FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016, AT 10:00 A.M. EST 

Adriana Stoica 

Economic Indicators Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (15)-12 

CB 16-13 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

December 2015 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in December, 

down four of the last five months, decreased $13.5 

billion or 2.9 percent to $456.5 billion, the U.S. Census 

Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.7 percent 

November decrease. 

 Shipments, down eight of the last nine months, 

decreased $6.8 billion or 1.4 percent to $467.0 billion. 

This followed a 0.1 percent November decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, down following two consecutive 

monthly increases, decreased $5.8 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,187.4 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent 

November increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments 

ratio was 7.11, up from 6.94 in November. 

 Inventories, up following five consecutive monthly 

decreases, increased $1.0 billion or 0.2 percent to $642.3 

billion. This followed a 0.3 percent November decrease. 

The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.38, up from 

1.35 in November. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

December, down four of the last five months, decreased 

$11.8 billion or 5.0 percent to $225.6 billion, up from 

the previously published 5.1 percent decrease. This 

followed a 0.5 percent November decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also down four of the last 

five months, led the decrease, $10.2 billion or 12.6 

percent to $71.2 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $1.7 billion or 0.8 percent to $230.9 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

December, down two of the last three months, decreased 

$5.1 billion or 2.1 percent to $236.1 billion, up from the 

previously published 2.2 percent decrease. This followed 

a 0.6 percent November increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down two of the last 

three months, drove the decrease, $5.4 billion or 6.7 

percent to $75.1 billion. 

 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

six consecutive months, decreased $1.7 billion or 0.8 

percent to $230.9 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent 

November decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also 

down six consecutive months, led the decrease, $1.2 

billion or 2.8 percent to $40.6 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

December, down following two consecutive monthly 

increases, decreased $5.8 billion or 0.5 percent to 

$1,187.4 billion, unchanged from the previously 

published 0.5 percent decrease. This followed a 0.1 

percent November increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $3.9 

billion or 0.5 percent to $795.0 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

December, up following five consecutive monthly 

decreases, increased $1.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $397.6 

billion, unchanged from the previously published 0.5 

percent increase. This followed a 0.3 percent November 

decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up following three 

consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $1.7 

billion or 1.3 percent to $131.7 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

five of the last six months, decreased $1.0 billion or 0.4 

percent to $244.7 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent 

November decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also 

down five of the last six months, led the decrease, $0.9 

billion or 2.6 percent to $32.6 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, December materials and 

supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 0.5 percent in nondurable goods. Work in 

process increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and 

decreased 0.4 percent in nondurable goods. Finished 

goods increased 0.5 percent 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 January is scheduled for release on February 25, 2016 at 

8:30 a.m. EST and the Full Report on March 3, 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. To learn more about this release and the 

other indicators the U.S. Census Bureau publishes, join us for the Investigating Economic Indicators Webinar Series. For more information, 

visit www.census.gov/econ/webinar. 

“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

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

 All manufacturing industries.................. 467,021 473,836 474,362 -1.4 -0.1 -0.7 460,388 456,512 485,943 484,948 5,738,469 5,996,336 -4.3

 Excluding transportation................... 391,932 393,354 395,782 -0.4 -0.6 -0.3 384,760 378,832 404,678 406,037 4,803,437 5,121,959 -6.2

 Excluding defense.............................. 454,610 461,613 461,216 -1.5 0.1 -0.8 446,361 443,872 473,000 470,642 5,590,722 5,852,073 -4.5

 With unfilled orders............................ 167,110 172,021 171,341 -2.9 0.4 -1.1 169,741 164,248 173,174 178,474 2,058,938 2,030,443 1.4

 Durable goods industries......................... 236,118 241,186 239,719 -2.1 0.6 -1.2 235,691 230,653 245,881 243,139 2,877,637 2,838,388 1.4

 Wood products....................................... 8,516 8,267 8,154 3.0 1.4 0.4 7,337 7,592 8,662 6,747 96,962 96,958 0.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 9,851 9,819 9,721 0.3 1.0 -0.7 8,589 9,265 10,725 8,590 116,667 116,181 0.4

 Primary metals....................................... 19,325 19,594 20,016 -1.4 -2.1 -1.0 17,736 18,340 20,518 21,794 250,814 279,468 -10.3

 Iron and steel mills............................ 8,369 8,738 9,083 -4.2 -3.8 -2.3 7,925 8,292 9,353 11,016 115,848 140,000 -17.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,312 9,239 9,330 0.8 -1.0 0.5 8,330 8,592 9,553 9,276 115,536 119,756 -3.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,644 1,617 1,603 1.7 0.9 -1.4 1,481 1,456 1,612 1,502 19,430 19,712 -1.4

 Fabricated metal products....................... 29,562 29,570 29,496 0.0 0.3 0.0 27,847 27,952 30,757 28,979 357,858 361,018 -0.9

 Machinery............................................. 32,656 32,336 32,807 1.0 -1.4 -2.1 33,665 30,007 33,101 35,111 397,896 408,268 -2.5

 Farm machinery................................. 1,641 1,479 1,529 11.0 -3.3 -4.6 1,364 1,156 1,446 1,462 19,507 32,095 -39.2

 Construction machinery..................... 3,102 3,113 3,211 -0.4 -3.1 -1.7 3,158 3,032 3,513 3,699 41,701 35,907 16.1

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,341 1,428 1,532 -6.1 -6.8 -1.1 1,517 1,355 1,539 2,729 20,778 32,685 -36.4

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,967 2,968 3,177 0.0 -6.6 0.4 3,609 2,779 3,310 3,344 34,924 35,265 -1.0

 Photographic equipment...................... 535 507 546 5.5 -7.1 8.3 632 515 577 692 6,395 7,126 -10.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,036 3,989 3,972 1.2 0.4 0.0 3,872 3,519 3,722 3,754 47,400 46,694 1.5

 Metalworking machinery..................... 3,069 3,156 3,216 -2.8 -1.9 1.1 3,490 3,099 3,428 3,089 36,239 31,560 14.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,566 3,485 3,483 2.3 0.1 -16.7 3,389 3,413 3,519 4,241 47,405 47,088 0.7

 Material handling equipment............... 2,904 2,862 2,723 1.5 5.1 0.3 3,080 2,723 2,847 2,522 31,655 29,048 9.0

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 29,846 30,024 29,809 -0.6 0.7 0.1 32,908 29,407 29,378 31,395 351,299 339,358 3.5

 Computers........................................ 615 612 645 0.5 -5.1 -0.9 729 588 586 718 7,873 8,189 -3.9

 Computer storage devices..................... 493 480 479 2.7 0.2 -1.0 857 382 344 847 5,731 6,965 -17.7

 Other peripheral equipment................ 772 838 904 -7.9 -7.3 8.9 1,158 700 761 1,510 10,924 11,391 -4.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,482 3,442 3,266 1.2 5.4 -3.7 4,126 3,152 2,967 3,916 40,313 38,699 4.2

 Defense communications equipment.... 416 338 346 23.1 -2.3 10.2 438 343 373 362 4,176 4,526 -7.7

 Audio and video equipment.................... 265 254 282 4.3 -9.9 1.1 345 347 341 321 3,060 3,701 -17.3

 Electronic components......................... 4,900 4,924 4,953 -0.5 -0.6 3.0 4,919 4,535 4,813 3,828 55,958 44,301 26.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,463 1,477 1,449 -0.9 1.9 2.3 1,603 1,474 1,358 1,365 16,463 14,824 11.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,679 2,707 2,690 -1.0 0.6 0.6 3,006 2,924 2,674 2,900 32,234 31,579 2.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,739 9,767 9,899 -0.3 -1.3 0.3 11,292 9,351 9,361 10,781 113,739 106,567 6.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,986 9,917 10,082 0.7 -1.6 -0.9 9,880 9,677 10,256 10,606 122,954 126,128 -2.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 982 980 1,001 0.2 -2.1 -0.8 1,051 1,033 1,064 1,039 11,734 11,777 -0.4

 Household appliances........................ 1,555 1,555 1,573 0.0 -1.1 0.6 1,509 1,584 1,627 1,669 19,298 20,850 -7.4

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,111 3,067 3,077 1.4 -0.3 -1.1 3,124 2,853 2,967 3,336 37,985 39,768 -4.5

 Batteries........................................... 825 837 898 -1.4 -6.8 9.2 901 955 1,027 1,013 10,218 10,865 -6.0

 Transportation equipment........................ 75,089 80,482 78,580 -6.7 2.4 -2.7 75,628 77,680 81,265 78,911 935,032 874,377 6.9

 Automobiles..................................... 8,476 8,482 8,144 -0.1 4.2 -6.2 8,200 8,395 9,048 8,647 104,890 101,844 3.0

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 13,921 14,366 14,155 -3.1 1.5 -4.0 13,282 13,696 15,302 11,980 162,941 145,750 11.8

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,785 2,850 3,071 -2.3 -7.2 0.4 2,572 2,640 3,315 2,804 36,607 32,552 12.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 26,868 26,488 26,226 1.4 1.0 -1.7 23,990 25,328 28,071 22,199 311,653 283,325 10.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 10,844 16,032 13,770 -32.4 16.4 -4.2 14,310 15,415 12,402 17,813 168,783 153,037 10.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,719 4,656 5,443 1.4 -14.5 1.0 5,595 4,747 5,330 5,709 58,461 56,991 2.6

 Ships and boats................................. 2,720 2,874 2,839 -5.4 1.2 -4.7 2,656 2,902 2,911 3,200 33,508 34,670 -3.4

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,477 6,487 6,491 -0.2 -0.1 0.3 6,394 6,203 6,482 6,256 76,400 71,900 6.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 14,810 14,690 14,563 0.8 0.9 1.6 15,707 14,530 14,737 14,750 171,755 164,732 4.3

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 230,903 232,650 234,643 -0.8 -0.8 -0.2 224,697 225,859 240,062 241,809 2,860,832 3,157,948 -9.4

 Food products....................................... 65,145 65,695 66,138 -0.8 -0.7 0.0 66,024 67,423 69,875 68,259 792,452 804,943 -1.6

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,150 8,101 8,235 0.6 -1.6 1.1 8,528 8,583 9,107 8,705 98,782 99,932 -1.2

 Dairy products.................................. 9,950 9,949 9,908 0.0 0.4 0.0 9,999 10,388 10,371 10,643 119,926 130,301 -8.0

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,772 18,213 18,568 -2.4 -1.9 -1.1 17,571 18,357 19,194 19,820 227,113 238,671 -4.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,620 12,769 13,018 -1.2 -1.9 0.8 12,474 12,707 13,052 12,453 151,112 148,351 1.9

 Beverages......................................... 8,991 9,079 9,046 -1.0 0.4 -0.7 8,845 9,017 9,080 8,907 107,787 107,966 -0.2

 Tobacco............................................ 3,629 3,690 3,972 -1.7 -7.1 4.4 3,629 3,690 3,972 3,546 43,325 40,385 7.3

 Textile mills........................................... 2,567 2,581 2,589 -0.5 -0.3 0.5 2,231 2,444 2,681 2,250 30,788 31,350 -1.8

 Textile products................................... 1,954 1,973 1,974 -1.0 -0.1 0.8 1,725 1,906 2,030 1,726 23,261 22,725 2.4

 Apparel................................................ 1,179 1,174 1,153 0.4 1.8 -0.5 1,142 1,359 1,372 1,144 13,855 13,345 3.8

 Leather and allied products...................... 414 420 435 -1.4 -3.4 -4.2 394 391 451 453 5,380 5,525 -2.6

 Paper products...................................... 16,064 16,080 16,236 -0.1 -1.0 1.2 15,780 15,467 16,732 16,153 193,328 195,151 -0.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 7,058 7,198 7,246 -1.9 -0.7 2.6 7,060 6,879 7,332 7,333 85,567 84,564 1.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 5,179 5,161 5,205 0.3 -0.8 -0.4 4,905 4,932 5,472 5,021 62,638 65,733 -4.7

 Printing................................................. 7,365 7,275 7,227 1.2 0.7 0.3 7,358 7,298 7,692 7,000 86,506 83,610 3.5

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 40,644 41,804 42,803 -2.8 -2.3 -0.6 37,320 39,520 43,517 50,636 567,930 833,131 -31.8

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 36,909 38,153 39,171 -3.3 -2.6 -0.8 34,329 36,288 39,516 47,446 523,783 784,370 -33.2

 Chemical products..................................... 64,152 64,108 64,192 0.1 -0.1 -0.6 62,807 59,767 63,101 63,520 767,017 784,761 -2.3

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,014 4,911 4,937 2.1 -0.5 -3.1 4,303 3,789 3,681 3,884 57,580 49,737 15.8

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 17,204 17,043 17,006 0.9 0.2 0.0 17,740 16,445 17,041 15,012 193,259 174,814 10.6

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 3,415 3,350 3,375 1.9 -0.7 -1.4 2,922 2,846 3,450 2,823 39,994 39,029 2.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 18,799 18,771 18,878 0.1 -0.6 -0.7 17,442 17,577 19,559 18,215 229,203 235,056 -2.5

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 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

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

All manufacturing industries2........................ 456,492 470,030 473,262 -2.9 -0.7 1.3 465,847 452,999 480,185 486,804 5,656,658 6,055,007 -6.6

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 385,334 388,627 391,474 -0.8 -0.7 0.1 378,084 371,634 397,769 399,601 4,736,766 5,084,302 -6.8

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 445,777 453,657 460,152 -1.7 -1.4 1.4 449,886 437,981 467,789 471,790 5,514,739 5,910,134 -6.7

 With unfilled orders2............................. 161,357 173,166 174,911 -6.8 -1.0 4.4 179,381 166,087 172,949 185,008 2,035,151 2,155,534 -5.6

 Durable goods industries2

......................... 225,589 237,380 238,619 -5.0 -0.5 2.8 241,150 227,140 240,123 244,995 2,795,826 2,897,059 -3.5

 Primary metals........................................ 19,267 19,184 20,096 0.4 -4.5 2.0 18,241 18,262 20,369 21,902 248,698 281,064 -11.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 8,412 8,692 9,361 -3.2 -7.1 5.1 8,273 8,486 9,306 10,997 115,129 139,925 -17.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,146 9,028 9,222 1.3 -2.1 0.6 8,360 8,480 9,517 9,356 114,530 120,992 -5.3

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,709 1,464 1,513 16.7 -3.2 -7.5 1,608 1,296 1,546 1,549 19,039 20,147 -5.5

 Fabricated metal products........................ 29,643 29,551 29,313 0.3 0.8 -1.1 27,463 26,779 29,672 28,635 355,333 365,195 -2.7

 Machinery............................................. 30,433 32,229 33,122 -5.6 -2.7 0.8 30,456 30,008 32,951 32,944 387,507 417,377 -7.2

 Construction machinery........................ 2,871 2,990 3,057 -4.0 -2.2 0.7 3,078 3,002 3,289 3,681 37,934 38,260 -0.9

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 247 1,132 1,460 -78.2 -22.5 9.2 197 1,163 1,302 2,248 17,251 31,809 -45.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,787 2,915 3,065 -4.4 -4.9 -0.1 3,225 2,588 3,295 2,872 33,715 35,074 -3.9

 Photographic equipment....................... 491 508 575 -3.3 -11.7 10.8 496 491 608 633 6,444 6,895 -6.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,068 3,997 3,927 1.8 1.8 1.2 3,798 3,474 3,667 3,595 47,296 48,162 -1.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,108 3,248 3,124 -4.3 4.0 4.2 3,401 3,193 3,297 2,808 35,719 31,062 15.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 3,207 3,588 3,791 -10.6 -5.4 -10.3 3,407 3,573 3,674 3,704 44,844 50,118 -10.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,972 3,157 2,958 -5.9 6.7 0.1 3,334 2,945 2,747 2,963 33,476 30,806 8.7

 Computers and electronic products2

........... 25,328 25,785 25,725 -1.8 0.2 2.2 29,706 23,651 24,227 27,563 300,584 283,370 6.1

 Computers........................................ 586 698 673 -16.0 3.7 5.3 700 674 614 698 8,054 8,672 -7.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,184 3,879 3,693 -17.9 5.0 2.6 4,092 3,139 3,467 4,525 43,569 44,299 -1.6

 Defense communications equipment....... 286 329 358 -13.1 -8.1 14.0 329 284 318 339 4,112 4,111 0.0

 Electronic components......................... 5,112 4,923 5,053 3.8 -2.6 4.8 5,087 4,424 4,930 3,826 56,450 44,521 26.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,702 1,701 1,619 0.1 5.1 0.2 1,382 1,675 1,611 1,275 19,193 18,219 5.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,916 2,571 2,429 13.4 5.8 -7.2 3,898 2,464 2,278 3,042 31,720 31,104 2.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,766 9,878 10,009 -1.1 -1.3 2.7 11,604 9,303 9,296 11,011 114,967 108,191 6.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,162 9,958 9,630 2.0 3.4 -3.6 10,089 9,433 9,839 10,804 122,029 128,831 -5.3

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,002 995 1,002 0.7 -0.7 2.5 1,045 1,047 1,078 998 11,743 11,781 -0.3

 Household appliances.......................... 1,595 1,549 1,592 3.0 -2.7 2.3 1,551 1,616 1,668 1,765 19,291 21,088 -8.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,101 3,117 3,054 -0.5 2.1 0.7 2,984 2,921 2,964 3,313 38,338 40,680 -5.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 71,158 81,403 81,788 -12.6 -0.5 7.6 87,763 81,365 82,416 87,203 919,892 970,705 -5.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 26,772 26,409 26,233 1.4 0.7 -1.8 24,489 25,994 27,770 23,019 311,467 286,435 8.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,360 13,251 17,273 -29.4 -23.3 78.8 25,270 15,850 14,257 24,108 162,466 241,528 -32.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 2,528 8,087 5,607 -68.7 44.2 -13.7 5,325 7,857 6,320 6,963 57,065 55,795 2.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,373 2,326 2,475 2.0 -6.0 3.9 2,167 2,053 2,085 2,562 27,699 38,950 -28.9

 Furniture and related products................... 6,434 6,485 6,490 -0.8 -0.1 1.0 5,812 6,246 6,508 5,847 76,403 72,602 5.2

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 230,903 232,650 234,643 -0.8 -0.8 -0.2 224,697 225,859 240,062 241,809 2,860,832 3,157,948 -9.4

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.

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 Dec.

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

All manufacturing industries2...................... 1,187,401 1,193,154 1,192,009 -0.5 0.1 0.3 1,191,115 1,181,475 1,179,636 1,214,902 -2.0

 Excluding transportation2...................... 392,357 394,179 393,955 -0.5 0.1 0.1 385,502 387,997 389,843 394,149 -2.2

 Excluding defense2

............................. 1,002,572 1,006,629 1,009,634 -0.4 -0.3 0.4 1,005,909 998,203 998,742 1,023,868 -1.8

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,187,401 1,193,154 1,192,009 -0.5 0.1 0.3 1,191,115 1,181,475 1,179,636 1,214,902 -2.0

 Primary metals........................................ 34,574 34,632 35,042 -0.2 -1.2 0.2 34,066 33,561 33,639 36,182 -5.8

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,194 18,151 18,197 0.2 -0.3 1.6 17,665 17,317 17,123 18,384 -3.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 11,542 11,708 11,919 -1.4 -1.8 -0.9 11,627 11,597 11,709 12,633 -8.0

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 4,838 4,773 4,926 1.4 -3.1 -1.8 4,774 4,647 4,807 5,165 -7.6

 Fabricated metal products......................... 81,799 81,718 81,737 0.1 0.0 -0.2 79,301 79,685 80,858 81,826 -3.1

 Machinery.............................................. 108,770 110,993 111,100 -2.0 -0.1 0.3 106,790 109,999 109,998 117,179 -8.9

 Construction machinery......................... 5,399 5,630 5,753 -4.1 -2.1 -2.6 5,375 5,455 5,485 9,142 -41.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 7,768 8,862 9,158 -12.3 -3.2 -0.8 7,612 8,932 9,124 11,139 -31.7

 Industrial machinery............................. 8,007 8,187 8,240 -2.2 -0.6 -1.3 7,631 8,015 8,206 8,840 -13.7

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,618 1,662 1,661 -2.6 0.1 1.8 1,523 1,659 1,683 1,474 3.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 7,545 7,513 7,505 0.4 0.1 -0.6 7,276 7,350 7,395 7,380 -1.4

 Metalworking machinery........................ 6,525 6,486 6,394 0.6 1.4 -1.4 6,302 6,391 6,297 6,822 -7.6

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 32,222 32,581 32,478 -1.1 0.3 1.0 32,384 32,366 32,206 34,945 -7.3

 Material handling equipment................... 12,824 12,756 12,461 0.5 2.4 1.9 12,571 12,317 12,095 10,750 16.9

 Computers and electronic products2............. 136,642 136,384 135,672 0.2 0.5 0.4 135,824 134,845 135,249 128,515 5.7

 Computers......................................... 2,653 2,682 2,596 -1.1 3.3 1.1 2,653 2,682 2,596 2,472 7.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 37,349 37,647 37,210 -0.8 1.2 1.2 37,009 37,043 37,056 33,753 9.6

 Defense communications equipment........ 2,869 2,999 3,008 -4.3 -0.3 0.4 2,828 2,937 2,996 2,892 -2.2

 Electronic components.......................... 11,276 11,064 11,065 1.9 0.0 0.9 11,091 10,923 11,034 10,599 4.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 20,541 20,302 20,078 1.2 1.1 0.9 20,245 20,466 20,265 17,515 15.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 32,169 31,932 32,068 0.7 -0.4 -0.8 32,385 31,493 31,953 32,899 -1.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 29,785 29,758 29,647 0.1 0.4 0.4 29,613 29,301 29,349 28,385 4.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 22,100 21,924 21,883 0.8 0.2 -2.0 21,634 21,425 21,669 22,559 -4.1

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,135 1,115 1,100 1.8 1.4 0.1 1,115 1,121 1,107 1,106 0.8

 Household appliances........................... 1,533 1,493 1,499 2.7 -0.4 1.3 1,517 1,475 1,443 1,524 -0.5

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,676 9,686 9,636 -0.1 0.5 -0.2 9,455 9,595 9,527 9,102 3.9

 Transportation equipment......................... 795,044 798,975 798,054 -0.5 0.1 0.4 805,613 793,478 789,793 820,753 -1.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 21,525 21,621 21,700 -0.4 -0.4 0.0 21,844 21,345 20,679 22,030 -0.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 607,807 609,291 612,072 -0.2 -0.5 0.6 617,459 606,499 606,064 623,776 -1.0

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 66,729 68,920 65,489 -3.2 5.2 0.3 67,993 68,263 65,153 69,389 -2.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 26,200 26,547 27,095 -1.3 -2.0 -1.3 25,144 25,633 26,482 30,953 -18.8

 Furniture and related products................... 7,637 7,680 7,682 -0.6 0.0 0.0 7,052 7,634 7,591 7,049 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

 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 Dec.

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

 All manufacturing industries...................... 642,317 641,344 642,969 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 623,324 641,611 647,063 634,120 -1.7

 Excluding transportation........................ 510,576 511,341 512,447 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 495,708 511,328 515,628 509,873 -2.8

 Excluding defense............................. 615,845 614,895 616,071 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 597,119 615,148 620,219 608,581 -1.9

 With unfilled orders............................. 323,363 322,027 323,409 0.4 -0.4 -0.5 314,382 321,919 324,032 317,133 -0.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 397,603 395,663 396,660 0.5 -0.3 -0.3 386,651 395,545 397,332 387,505 -0.2

 Wood products........................................ 11,266 11,258 11,210 0.1 0.4 0.1 11,063 11,212 11,144 10,650 3.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 13,067 13,068 12,939 0.0 1.0 -0.2 12,759 12,665 12,561 12,696 0.5

 Primary metals......................................... 34,750 34,971 35,658 -0.6 -1.9 -1.0 34,570 34,785 35,430 39,302 -12.0

 Iron and steel mills............................... 19,545 19,882 20,208 -1.7 -1.6 -1.7 19,437 19,795 20,101 23,280 -16.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 13,263 13,135 13,490 1.0 -2.6 0.0 13,233 13,061 13,381 14,084 -6.0

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 1,942 1,954 1,960 -0.6 -0.3 0.0 1,900 1,929 1,948 1,938 -2.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 48,938 49,011 49,071 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 48,064 48,421 48,599 48,080 0.0

 Machinery.............................................. 66,386 65,944 65,926 0.7 0.0 -0.3 63,753 66,383 66,065 64,319 -0.9

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,172 3,215 3,180 -1.3 1.1 0.0 3,168 3,173 2,847 3,618 -12.4

 Construction machinery......................... 6,718 6,748 6,917 -0.4 -2.4 -0.5 6,583 6,730 6,999 6,789 -3.0

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 5,373 5,328 5,352 0.8 -0.4 -1.0 5,099 5,249 5,272 5,872 -13.2

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,308 6,138 6,044 2.8 1.6 -0.4 6,129 6,218 6,077 6,082 0.8

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,405 1,433 1,387 -2.0 3.3 -2.4 1,346 1,477 1,410 1,282 5.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 5,198 5,146 5,121 1.0 0.5 -0.8 4,687 5,003 5,032 4,870 -3.8

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,581 5,525 5,502 1.0 0.4 -0.4 5,449 5,578 5,558 5,486 -0.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 10,310 10,079 10,089 2.3 -0.1 -0.2 9,680 10,422 10,428 9,359 3.4

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,255 4,241 4,245 0.3 -0.1 0.1 3,966 4,337 4,379 3,703 7.1

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 44,857 44,823 44,801 0.1 0.0 -0.3 43,489 45,123 45,311 43,381 0.2

 Computers......................................... 1,095 1,074 1,089 2.0 -1.4 -1.0 994 1,087 1,116 978 1.6

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,298 1,302 1,282 -0.3 1.6 2.2 1,210 1,382 1,354 1,415 -14.5

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,033 1,059 1,036 -2.5 2.2 -3.5 953 1,110 1,036 1,304 -26.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 4,420 4,528 4,590 -2.4 -1.4 -0.4 4,263 4,678 4,639 4,816 -11.5

 Defense communications equipment........ 713 845 833 -15.6 1.4 -0.5 713 845 833 803 -11.2

 Audio and video equipment.................... 768 741 756 3.6 -2.0 1.1 743 804 863 748 -0.7

 Electronic components.......................... 8,129 8,095 8,089 0.4 0.1 -0.6 7,893 7,933 8,080 7,377 7.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,499 3,487 3,484 0.3 0.1 0.2 3,410 3,441 3,551 3,249 5.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,181 3,145 3,112 1.1 1.1 -0.3 3,084 3,098 3,068 2,877 7.2

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 14,345 14,275 14,291 0.5 -0.1 -0.4 13,754 14,510 14,407 13,883 -0.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 16,252 16,315 16,352 -0.4 -0.2 -0.7 15,580 16,183 16,373 15,857 -1.7

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,873 1,865 1,861 0.4 0.2 0.2 1,802 1,856 1,856 1,799 0.2

 Household appliances........................... 2,114 2,123 2,115 -0.4 0.4 -0.2 1,909 2,046 2,165 1,833 4.1

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,810 4,841 4,854 -0.6 -0.3 -1.1 4,715 4,913 4,857 4,869 -3.2

 Batteries............................................ 1,329 1,334 1,338 -0.4 -0.3 -2.2 1,221 1,281 1,361 1,244 -1.8

 Transportation equipment......................... 131,741 130,003 130,522 1.3 -0.4 -0.5 127,616 130,283 131,435 124,247 2.7

 Automobiles....................................... 4,694 4,492 4,655 4.5 -3.5 4.0 4,392 4,550 4,802 4,303 2.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 4,653 4,481 4,379 3.8 2.3 3.5 4,177 4,564 4,555 3,342 25.0

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,992 1,903 1,797 4.7 5.9 -6.5 1,842 1,911 1,852 1,524 20.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 25,119 24,833 24,728 1.2 0.4 -0.2 24,509 24,691 24,727 23,821 2.9

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 67,760 66,975 67,195 1.2 -0.3 -0.2 65,592 67,055 67,605 64,458 1.8

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,833 11,932 11,873 -0.8 0.5 -0.7 11,666 11,928 11,870 12,386 -5.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,073 2,119 2,165 -2.2 -2.1 3.1 2,126 2,130 2,155 2,367 -10.2

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,369 7,336 7,307 0.4 0.4 -0.3 7,169 7,336 7,288 6,712 6.8

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 22,977 22,934 22,874 0.2 0.3 0.0 22,588 23,154 23,126 22,261 1.5

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 244,714 245,681 246,309 -0.4 -0.3 0.1 236,673 246,066 249,731 246,615 -4.0

 Food products........................................ 53,075 53,141 53,413 -0.1 -0.5 -0.2 52,712 55,481 56,951 52,602 0.2

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,853 5,926 5,933 -1.2 -0.1 0.3 6,091 6,349 6,355 6,266 -2.8

 Dairy products.................................... 8,209 8,195 8,188 0.2 0.1 -0.8 7,620 7,871 8,197 7,942 -4.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 8,698 8,830 9,206 -1.5 -4.1 0.1 8,443 9,067 9,539 9,330 -9.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 20,013 19,911 19,779 0.5 0.7 -1.6 20,050 20,343 20,539 19,841 1.1

 Beverages......................................... 15,804 15,711 15,573 0.6 0.9 -2.0 15,687 15,998 16,253 15,515 1.1

 Tobacco............................................ 4,209 4,200 4,206 0.2 -0.1 -0.3 4,363 4,345 4,286 4,326 0.9

 Textile mills............................................ 3,243 3,251 3,263 -0.2 -0.4 -0.7 3,206 3,227 3,256 3,246 -1.2

 Textile products...................................... 2,990 3,013 2,997 -0.8 0.5 -0.2 2,919 2,986 2,990 2,936 -0.6

 Apparel................................................. 2,782 2,749 2,698 1.2 1.9 2.0 2,618 2,665 2,771 2,315 13.1

 Leather and allied products....................... 855 858 861 -0.3 -0.3 0.6 844 866 869 863 -2.2

 Paper products....................................... 16,625 16,609 16,644 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 16,435 16,487 16,491 16,187 1.5

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 7,403 7,348 7,324 0.7 0.3 -0.7 7,352 7,261 7,187 7,065 4.1

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,615 4,645 4,693 -0.6 -1.0 0.3 4,591 4,609 4,675 4,644 -1.1

 Printing.................................................. 6,018 5,956 5,877 1.0 1.3 1.6 5,672 5,902 6,118 5,328 6.5

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 32,619 33,496 34,125 -2.6 -1.8 1.5 29,231 33,168 34,708 38,671 -24.4

 Petroleum refineries............................. 28,080 28,968 29,528 -3.1 -1.9 2.3 24,694 28,734 30,274 33,751 -26.8

 Chemical products..................................... 82,155 82,318 82,323 -0.2 0.0 0.3 79,316 80,888 81,075 80,502 -1.5

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,642 4,740 4,665 -2.1 1.6 -1.4 4,780 4,719 4,432 4,947 -3.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 32,726 33,061 33,042 -1.0 0.1 1.5 31,125 32,407 32,609 29,636 5.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,731 3,690 3,710 1.1 -0.5 -0.8 3,565 3,544 3,570 3,595 -0.8

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 24,339 24,379 24,329 -0.2 0.2 -0.7 23,670 24,053 23,963 24,124 -1.9

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

1

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

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

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

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2015p 2014 2014

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 467,021 473,836 474,362 -1.4 -0.1 -0.7 460,388 456,512 485,943 484,948 5,738,469 5,996,336 -4.3

 Construction materials and supplies....... 47,109 46,661 46,457 1.0 0.4 0.0 41,972 43,378 49,368 41,750 556,892 557,712 -0.1

 Information technology......................... 24,218 24,134 24,265 0.3 -0.5 -0.2 27,735 23,287 23,180 27,130 287,431 278,631 3.2

 Computers and related products........... 1,880 1,930 2,028 -2.6 -4.8 3.2 2,744 1,670 1,691 3,075 24,528 26,545 -7.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 52,050 52,186 51,596 -0.3 1.1 -2.9 48,044 50,059 55,736 45,630 616,091 563,471 9.3

 Capital goods...................................... 84,933 89,680 89,085 -5.3 0.7 -1.5 93,915 85,835 87,723 100,545 1,063,452 1,049,800 1.3

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 74,838 79,871 78,454 -6.3 1.8 -1.9 82,764 75,639 77,302 89,188 944,550 934,952 1.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 68,483 68,361 69,162 0.2 -1.2 -1.0 73,424 64,690 68,955 75,999 829,284 831,544 -0.3

 Defense capital goods4........................ 10,095 9,809 10,631 2.9 -7.7 0.9 11,151 10,196 10,421 11,357 118,902 114,848 3.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 184,379 186,471 187,518 -1.1 -0.6 -0.6 181,727 184,043 194,291 193,249 2,284,780 2,511,547 -9.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,247 36,516 35,813 -0.7 2.0 -3.0 35,271 35,373 37,878 33,785 429,268 404,813 6.0

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 148,132 149,955 151,705 -1.2 -1.2 0.0 146,456 148,670 156,413 159,464 1,855,512 2,106,734 -11.9

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 456,492 470,030 473,262 -2.9 -0.7 1.3 465,847 452,999 480,185 486,804 5,656,658 6,055,007 -6.6

 Construction materials and supplies....... 47,299 46,624 46,065 1.4 1.2 -0.1 41,723 42,559 48,573 40,835 556,042 563,804 -1.4

 Information technology......................... 24,346 24,830 24,331 -1.9 2.1 -0.6 28,723 22,612 23,007 28,085 293,017 290,161 1.0

 Computers and related products........... 1,851 2,016 2,056 -8.2 -1.9 5.3 2,715 1,756 1,719 3,055 24,709 27,028 -8.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 51,954 52,107 51,603 -0.3 1.0 -3.0 48,543 50,725 55,435 46,450 615,905 566,581 8.7

 Capital goods...................................... 73,641 89,995 92,070 -18.2 -2.3 10.9 95,479 87,510 86,883 106,453 1,037,106 1,150,776 -9.9

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 64,471 75,818 82,332 -15.0 -7.9 12.0 82,302 74,870 79,037 95,248 923,694 1,037,179 -10.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 65,961 68,930 69,584 -4.3 -0.9 0.6 69,760 64,143 68,717 75,368 822,823 856,385 -3.9

 Defense capital goods4........................ 9,170 14,177 9,738 -35.3 45.6 2.1 13,177 12,640 7,846 11,205 113,412 113,597 -0.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 184,379 186,497 187,588 -1.1 -0.6 -0.5 181,656 184,237 194,389 193,400 2,284,750 2,512,223 -9.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,247 36,542 35,883 -0.8 1.8 -2.8 35,200 35,567 37,976 33,936 429,238 405,489 5.9

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 148,132 149,955 151,705 -1.2 -1.2 0.0 146,456 148,670 156,413 159,464 1,855,512 2,106,734 -11.9

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 1,187,401 1,193,154 1,192,009 -0.5 0.1 0.3 1,191,115 1,181,475 1,179,636 1,214,902 (X) (X) -2.0

 Construction materials and supplies....... 54,272 54,082 54,119 0.4 -0.1 -0.7 52,792 53,041 53,860 53,642 (X) (X) -1.6

 Information technology......................... 136,740 136,612 135,916 0.1 0.5 0.0 135,803 134,815 135,490 130,217 (X) (X) 4.3

 Computers and related products........... 2,653 2,682 2,596 -1.1 3.3 1.1 2,653 2,682 2,596 2,472 (X) (X) 7.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 21,525 21,621 21,700 -0.4 -0.4 0.0 21,844 21,345 20,679 22,030 (X) (X) -0.8

 Capital goods...................................... 893,284 904,576 904,261 -1.2 0.0 0.3 897,888 896,324 894,649 924,234 (X) (X) -2.9

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 742,867 753,234 757,287 -1.4 -0.5 0.5 748,138 748,600 749,369 768,994 (X) (X) -2.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 243,952 246,474 245,905 -1.0 0.2 0.2 239,905 243,569 244,116 246,366 (X) (X) -2.6

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 150,417 151,342 146,974 -0.6 3.0 -0.6 149,750 147,724 145,280 155,240 (X) (X) -3.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 5,341 5,341 5,315 0.0 0.5 1.3 5,233 5,304 5,110 5,263 (X) (X) -0.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 5,341 5,341 5,315 0.0 0.5 1.3 5,233 5,304 5,110 5,263 (X) (X) -0.6

 All manufacturing industries................... 642,317 641,344 642,969 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 623,324 641,611 647,063 634,120 (X) (X) -1.7

 Construction materials and supplies....... 65,082 65,045 65,031 0.1 0.0 -0.5 63,440 63,812 63,983 63,650 (X) (X) -0.3

 Information technology......................... 38,007 38,162 38,169 -0.4 0.0 -0.4 36,526 38,648 38,536 37,604 (X) (X) -2.9

 Computers and related products........... 3,426 3,435 3,407 -0.3 0.8 -0.6 3,157 3,579 3,506 3,697 (X) (X) -14.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 36,458 35,709 35,559 2.1 0.4 0.4 34,920 35,716 35,936 32,990 (X) (X) 5.9

 Capital goods...................................... 197,119 196,003 196,815 0.6 -0.4 -0.6 190,459 197,428 197,984 191,342 (X) (X) -0.5

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 175,750 174,627 174,980 0.6 -0.2 -0.3 169,190 176,034 176,200 170,548 (X) (X) -0.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 119,599 119,124 119,039 0.4 0.1 -0.5 115,260 120,476 119,888 117,025 (X) (X) -1.5

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 21,369 21,376 21,835 0.0 -2.1 -3.0 21,269 21,394 21,784 20,794 (X) (X) 2.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 185,057 185,748 186,385 -0.4 -0.3 0.6 178,109 187,766 191,518 182,930 (X) (X) -2.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 30,353 29,939 29,957 1.4 -0.1 1.6 29,086 30,203 30,506 27,113 (X) (X) 7.3

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 154,704 155,809 156,428 -0.7 -0.4 0.4 149,023 157,563 161,012 155,817 (X) (X) -4.4

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 Dec.

Dec. Nov. Oct. Nov. - Oct. - Sep. - Dec. Nov. Oct. Dec. 2015/

2015p 2015r 2015 Dec. Nov. Oct. 2015p 2015r 2015 2014 2014

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 211,707 211,657 212,379 0.0 -0.3 0.0 209,926 210,890 212,913 216,792 -3.2

 Durable goods industries.......................... 131,913 131,440 132,208 0.4 -0.6 -0.1 130,954 131,210 132,351 133,485 -1.9

 Wood products................................... 4,397 4,398 4,429 0.0 -0.7 -0.7 4,475 4,511 4,581 4,377 2.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 4,988 4,970 4,925 0.4 0.9 -0.9 4,950 4,916 4,898 4,833 2.4

 Primary metals.................................... 13,567 13,583 13,811 -0.1 -1.7 -0.5 13,931 13,724 13,934 15,760 -11.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 17,394 17,613 17,675 -1.2 -0.4 1.1 17,439 17,431 17,522 17,919 -2.7

 Machinery.......................................... 25,734 25,604 25,844 0.5 -0.9 -0.3 24,810 25,514 25,847 25,202 -1.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 18,761 18,590 18,611 0.9 -0.1 -0.3 18,603 18,562 18,734 18,511 0.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,320 6,408 6,447 -1.4 -0.6 -0.6 6,191 6,365 6,379 6,496 -4.7

 Transportation equipment..................... 29,255 28,821 28,981 1.5 -0.6 0.0 29,186 28,786 28,990 28,929 0.9

 Furniture and related products............... 3,815 3,792 3,819 0.6 -0.7 0.3 3,777 3,762 3,796 3,575 5.7

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,682 7,661 7,666 0.3 -0.1 -0.2 7,592 7,639 7,670 7,883 -3.7

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 79,794 80,217 80,171 -0.5 0.1 0.1 78,972 79,680 80,562 83,307 -5.2

 Food products.................................... 17,854 17,961 17,884 -0.6 0.4 -0.7 18,235 18,580 18,813 18,764 -2.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 5,098 5,143 5,150 -0.9 -0.1 0.0 5,193 5,183 5,175 5,292 -1.9

 Textiles.............................................. 1,197 1,189 1,192 0.7 -0.3 -0.2 1,193 1,172 1,182 1,171 1.9

 Textile products................................... 1,146 1,136 1,132 0.9 0.4 -0.4 1,142 1,121 1,121 1,188 -3.9

 Apparel............................................. 865 891 910 -2.9 -2.1 1.1 837 881 934 715 17.1

 Leather and allied products.................... 256 256 256 0.0 0.0 -0.4 259 256 257 258 0.4

 Paper products.................................... 8,591 8,547 8,565 0.5 -0.2 0.0 8,561 8,467 8,417 8,236 3.9

 Printing ............................................. 2,777 2,756 2,760 0.8 -0.1 0.4 2,655 2,738 2,792 2,652 0.1

 Petroleum and coal products................. 7,268 7,817 8,082 -7.0 -3.3 4.2 6,503 7,520 8,188 9,363 -30.5

 Chemical products................................ 25,073 24,775 24,520 1.2 1.0 -0.3 24,746 24,189 24,136 25,546 -3.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 9,669 9,746 9,720 -0.8 0.3 -0.4 9,648 9,573 9,547 10,122 -4.7

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 201,342 200,578 201,925 0.4 -0.7 -0.9 194,469 201,292 204,438 197,038 -1.3

 Durable goods industries.......................... 154,950 154,016 154,733 0.6 -0.5 -1.3 149,582 154,065 155,525 149,520 0.0

 Wood products................................... 2,386 2,348 2,342 1.6 0.3 1.0 2,320 2,314 2,328 2,092 10.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,505 1,516 1,489 -0.7 1.8 0.7 1,437 1,439 1,423 1,388 3.5

 Primary metals.................................... 10,605 10,633 10,814 -0.3 -1.7 -1.6 10,133 10,576 10,770 11,363 -10.8

 Fabricated metal products........................ 13,006 12,981 13,047 0.2 -0.5 -0.1 12,671 12,977 13,094 12,886 -1.7

 Machinery.......................................... 19,457 19,355 19,074 0.5 1.5 -2.2 18,440 19,908 19,457 18,942 -2.7

 Computers and electronic products........ 14,755 14,838 15,098 -0.6 -1.7 -1.3 13,945 14,729 15,253 13,852 0.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,751 3,710 3,734 1.1 -0.6 -2.8 3,605 3,687 3,745 3,840 -6.1

 Transportation equipment..................... 84,466 83,596 84,202 1.0 -0.7 -1.2 82,179 83,379 84,509 80,739 1.8

 Furniture and related products............... 1,062 1,066 1,026 -0.4 3.9 -2.0 1,051 1,058 1,020 976 7.7

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,957 3,973 3,907 -0.4 1.7 -1.9 3,801 3,998 3,926 3,442 10.4

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 46,392 46,562 47,192 -0.4 -1.3 0.4 44,887 47,227 48,913 47,518 -5.5

 Food products.................................... 5,698 5,669 5,716 0.5 -0.8 0.2 6,150 6,591 6,842 5,654 8.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,045 7,057 7,061 -0.2 -0.1 -3.6 7,513 7,566 7,640 7,515 0.0

 Textiles.............................................. 767 763 770 0.5 -0.9 0.5 746 764 774 777 -4.0

 Textile products................................... 464 460 460 0.9 0.0 0.4 438 458 462 415 5.5

 Apparel............................................. 329 325 318 1.2 2.2 0.0 292 306 322 302 -3.3

 Leather and allied products.................... 95 101 103 -5.9 -1.9 -2.8 94 103 104 90 4.4

 Paper products.................................... 1,303 1,339 1,309 -2.7 2.3 -2.7 1,276 1,325 1,302 1,264 0.9

 Printing ............................................. 1,534 1,500 1,449 2.3 3.5 2.4 1,403 1,482 1,589 1,122 25.0

 Petroleum and coal products................. 8,261 8,293 8,856 -0.4 -6.4 -0.8 7,166 8,121 9,246 10,388 -31.0

 Chemical products................................ 18,206 18,329 18,467 -0.7 -0.7 3.1 17,225 17,804 17,995 17,439 -1.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,690 2,726 2,683 -1.3 1.6 -0.8 2,584 2,707 2,637 2,552 1.3

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 229,268 229,109 228,665 0.1 0.2 0.3 218,929 229,429 229,712 220,290 -0.6

 Durable goods industries.......................... 110,740 110,207 109,719 0.5 0.4 0.7 106,115 110,270 109,456 104,500 1.5

 Wood products................................... 4,483 4,512 4,439 -0.6 1.6 0.5 4,268 4,387 4,235 4,181 2.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,574 6,582 6,525 -0.1 0.9 0.2 6,372 6,310 6,240 6,475 -1.6

 Primary metals.................................... 10,578 10,755 11,033 -1.6 -2.5 -1.1 10,506 10,485 10,726 12,179 -13.7

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,538 18,417 18,349 0.7 0.4 -0.8 17,954 18,013 17,983 17,275 3.9

 Machinery.......................................... 21,195 20,985 21,008 1.0 -0.1 1.5 20,503 20,961 20,761 20,175 1.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,341 11,395 11,092 -0.5 2.7 1.2 10,941 11,832 11,324 11,018 -0.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,181 6,197 6,171 -0.3 0.4 0.5 5,784 6,131 6,249 5,521 4.8

 Transportation equipment..................... 18,020 17,586 17,339 2.5 1.4 2.3 16,251 18,118 17,936 14,579 11.5

 Furniture and related products............... 2,492 2,478 2,462 0.6 0.6 -0.7 2,341 2,516 2,472 2,161 8.3

 Miscellaneous products......................... 11,338 11,300 11,301 0.3 0.0 0.8 11,195 11,517 11,530 10,936 2.4

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 118,528 118,902 118,946 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 112,814 119,159 120,256 115,790 -2.6

 Food products.................................... 29,523 29,511 29,813 0.0 -1.0 0.0 28,327 30,310 31,296 28,184 0.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,870 7,711 7,568 2.1 1.9 -0.8 7,344 7,594 7,724 7,034 4.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,279 1,299 1,301 -1.5 -0.2 -1.8 1,267 1,291 1,300 1,298 -2.4

 Textile products................................... 1,380 1,417 1,405 -2.6 0.9 -0.2 1,339 1,407 1,407 1,333 0.5

 Apparel............................................. 1,588 1,533 1,470 3.6 4.3 2.9 1,489 1,478 1,515 1,298 14.7

 Leather and allied products.................... 504 501 502 0.6 -0.2 1.8 491 507 508 515 -4.7

 Paper products.................................... 6,731 6,723 6,770 0.1 -0.7 -0.1 6,598 6,695 6,772 6,687 -1.3

 Printing ............................................. 1,707 1,700 1,668 0.4 1.9 3.1 1,614 1,682 1,737 1,554 3.9

 Petroleum and coal products................. 17,090 17,386 17,187 -1.7 1.2 1.5 15,562 17,527 17,274 18,920 -17.7

 Chemical products................................ 38,876 39,214 39,336 -0.9 -0.3 -0.6 37,345 38,895 38,944 37,517 -0.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 11,980 11,907 11,926 0.6 -0.2 -1.0 11,438 11,773 11,779 11,450 -0.1

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.

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 Dec Nov Oct Sep Dec Nov Oct Sep

2015p 2015r 2015 2015 2015p 2015r 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries3............................ 1.38 1.35 1.36 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries3.................................. 1.68 1.64 1.65 1.64 7.11 6.94 6.96 6.86

 Wood products.............................................. 1.32 1.36 1.37 1.38 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.80 1.78 1.78 1.78 1.79 1.77 1.75 1.73

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.66 2.86 2.85 2.86 2.87

 Machinery..................................................... 2.03 2.04 2.01 1.97 3.60 3.70 3.65 3.56

 Computers and electronic products3

................ 1.50 1.49 1.50 1.51 5.87 5.86 5.84 5.84

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.63 1.65 1.62 1.62 2.41 2.41 2.38 2.39

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.75 1.62 1.66 1.62 15.93 14.58 15.00 14.65

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.14 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.38 1.39 1.38 1.39

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Food products.............................................. 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.81 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.59 1.56 1.52 1.56 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Textile products............................................ 1.53 1.53 1.52 1.53 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.36 2.34 2.34 2.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.07 2.04 1.98 1.89 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.82 0.82 0.81 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.78 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.27 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.29 1.30 1.29 1.29 (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.

Dec3 Dec3 Dec3 Dec3

Industry 2014- 2014- 2014- 2014-

Dec2 Nov Dec2 Nov Dec2 Nov Dec2 Nov

2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015

 

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

Durable goods industries....................... 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Primary metals.................................... 0.0 0.6 0.1 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.5

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.1

 Machinery.......................................... 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.4 0.4 -0.1 1.2 -0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.3

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.0 0.4 -0.2 1.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.4

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

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

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

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

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 1.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.9

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 1.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

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

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

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

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

Benchmark notice 

Revised historical data from the Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey will be 

issued on May 18, 2016. These revisions result from: 

 benchmarking the 2008-2011 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) shipments and inventories 

data to the revised 2012 Economic Census data on a 2007 North American Industry 

Classification System (NAICS) basis; 

 benchmarking the M3 shipments and inventories data to the 2014 ASM and revised 2013 ASM 

data, as well as the revised 2012 Economic Census data, on a 2012 NAICS basis, and ASM 

benchmarks for prior years on a 2007 NAICS basis; 

 incorporating the unfilled orders to shipments ratios obtained from the 2014/2013 Manufacturers’ 

Unfilled Orders (M3UFO) Survey by applying these ratios to the respective ASM shipments 

data, as well as incorporating revised unfilled orders to shipments ratios for prior years by 

applying them to the respective Census or ASM shipments data; 

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

orders data; 

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

previously reported data; 

 updating the seasonally adjusted data based on the results of benchmarking and the recent annual 

review of the seasonal adjustment models. 

These revisions will span the seasonally adjusted data for January 1997 through March 2016 and the data 

not seasonally adjusted for January 2001 through March 2016. An updated Press Release will contain 

revised monthly tables for January 2016 through March 2016. Please call M3 staff on (301) 763-4832 

with any questions.