14,915 14,672 14,757 13,432 11.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,693 1,676 1,624 1.0 3.2 4.0 1,660 1,639 1,653 1,545 7.4

 Household appliances.......................... 2,644 2,605 2,527 1.5 3.1 3.7 2,708 2,667 2,654 2,139 26.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,869 4,828 4,753 0.8 1.6 0.5 4,834 4,636 4,629 4,084 18.4

 Batteries............................................ 984 981 985 0.3 -0.4 0.0 996 1,006 1,028 944 5.5

 Transportation equipment......................... 83,094 82,847 81,523 0.3 1.6 1.4 83,726 82,551 82,131 76,743 9.1

 Automobiles....................................... 1,819 1,695 1,726 7.3 -1.8 0.6 1,765 1,611 1,744 1,091 61.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 1,888 1,908 2,007 -1.0 -4.9 3.7 1,948 2,020 2,150 1,322 47.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,322 1,327 1,328 -0.4 -0.1 -0.4 1,377 1,320 1,368 1,384 -0.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,293 16,279 16,108 0.1 1.1 1.0 16,236 16,156 16,020 13,999 16.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 39,497 39,219 37,768 0.7 3.8 3.0 39,968 39,070 38,132 34,482 15.9

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,854 11,905 12,030 -0.4 -1.0 -0.6 11,966 11,964 12,091 12,445 -3.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,620 3,580 3,534 1.1 1.3 -6.3 3,598 3,542 3,457 3,354 7.3

 Furniture and related products................. 6,444 6,440 6,422 0.1 0.3 1.0 6,442 6,437 6,484 6,045 6.6

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 20,860 20,850 20,674 0.0 0.9 1.0 21,163 20,945 20,877 20,395 3.8

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 221,325 218,144 214,509 1.5 1.7 -0.1 224,253 218,818 217,256 214,533 4.5

 Food products........................................ 42,172 41,662 40,979 1.2 1.7 1.1 44,776 42,310 41,147 42,530 5.3

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,520 5,517 5,433 0.1 1.5 2.8 5,930 5,428 5,272 5,430 9.2

 Dairy products.................................... 5,751 5,630 5,433 2.1 3.6 1.7 5,721 5,598 5,539 4,958 15.4

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 8,467 8,306 8,165 1.9 1.7 0.5 8,686 8,402 8,212 7,760 11.9

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 15,564 15,388 15,444 1.1 -0.4 -1.1 16,263 15,347 14,959 16,747 -2.9

 Beverages......................................... 11,945 11,779 11,806 1.4 -0.2 -1.3 12,605 11,857 11,539 12,956 -2.7

 Tobacco............................................ 3,619 3,609 3,638 0.3 -0.8 -0.4 3,658 3,490 3,420 3,791 -3.5

 Textile mills............................................ 3,159 3,174 3,148 -0.5 0.8 1.1 3,187 3,163 3,120 3,074 3.7

 Textile products...................................... 3,011 3,008 2,980 0.1 0.9 1.1 3,039 3,041 3,005 2,797 8.7

 Apparel................................................. 2,770 2,719 2,642 1.9 2.9 2.4 2,799 2,858 2,774 2,416 15.9

 Leather and allied products...................... 918 889 872 3.3 1.9 1.0 907 900 902 841 7.8

 Paper products....................................... 14,252 14,193 14,191 0.4 0.0 0.0 14,233 14,180 14,198 14,008 1.6

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 5,797 5,752 5,759 0.8 -0.1 -0.3 5,765 5,728 5,752 6,041 -4.6

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,094 4,087 4,097 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 4,040 4,068 4,090 3,717 8.7

 Printing.................................................. 5,485 5,393 5,393 1.7 0.0 0.1 5,735 5,525 5,544 5,671 1.1

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 44,662 43,107 40,039 3.6 7.7 -0.9 44,536 43,330 42,506 39,391 13.1

 Petroleum refineries............................. 41,991 40,373 37,204 4.0 8.5 -1.0 41,927 40,614 39,604 36,923 13.6

 Chemical products..................................... 69,908 69,162 69,308 1.1 -0.2 -0.2 69,476 68,750 69,733 68,638 1.2

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,990 4,032 4,164 -1.0 -3.2 -3.4 3,689 3,561 3,743 3,835 -3.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 24,150 23,546 23,708 2.6 -0.7 -0.8 24,282 23,637 24,191 26,421 -8.1

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 3,338 3,348 3,297 -0.3 1.5 0.8 3,240 3,313 3,320 3,024 7.1

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 19,424 19,449 19,513 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 19,302 19,414 19,368 18,420 4.8

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

1

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

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

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

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

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revision.
 7

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2010/

2010p 2010r 2010 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 2010p 2009 2009

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 421,020 419,568 416,480 0.3 0.7 -0.2 432,283 436,668 431,794 408,694 4,174,119 3,818,207 9.3

 Construction materials and supplies...... 39,922 39,579 39,973 0.9 -1.0 -0.4 41,944 42,617 43,785 41,824 410,015 399,669 2.6

 Information technology......................... 27,164 27,331 27,190 -0.6 0.5 -0.1 27,329 30,747 26,303 25,712 264,571 244,185 8.3

 Computers and related products .......... 6,493 6,673 6,556 -2.7 1.8 3.2 6,842 7,268 5,955 5,396 60,006 51,434 16.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 30,366 30,420 30,637 -0.2 -0.7 -6.1 33,182 33,313 32,984 32,520 302,655 272,828 10.9

 Capital goods...................................... 73,729 74,847 74,349 -1.5 0.7 -1.2 72,869 80,492 72,805 69,773 728,591 696,902 4.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 64,815 65,106 65,225 -0.4 -0.2 -0.6 64,159 70,008 63,849 58,575 628,504 590,166 6.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 60,466 61,293 60,710 -1.3 1.0 1.4 60,497 65,920 59,451 54,422 588,939 541,407 8.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,914 9,741 9,124 -8.5 6.8 -4.8 8,710 10,484 8,956 11,198 100,087 106,736 -6.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 173,045 169,864 167,603 1.9 1.3 0.0 179,495 174,471 176,243 168,828 1,699,556 1,538,537 10.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,179 24,414 24,600 -1.0 -0.8 -3.2 25,758 26,458 25,725 25,485 242,054 230,601 5.0

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 148,866 145,450 143,003 2.3 1.7 0.6 153,737 148,013 150,518 143,343 1,457,502 1,307,936 11.4

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 420,086 423,713 411,259 -0.9 3.0 0.0 426,642 440,837 423,790 395,112 4,135,697 3,674,770 12.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 40,190 40,171 40,419 0.0 -0.6 0.6 41,875 43,322 43,886 41,720 414,828 395,864 4.8

 Information technology......................... 26,383 28,909 28,263 -8.7 2.3 5.0 26,073 33,278 26,623 24,983 265,777 239,921 10.8

 Computers and related products .......... 6,350 6,813 6,610 -6.8 3.1 11.2 6,699 7,408 6,009 5,444 59,964 50,741 18.2

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 30,492 30,612 30,680 -0.4 -0.2 -5.1 33,444 33,389 32,690 32,709 301,619 271,071 11.3

 Capital goods...................................... 78,660 84,516 75,737 -6.9 11.6 0.9 76,136 89,337 71,569 64,162 744,616 616,356 20.8

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 70,881 74,093 66,371 -4.3 11.6 1.3 69,353 78,559 63,214 55,625 648,259 521,676 24.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 61,398 64,176 63,011 -4.3 1.8 5.1 61,805 68,987 60,706 54,050 602,789 516,041 16.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,779 10,423 9,366 -25.4 11.3 -1.9 6,783 10,778 8,355 8,537 96,357 94,680 1.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 173,151 169,937 167,375 1.9 1.5 0.0 179,626 174,542 175,928 168,967 1,699,976 1,538,072 10.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,285 24,487 24,372 -0.8 0.5 -3.7 25,889 26,529 25,410 25,624 242,474 230,136 5.4

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 148,866 145,450 143,003 2.3 1.7 0.6 153,737 148,013 150,518 143,343 1,457,502 1,307,936 11.4

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 821,562 816,371 805,524 0.6 1.3 0.2 813,666 811,118 801,911 798,095 (X) (X) 2.0

 Construction materials and supplies...... 54,815 54,547 53,955 0.5 1.1 0.8 55,058 55,127 54,422 50,036 (X) (X) 10.0

 Information technology......................... 120,145 120,926 119,348 -0.6 1.3 0.9 119,483 120,739 118,208 118,544 (X) (X) 0.8

 Computers and related products .......... 5,329 5,472 5,332 -2.6 2.6 1.0 5,329 5,472 5,332 4,825 (X) (X) 10.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 13,838 13,712 13,520 0.9 1.4 0.3 13,612 13,350 13,274 14,471 (X) (X) -5.9

 Capital goods...................................... 643,428 638,497 628,828 0.8 1.5 0.2 636,477 633,210 624,365 624,919 (X) (X) 1.8

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................503,951 497,885 488,898 1.2 1.8 0.2 499,924 494,730 486,179 483,305 (X) (X) 3.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 200,917 199,985 197,102 0.5 1.5 1.2 200,712 199,404 196,337 188,500 (X) (X) 6.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 139,477 140,612 139,930 -0.8 0.5 0.2 136,553 138,480 138,186 141,614 (X) (X) -3.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 8,489 8,383 8,310 1.3 0.9 -2.7 8,437 8,306 8,235 7,638 (X) (X) 10.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 8,489 8,383 8,310 1.3 0.9 -2.7 8,437 8,306 8,235 7,638 (X) (X) 10.5

 All manufacturing industries .................. 538,241 533,549 527,696 0.9 1.1 0.4 542,544 532,888 532,464 511,668 (X) (X) 6.0

 Construction materials and supplies...... 55,022 55,161 55,165 -0.3 0.0 0.1 54,807 55,076 55,204 53,222 (X) (X) 3.0

 Information technology......................... 39,460 39,203 39,010 0.7 0.5 0.1 39,716 38,811 39,694 37,914 (X) (X) 4.8

 Computers and related products .......... 4,758 4,595 4,740 3.5 -3.1 -2.5 4,781 4,592 5,019 4,386 (X) (X) 9.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 21,322 21,209 21,169 0.5 0.2 1.1 21,326 21,107 21,282 17,796 (X) (X) 19.8

 Capital goods...................................... 151,949 150,966 149,001 0.7 1.3 0.9 152,628 149,796 150,037 142,676 (X) (X) 7.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................134,612 133,619 131,377 0.7 1.7 1.3 135,323 132,565 132,542 124,833 (X) (X) 8.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 103,330 102,628 101,934 0.7 0.7 0.6 103,709 101,666 102,837 98,710 (X) (X) 5.1

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 17,337 17,347 17,624 -0.1 -1.6 -1.7 17,305 17,231 17,495 17,843 (X) (X) -3.0

 Consumer goods.................................. 165,252 162,101 158,283 1.9 2.4 0.1 169,014 163,359 161,507 161,267 (X) (X) 4.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 23,348 23,201 23,099 0.6 0.4 1.4 23,664 23,327 23,524 21,138 (X) (X) 12.0

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 141,904 138,900 135,184 2.2 2.7 -0.1 145,350 140,032 137,983 140,129 (X) (X) 3.7

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 
 8

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2010p 2010r 2010 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 10/09

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 179,539 178,304 176,563 0.7 1.0 -0.3 180,529 178,333 177,024 172,027 4.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 106,664 106,184 106,014 0.5 0.2 0.1 107,477 106,357 106,228 103,139 4.2

 Wood products................................... 3,179 3,258 3,274 -2.4 -0.5 1.2 3,376 3,411 3,276 3,240 4.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,497 4,513 4,558 -0.4 -1.0 -0.4 4,466 4,512 4,567 4,658 -4.1

 Primary metals.................................... 12,087 11,994 11,835 0.8 1.3 -1.3 12,400 12,221 11,952 11,436 8.4

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,309 15,305 15,435 0.0 -0.8 -0.2 15,432 15,503 15,431 14,794 4.3

 Machinery.......................................... 20,190 20,026 19,973 0.8 0.3 1.3 20,362 19,943 20,030 19,871 2.5

 Computers and electronic products...... 15,377 15,025 15,048 2.3 -0.2 -1.0 15,657 15,110 15,172 15,299 2.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,835 5,791 5,801 0.8 -0.2 1.7 5,750 5,672 5,804 5,094 12.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 20,237 20,319 20,193 -0.4 0.6 -0.1 20,083 20,047 20,039 19,084 5.2

 Furniture and related products............ 3,166 3,143 3,137 0.7 0.2 1.2 3,141 3,129 3,139 2,843 10.5

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,787 6,810 6,760 -0.3 0.7 0.5 6,810 6,809 6,818 6,820 -0.1

 Nondurable goods industries................. 72,875 72,120 70,549 1.0 2.2 -0.9 73,052 71,976 70,796 68,888 6.0

 Food products................................... 14,522 14,454 14,151 0.5 2.1 0.6 15,045 14,169 13,746 14,524 3.6

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,179 4,165 4,152 0.3 0.3 -0.1 4,229 4,060 3,951 4,373 -3.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,161 1,164 1,164 -0.3 0.0 1.2 1,163 1,164 1,170 1,074 8.3

 Textile products.................................. 1,220 1,220 1,215 0.0 0.4 1.0 1,242 1,246 1,228 1,158 7.3

 Apparel............................................. 752 723 689 4.0 4.9 3.6 751 724 695 609 23.3

 Leather and allied products................ 349 347 346 0.6 0.3 3.0 349 356 356 321 8.7

 Paper products................................... 6,961 6,935 6,937 0.4 0.0 -0.6 6,992 6,993 6,966 6,914 1.1

 Printing ............................................ 2,425 2,360 2,385 2.8 -1.0 1.3 2,478 2,420 2,430 2,322 6.7

 Petroleum and coal products............... 11,619 10,896 9,626 6.6 13.2 -5.5 11,380 10,826 10,194 9,733 16.9

 Chemical products............................. 21,634 21,766 21,776 -0.6 0.0 -0.9 21,433 21,829 21,922 20,479 4.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,053 8,090 8,108 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 7,990 8,189 8,138 7,381 8.3

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 163,140 161,376 159,405 1.1 1.2 0.8 165,788 160,134 160,557 153,612 7.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 116,939 116,435 115,068 0.4 1.2 0.9 117,958 116,013 116,133 107,474 9.8

 Wood products................................... 1,685 1,670 1,635 0.9 2.1 -2.8 1,695 1,668 1,642 1,614 5.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,353 1,334 1,318 1.4 1.2 -0.5 1,294 1,316 1,299 1,327 -2.5

 Primary metals.................................... 8,873 8,701 8,713 2.0 -0.1 0.0 8,980 8,853 9,023 7,631 17.7

 Fabricated metal products.................. 11,607 11,598 11,621 0.1 -0.2 0.0 11,684 11,633 11,695 10,842 7.8

 Machinery.......................................... 14,483 14,451 14,344 0.2 0.7 0.3 14,655 14,453 14,551 14,057 4.3

 Computers and electronic products...... 20,450 20,490 20,562 -0.2 -0.4 1.5 20,452 20,020 20,796 18,859 8.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,265 3,267 3,224 -0.1 1.3 1.1 3,269 3,209 3,282 2,984 9.6

 Transportation equipment.................. 50,822 50,510 49,305 0.6 2.4 1.5 51,482 50,455 49,463 46,296 11.2

 Furniture and related products............ 1,004 1,028 1,012 -2.3 1.6 -1.7 996 1,024 1,013 979 1.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,397 3,386 3,334 0.3 1.6 1.0 3,451 3,382 3,369 2,885 19.6

 Nondurable goods industries................. 46,201 44,941 44,337 2.8 1.4 0.6 47,830 44,121 44,424 46,138 3.7

 Food products................................... 3,685 3,535 3,541 4.2 -0.2 2.2 4,762 3,185 3,090 4,716 1.0

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,652 5,510 5,601 2.6 -1.6 -3.3 6,095 5,410 5,147 6,343 -3.9

 Textiles.............................................. 691 702 696 -1.6 0.9 2.5 699 709 702 666 5.0

 Textile products.................................. 497 495 495 0.4 0.0 2.3 501 504 499 478 4.8

 Apparel............................................. 351 370 368 -5.1 0.5 0.0 353 380 381 336 5.1

 Leather and allied products................ 82 79 77 3.8 2.6 1.3 79 76 75 68 16.2

 Paper products................................... 1,404 1,400 1,401 0.3 -0.1 0.2 1,380 1,396 1,421 1,321 4.5

 Printing ............................................ 1,266 1,270 1,269 -0.3 0.1 -1.6 1,378 1,334 1,321 1,505 -8.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 14,188 13,749 13,181 3.2 4.3 2.6 14,191 13,446 13,895 11,296 25.6

 Chemical products............................. 16,051 15,501 15,382 3.5 0.8 -0.1 16,082 15,360 15,594 17,291 -7.0

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,334 2,330 2,326 0.2 0.2 1.4 2,310 2,321 2,299 2,118 9.1

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 195,562 193,869 191,728 0.9 1.1 0.6 196,227 194,421 194,883 186,029 5.5

 Durable goods industries........................ 93,313 92,786 92,105 0.6 0.7 1.0 92,856 91,700 92,847 86,522 7.3

 Wood products................................... 3,926 3,947 3,942 -0.5 0.1 -0.2 3,856 3,898 3,920 3,808 1.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,494 5,462 5,372 0.6 1.7 0.8 5,255 5,270 5,272 5,340 -1.6

 Primary metals.................................... 9,873 9,898 10,032 -0.3 -1.3 -0.8 9,840 9,781 9,943 7,929 24.1

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,132 14,947 14,993 1.2 -0.3 0.7 14,828 14,593 14,966 13,879 6.8

 Machinery.......................................... 17,762 17,506 17,421 1.5 0.5 0.8 17,381 17,071 17,204 16,373 6.2

 Computers and electronic products...... 10,309 10,309 9,852 0.0 4.6 0.7 10,432 10,209 10,220 9,563 9.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,832 5,776 5,615 1.0 2.9 1.2 5,896 5,791 5,671 5,354 10.1

 Transportation equipment.................. 12,035 12,018 12,025 0.1 -0.1 3.6 12,161 12,049 12,629 11,363 7.0

 Furniture and related products............ 2,274 2,269 2,273 0.2 -0.2 2.1 2,305 2,284 2,332 2,223 3.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 10,676 10,654 10,580 0.2 0.7 1.2 10,902 10,754 10,690 10,690 2.0

 Nondurable goods industries................. 102,249 101,083 99,623 1.2 1.5 0.3 103,371 102,721 102,036 99,507 3.9

 Food products................................... 23,965 23,673 23,287 1.2 1.7 1.2 24,969 24,956 24,311 23,290 7.2

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,733 5,713 5,691 0.4 0.4 0.5 5,939 5,877 5,861 6,031 -1.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,307 1,308 1,288 -0.1 1.6 0.3 1,325 1,290 1,248 1,334 -0.7

 Textile products.................................. 1,294 1,293 1,270 0.1 1.8 0.8 1,296 1,291 1,278 1,161 11.6

 Apparel............................................. 1,667 1,626 1,585 2.5 2.6 2.5 1,695 1,754 1,698 1,471 15.2

 Leather and allied products................ 487 463 449 5.2 3.1 -0.4 479 468 471 452 6.0

 Paper products................................... 5,887 5,858 5,853 0.5 0.1 0.7 5,861 5,791 5,811 5,773 1.5

 Printing ............................................ 1,794 1,763 1,739 1.8 1.4 -0.4 1,879 1,771 1,793 1,844 1.9

 Petroleum and coal products............... 18,855 18,462 17,232 2.1 7.1 -0.7 18,965 19,058 18,417 18,362 3.3

 Chemical products............................. 32,223 31,895 32,150 1.0 -0.8 0.1 31,961 31,561 32,217 30,868 3.5

 Plastics and rubber products............... 9,037 9,029 9,079 0.1 -0.6 -0.6 9,002 8,904 8,931 8,921 0.9

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

1

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

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

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

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
 9

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Oct Sep Aug Jul Oct Sep Aug Jul

2010p 2010r 2010 2010 2010p 2010r 2010 2010

All manufacturing industries2

............................ 1.28 1.27 1.27 1.26 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.61 1.59 1.58 1.55 5.76 5.67 5.61 5.53

 Wood products.............................................. 1.37 1.43 1.40 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.39 1.39 1.37 1.36 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.54 1.53 1.54 1.56 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.93

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.54 1.53 1.54 1.55 2.04 2.05 2.05 2.05

 Machinery..................................................... 2.13 2.04 2.06 2.11 4.77 4.49 4.50 4.52

 Computers and electronic products 2

................ 1.37 1.33 1.33 1.32 4.92 4.94 4.90 4.88

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.55 1.55 1.52 1.50 2.87 2.88 2.79 2.75

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.71 1.69 1.66 1.53 13.78 13.62 13.32 12.44

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.19 1.16 1.16 1.14 1.37 1.34 1.31 1.28

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.61 1.62 1.60 1.58 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.99 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.46 1.42 1.43 1.49 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.35 1.34 1.31 1.30 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.65 1.64 1.63 1.61 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.13 2.13 2.05 2.01 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.34 2.27 2.22 2.16 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 0.99 0.98 0.99 0.99 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.77 0.74 0.75 0.75 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.82 0.85 0.81 0.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.16 1.14 1.16 1.18 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.27 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Oct2 Oct2 Oct2 Oct2

Industry 2009- 2009- 2009- 2009-

Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010

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

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

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Primary metals.................................... 0.2 0.6 0.2 1.7 0.1 1.4 0.1 0.3

 Fabricated metal products.................... -0.4 0.4 -0.6 0.8 -0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... -0.1 0.7 0.2 1.6 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.0 1.2 -0.2 1.4 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.5 0.5 -0.1 1.3 -0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.0 1.1 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.4

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.5 (X) 1.2 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.3

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

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

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

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

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.3

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

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

 publication.

2

 The twelve month revisions are the differences between the month-to-month percent changes of the preliminary and

final estimates. The monthly averages are the simple averages of the absolute values of the differences for the months specified. 

The advance to final percent change revisions for the durable goods industries are shown in the advance report for the month.

3

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

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

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

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

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
10

Survey Description 

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

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

end-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 64 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 60 percent of the shipments estimates at the total 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

establishments is one source of nonsampling error. The use of primarily large companies to represent the month-tomonth 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.

2011 Release Dates for M3 Survey

Survey Month Advance Report 8:30 A.M. Full Report 10:00 A.M.

November 2010 Dec. 23, 2010 Jan. 4, 2011

December 2010 Jan. 27, 2011 Feb. 3, 2011

January 2011 Feb. 24, 2011 Mar. 4, 2011

February 2011 Mar. 24, 2011 Mar. 31, 2011

March 2011 Apr. 27, 2011 May 3, 2011

April 2011 May 25, 2011 Jun. 2, 2011

May 2011 Jun. 24, 2011 Jul. 5, 2011

June 2011 Jul. 27, 2011 Aug. 3, 2011

July 2011 Aug. 24, 2011 Aug. 31, 2011

August 2011 Sep. 28, 2011 Oct. 4, 2011

September 2011 Oct. 26, 2011 Nov. 3, 2011

October 2011 Nov. 23, 2011 Dec. 5, 2011

November 2011 Dec. 23, 2011