FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (12)-3 

CB12-70 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

March 2012 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in March, down 

two of the last three months, decreased $7.1 billion or 

1.5 percent to $460.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 1.1 percent February 

increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 

slightly. 

 Shipments, up ten consecutive months, increased $3.3 

billion or 0.7 percent to $466.2 billion. This followed a 

0.1 percent February increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up twenty-three of the last twenty-four 

months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $930.6 

billion. This followed a 1.2 percent February increase. 

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.17, down 

from 6.24 in February. 

 Inventories, up twenty-nine of the last thirty months, 

increased $1.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $618.4 billion. 

This was at the highest level since the series was first 

published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.3 

percent February increase. The inventories-to-shipments 

ratio was 1.33, unchanged from February. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, down two of the last three months, decreased $8.4 

billion or 4.0 percent to $203.0 billion, revised from the 

previously published 4.2 percent decrease. This 

followed a 1.9 percent February increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down two of the last 

three months, had the largest decrease, $7.1 billion or 

12.6 percent to $49.6 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $1.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $257.4 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up three of the last four months, increased $2.0 billion or 

0.9 percent to $208.8 billion, revised from the previously 

published 1.0 percent increase. This followed a 0.3 

percent February decrease. 

 Machinery, up four of the last five months, had the 

largest increase, $2.0 billion or 6.5 percent to $32.9 

billion. 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up four 

of the last five months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.5 

percent to $257.4 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent 

February increase. Food products, up following two 

consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, up $0.8 

billion or 1.2 percent to $61.5 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

March, up twenty-three of the last twenty-four months, 

increased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $930.6 billion, 

revised from the previously published slight increase. 

This followed a 1.2 percent February increase. 

 

 Computers and electronic products, up three 

consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.6 billion 

or 0.5 percent to $125.4 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up twenty-seven consecutive months, increased $1.8 

billion or 0.5 percent to $375.1 billion, revised from the 

previously published 0.4 percent increase. This was at 

the highest level since the series was first published on a 

NAICS basis and followed a 0.3 percent February 

increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up twenty-seven 

consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.8 billion 

or 0.7 percent to $118.1 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up six 

of the last seven months, increased slightly to $243.2 

billion. This followed a 0.3 percent February increase. 

Plastic and rubber products, up three consecutive 

months, drove the increase, up $0.3 billion or 1.3 percent 

to $21.2 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies 

increased 0.7 percent in durable goods and 0.4 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.2 

percent in durable goods and decreased 0.8 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.6 percent 

in durable goods and 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. 

Figures in text are adjusted for seasonality, but not for inflation. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. For data, call (301) 763-4673 or go to <http://www.census.gov/m3>. 

The advance report on durable goods for April is scheduled for release on May 24, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on June 4, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. 

EDT. See back page for survey description. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

 All manufacturing industries.................. 466,196 462,882 462,315 0.7 0.1 0.6 490,637 442,310 425,465 471,211 1,358,412 1,261,012 7.7

 Excluding transportation ................... 416,294 413,570 411,853 0.7 0.4 0.0 434,293 393,312 382,008 416,712 1,209,613 1,124,562 7.6

 Excluding defense.............................. 456,316 453,731 452,261 0.6 0.3 0.6 479,451 433,261 417,459 459,293 1,330,171 1,230,779 8.1

 With unfilled orders ............................ 150,947 149,133 150,201 1.2 -0.7 -0.7 164,421 143,868 134,428 156,045 442,717 404,616 9.4

 Durable goods industries ......................... 208,780 206,821 207,421 0.9 -0.3 0.1 225,105 199,570 187,726 213,963 612,401 561,348 9.1

 Wood products................................. ...... 5,554 5,466 5,669 1.6 -3.6 4.4 5,546 5,015 4,803 5,329 15,364 14,348 7.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 7,717 7,789 7,831 -0.9 -0.5 -4.6 7,690 6,757 6,630 7,955 21,077 21,066 0.1

 Primary metals............................ ........... 26,678 27,213 27,252 -2.0 -0.1 -3.9 28,861 27,354 26,189 24,661 82,404 65,329 26.1

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,166 11,369 11,490 -1.8 -1.1 -4.6 12,355 11,444 11,160 12,523 34,959 33,325 4.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 13,572 13,900 13,855 -2.4 0.3 -3.9 14,435 13,992 13,256 10,437 41,683 27,436 51.9

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,940 1,944 1,907 -0.2 1.9 0.2 2,071 1,918 1,773 1,701 5,762 4,568 26.1

 Fabricated metal products....................... 26,073 26,085 26,397 0.0 -1.2 0.8 26,983 24,842 24,304 26,250 76,129 70,346 8.2

 Machinery............................................. 32,915 30,918 29,950 6.5 3.2 -5.4 36,766 29,992 26,859 32,847 93,617 82,752 13.1

 Farm machinery................................. 2,886 2,691 2,669 7.2 0.8 4.1 3,624 2,935 2,359 2,952 8,918 7,194 24.0

 Construction machinery..................... 4,301 4,286 4,392 0.3 -2.4 -1.1 4,553 4,071 4,061 3,908 12,685 10,234 23.9

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,694 1,669 1,568 1.5 6.4 -0.9 1,816 1,662 1,480 1,705 4,958 4,613 7.5

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,367 3,269 3,055 3.0 7.0 -4.0 4,235 2,945 2,549 3,958 9,729 9,143 6.4

 Photographic equipment...................... 656 644 641 1.9 0.5 3.1 766 612 516 804 1,894 2,026 -6.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,737 2,620 2,445 4.5 7.2 3.3 2,844 2,190 1,979 2,667 7,013 6,977 0.5

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,201 2,212 2,187 -0.5 1.1 -3.2 2,375 2,043 1,922 2,073 6,340 5,183 22.3

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 5,558 4,074 3,609 36.4 12.9 -30.6 5,687 4,076 3,477 4,362 13,240 10,756 23.1

 Material handling equipment............... 2,785 2,747 2,691 1.4 2.1 -4.4 3,103 2,737 2,432 2,720 8,272 7,097 16.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

.......... 29,512 30,147 29,916 -2.1 0.8 -0.5 30,446 27,561 28,075 31,248 86,082 87,426 -1.5

 Computers........................................ 3,339 3,557 3,688 -6.1 -3.6 -7.0 3,160 2,850 3,171 3,905 9,181 10,777 -14.8

 Computer storage devices..................... 775 769 728 0.8 5.6 -3.8 1,186 541 522 1,002 2,249 1,950 15.3

 Other peripheral equipment................ 953 991 994 -3.8 -0.3 4.7 1,182 764 617 1,205 2,563 2,301 11.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,503 2,646 2,483 -5.4 6.6 -0.7 2,854 2,317 1,934 3,041 7,105 7,759 -8.4

 Defense communications equipment.... 396 379 395 4.5 -4.1 -41.9 425 374 340 519 1,139 1,454 -21.7

 Audio and video equipment.................... 259 231 223 12.1 3.6 -13.2 256 193 190 256 639 720 -11.3

 Electronic components......................... 3,232 3,273 3,243 -1.3 0.9 -1.1 3,525 3,148 2,886 3,733 9,559 9,869 -3.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,222 1,164 1,158 5.0 0.5 -7.3 1,413 1,148 1,000 1,463 3,561 3,445 3.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,651 2,718 2,787 -2.5 -2.5 0.9 2,869 2,755 2,328 3,073 7,952 7,965 -0.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 7,411 7,362 7,199 0.7 2.3 -0.8 8,373 6,889 6,413 8,297 21,675 21,631 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,557 10,323 10,424 2.3 -1.0 2.1 11,409 9,810 9,297 11,040 30,516 28,871 5.7

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,018 979 1,035 4.0 -5.4 3.5 1,056 963 955 1,031 2,974 2,911 2.2

 Household appliances........................ 1,567 1,557 1,553 0.6 0.3 0.1 1,803 1,433 1,250 1,838 4,486 4,455 0.7

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,889 3,760 3,789 3.4 -0.8 2.1 4,336 3,622 3,378 4,189 11,336 10,668 6.3

 Batteries........................................... 897 892 906 0.6 -1.5 1.6 855 776 769 859 2,400 2,275 5.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 49,902 49,312 50,462 1.2 -2.3 5.7 56,344 48,998 43,457 54,499 148,799 136,450 9.1

 Automobiles..................................... 6,020 5,993 5,762 0.5 4.0 0.8 6,538 6,083 5,373 6,050 17,994 15,209 18.3

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 8,343 8,355 8,133 -0.1 2.7 7.1 9,528 8,630 7,317 9,662 25,475 24,206 5.2

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,168 2,187 2,175 -0.9 0.6 -1.0 2,331 2,181 2,012 1,805 6,524 4,664 39.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 14,782 14,739 14,813 0.3 -0.5 0.7 16,201 15,032 13,824 16,458 45,057 42,804 5.3

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 8,292 8,492 9,051 -2.4 -6.2 16.2 10,001 7,870 6,637 8,652 24,508 19,574 25.2

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,533 3,811 4,608 18.9 -17.3 15.1 5,310 3,581 3,475 4,984 12,366 12,239 1.0

 Ships and boats................................. 2,290 2,184 2,291 4.9 -4.7 -0.6 2,514 2,240 2,020 2,584 6,774 6,911 -2.0

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,652 5,556 5,651 1.7 -1.7 1.9 5,808 5,569 5,293 5,732 16,670 16,033 4.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 14,220 14,012 13,869 1.5 1.0 0.5 15,252 13,672 12,819 14,402 41,743 38,727 7.8

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 257,416 256,061 254,894 0.5 0.5 1.0 265,532 242,740 237,739 257,248 746,011 699,664 6.6

 Food products....................................... 61,452 60,702 62,517 1.2 -2.9 -0.2 62,631 60,091 60,158 61,784 182,880 174,952 4.5

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 7,958 8,013 8,149 -0.7 -1.7 0.8 8,057 8,009 8,055 8,346 24,121 24,251 -0.5

 Dairy products.................................. 8,832 8,837 9,100 -0.1 -2.9 -1.3 9,013 8,398 8,740 9,412 26,151 25,679 1.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,367 16,811 17,656 3.3 -4.8 0.5 17,493 16,913 16,853 17,275 51,259 49,386 3.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,610 12,495 12,095 0.9 3.3 -5.0 12,704 11,726 10,780 12,146 35,210 32,772 7.4

 Beverages......................................... 9,990 9,972 9,829 0.2 1.5 -4.6 10,084 9,203 8,514 9,468 27,801 25,529 8.9

 Tobacco............................................ 2,620 2,523 2,266 3.8 11.3 -6.6 2,620 2,523 2,266 2,678 7,409 7,243 2.3

 Textile mills........................................... 2,558 2,523 2,519 1.4 0.2 0.3 2,703 2,543 2,375 2,724 7,621 7,727 -1.4

 Textile products................................... 1,908 1,895 1,905 0.7 -0.5 -0.6 2,019 1,902 1,701 1,955 5,622 5,315 5.8

 Apparel................................................ 1,404 1,423 1,469 -1.3 -3.1 0.9 1,362 1,410 1,302 1,255 4,074 3,551 14.7

 Leather and allied products...................... 313 305 314 2.6 -2.9 1.3 328 328 262 332 918 913 0.5

 Paper products...................................... 14,212 14,131 14,145 0.6 -0.1 -0.6 14,461 13,724 13,844 14,978 42,029 42,755 -1.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,728 6,683 6,649 0.7 0.5 -0.6 6,824 6,470 6,598 6,919 19,892 19,951 -0.3

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,193 4,171 4,190 0.5 -0.5 -1.2 4,308 4,021 4,055 4,620 12,384 12,923 -4.2

 Printing................................................. 6,831 6,756 6,782 1.1 -0.4 -0.6 7,145 6,356 6,358 7,460 19,859 20,379 -2.6

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 76,986 76,757 74,377 0.3 3.2 3.9 77,036 68,373 67,798 70,216 213,207 187,858 13.5

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 72,098 72,171 69,902 -0.1 3.2 3.8 72,583 64,578 64,413 66,714 201,574 178,845 12.7

 Chemical products..................................... 62,050 62,081 61,920 0.0 0.3 0.8 67,283 60,106 57,637 67,577 185,026 177,970 4.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,403 5,306 5,604 1.8 -5.3 5.4 8,009 5,266 4,588 7,388 17,863 16,340 9.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 15,109 15,326 15,277 -1.4 0.3 0.1 15,326 14,854 14,403 16,953 44,583 45,487 -2.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,681 2,710 2,762 -1.1 -1.9 1.1 2,824 2,561 2,390 2,688 7,775 6,926 12.3

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,092 16,993 16,851 0.6 0.8 0.5 17,860 16,181 15,524 16,821 49,565 45,472 9.0

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
 3

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 460,458 467,535 462,357 -1.5 1.1 -1.1 489,561 453,204 429,490 478,410 1,372,255 1,273,190 7.8

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 410,843 410,798 406,628 0.0 1.0 -0.5 432,736 395,938 379,750 418,067 1,208,424 1,126,332 7.3

 Excluding defense 2

.............................. 450,522 458,061 453,901 -1.6 0.9 -1.3 475,670 443,138 421,137 463,734 1,339,945 1,235,129 8.5

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 151,420 160,289 156,705 -5.5 2.3 -4.9 168,011 160,845 146,635 167,636 475,491 435,263 9.2

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 203,042 211,474 207,463 -4.0 1.9 -3.5 224,029 210,464 191,751 221,162 626,244 573,526 9.2

 Primary metals............................ ............ 26,253 26,780 26,671 -2.0 0.4 -8.0 28,495 27,697 27,030 25,148 83,222 68,033 22.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,879 11,054 10,884 -1.6 1.6 -14.0 12,081 11,750 11,766 12,675 35,597 34,844 2.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 13,446 13,692 13,796 -1.8 -0.8 -3.7 14,392 13,883 13,310 10,685 41,585 28,258 47.2

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,928 2,034 1,991 -5.2 2.2 -0.3 2,022 2,064 1,954 1,788 6,040 4,931 22.5

 Fabricated metal products........................ 26,639 26,756 26,626 -0.4 0.5 1.6 28,804 26,574 25,028 27,758 80,406 74,802 7.5

 Machinery............................................. 32,938 33,573 31,091 -1.9 8.0 -8.8 36,983 33,706 29,578 35,377 100,267 90,860 10.4

 Construction machinery....................... 4,178 4,348 4,660 -3.9 -6.7 4.2 4,298 4,433 4,677 4,083 13,408 11,385 17.8

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,078 2,045 1,728 -47.3 18.3 -21.9 908 2,181 1,735 2,165 4,824 5,844 -17.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,803 3,582 2,944 6.2 21.7 -11.1 4,647 3,195 2,945 4,171 10,787 9,423 14.5

 Photographic equipment...................... 612 668 668 -8.4 0.0 20.6 696 667 626 750 1,989 2,059 -3.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,050 3,838 2,434 -20.5 57.7 -2.1 3,792 3,601 1,895 3,587 9,288 9,045 2.7

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,251 2,304 2,267 -2.3 1.6 -4.1 2,400 2,260 2,147 2,127 6,807 5,934 14.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 5,747 4,617 4,242 24.5 8.8 -27.8 5,861 4,584 4,095 4,782 14,540 11,388 27.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,799 2,819 2,780 -0.7 1.4 -6.6 3,170 2,941 2,596 2,921 8,707 7,604 14.5

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 23,913 24,334 23,864 -1.7 2.0 2.4 27,074 23,418 20,579 27,230 71,071 71,013 0.1

 Computers........................................ 3,464 3,472 3,448 -0.2 0.7 -11.4 3,285 2,765 2,931 3,989 8,981 10,538 -14.8

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,968 3,037 2,652 -2.3 14.5 2.3 3,154 3,065 2,070 2,722 8,289 7,397 12.1

 Defense communications equipment...... 388 339 284 14.5 19.4 -9.8 632 304 285 577 1,221 1,505 -18.9

 Electronic components......................... 3,257 3,328 3,237 -2.1 2.8 -1.3 3,485 3,337 2,993 3,635 9,815 9,850 -0.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,475 1,406 1,348 4.9 4.3 4.9 1,668 1,497 1,252 1,067 4,417 3,481 26.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,722 2,849 2,880 -4.5 -1.1 17.9 3,298 3,345 2,354 3,134 8,997 8,928 0.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,092 7,358 7,514 -3.6 -2.1 6.8 8,391 7,108 6,873 9,281 22,372 23,257 -3.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,547 10,273 10,554 2.7 -2.7 -0.6 11,152 10,368 10,348 11,330 31,868 31,085 2.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,019 941 1,006 8.3 -6.5 3.8 1,063 932 942 1,032 2,937 2,951 -0.5

 Household appliances.......................... 1,623 1,487 1,450 9.1 2.6 -12.0 1,759 1,475 1,370 1,836 4,604 4,742 -2.9

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,881 3,774 4,058 2.8 -7.0 3.0 4,219 3,826 3,981 4,403 12,026 11,725 2.6

 Transportation equipment........................ 49,615 56,737 55,729 -12.6 1.8 -5.2 56,825 57,266 49,740 60,343 163,831 146,858 11.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 14,862 14,855 14,713 0.0 1.0 -1.0 16,000 15,249 13,853 16,191 45,102 42,854 5.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 8,424 16,089 16,427 -47.6 -2.1 -17.2 9,493 15,973 13,005 12,823 38,471 25,428 51.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 5,215 4,515 3,938 15.5 14.7 1.4 7,001 4,200 3,900 5,774 15,101 15,014 0.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,364 1,489 1,648 -8.4 -9.6 10.2 1,645 2,203 2,137 3,599 5,985 9,518 -37.1

 Furniture and related products................. 5,739 5,770 5,626 -0.5 2.6 1.4 6,301 6,007 5,263 6,325 17,571 16,788 4.7

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 257,416 256,061 254,894 0.5 0.5 1.0 265,532 242,740 237,739 257,248 746,011 699,664 6.6

p

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

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

calculated. For further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations see <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/>.

Year to date
 4 

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2012p 2012r 2012 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 930,640 930,167 919,011 0.1 1.2 0.7 943,137 939,547 922,570 860,105 9.7

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 388,133 387,373 383,642 0.2 1.0 0.3 393,644 390,535 381,826 360,437 9.2

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 763,643 763,226 752,393 0.1 1.4 1.1 771,945 771,060 755,100 688,873 12.1

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 930,640 930,167 919,011 0.1 1.2 0.7 943,137 939,547 922,570 860,105 9.7

 Primary metals........................................ 33,080 33,505 33,938 -1.3 -1.3 -1.7 34,395 34,761 34,418 34,365 0.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 18,381 18,668 18,983 -1.5 -1.7 -3.1 19,271 19,545 19,239 21,041 -8.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,816 10,942 11,150 -1.2 -1.9 -0.5 11,155 11,198 11,307 10,082 10.6

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 3,883 3,895 3,805 -0.3 2.4 2.3 3,969 4,018 3,872 3,242 22.4

 Fabricated metal products......................... 67,834 67,268 66,597 0.8 1.0 0.3 68,988 67,167 65,435 63,744 8.2

 Machinery.............................................. 124,904 124,881 122,226 0.0 2.2 0.9 125,584 125,367 121,653 102,386 22.7

 Construction machinery....................... 10,826 10,949 10,887 -1.1 0.6 2.5 11,162 11,417 11,055 9,099 22.7

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 13,021 13,637 13,261 -4.5 2.8 1.2 12,757 13,665 13,146 9,917 28.6

 Industrial machinery............................ 14,461 14,025 13,712 3.1 2.3 -0.8 14,525 14,113 13,863 14,168 2.5

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,945 1,989 1,965 -2.2 1.2 1.4 1,930 2,000 1,945 1,912 0.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 21,979 21,666 20,448 1.4 6.0 -0.1 22,016 21,068 19,657 19,148 15.0

 Metalworking machinery....................... 6,036 5,986 5,894 0.8 1.6 1.4 6,144 6,119 5,902 5,019 22.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 25,729 25,540 24,997 0.7 2.2 2.6 25,861 25,687 25,179 15,317 68.8

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,840 8,826 8,754 0.2 0.8 1.0 8,995 8,928 8,724 8,070 11.5

 Computers and electronic products 2......... 125,401 124,789 124,099 0.5 0.6 0.3 127,369 126,075 124,135 125,927 1.1

 Computers......................................... 3,244 3,119 3,204 4.0 -2.7 -7.0 3,244 3,119 3,204 3,415 -5.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 23,971 23,506 23,115 2.0 1.7 0.7 24,241 23,941 23,193 22,882 5.9

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,007 5,015 5,055 -0.2 -0.8 -2.1 5,171 4,964 5,034 6,398 -19.2

 Electronic components.......................... 11,876 11,851 11,796 0.2 0.5 -0.1 11,893 11,933 11,744 11,412 4.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 10,168 9,915 9,673 2.6 2.5 2.0 10,280 10,025 9,676 8,561 20.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 43,514 43,443 43,312 0.2 0.3 0.2 44,420 43,991 43,401 44,993 -1.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 27,621 27,940 27,944 -1.1 0.0 1.1 28,120 28,102 27,883 28,266 -0.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 28,266 28,276 28,326 0.0 -0.2 0.5 28,632 28,889 28,331 25,466 12.4

 Electric lighting equipment................... 951 950 988 0.1 -3.8 -2.9 907 900 931 1,057 -14.2

 Household appliances.......................... 858 802 872 7.0 -8.0 -10.6 935 979 937 991 -5.7

 Electrical equipment............................. 15,606 15,614 15,600 -0.1 0.1 1.8 15,599 15,716 15,512 14,094 10.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 542,507 542,794 535,369 -0.1 1.4 1.0 549,493 549,012 540,744 499,668 10.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 14,132 14,052 13,936 0.6 0.8 -0.7 14,450 14,651 14,434 13,846 4.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 391,591 391,459 383,862 0.0 2.0 2.0 395,354 395,862 387,759 343,270 15.2

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 56,268 55,586 54,882 1.2 1.3 -1.2 57,959 56,268 55,649 54,880 5.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 14,897 15,823 16,518 -5.9 -4.2 -3.7 15,436 16,305 16,342 19,543 -21.0

 Furniture and related products................. 7,145 7,058 6,844 1.2 3.1 -0.4 7,173 6,680 6,242 6,985 2.7

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2012p 2012r 2012 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

 All manufacturing industries..................... 618,352 616,459 614,564 0.3 0.3 0.6 616,523 616,914 609,647 578,111 6.6

 Excluding transportation...................... 500,270 499,211 497,833 0.2 0.3 0.7 499,136 499,883 493,720 473,190 5.5

 Excluding defense............................. 593,531 591,077 589,240 0.4 0.3 0.6 591,622 591,469 584,357 552,077 7.2

 With unfilled orders............................. 308,634 307,390 305,683 0.4 0.6 0.8 306,670 307,502 303,731 282,882 8.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 375,104 373,255 372,165 0.5 0.3 0.6 373,176 374,309 370,276 346,474 7.7

 Wood products........................................ 8,679 8,720 8,731 -0.5 -0.1 -1.3 8,814 8,981 8,857 8,732 0.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,354 11,295 11,262 0.5 0.3 0.1 11,606 11,481 11,240 10,784 7.6

 Primary metals......................................... 34,845 34,934 34,642 -0.3 0.8 0.4 34,278 34,434 33,853 32,096 6.8

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 21,820 21,924 21,733 -0.5 0.9 0.9 21,265 21,439 20,995 19,524 8.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,899 10,901 10,792 0.0 1.0 -0.8 10,857 10,830 10,709 10,604 2.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,126 2,109 2,117 0.8 -0.4 1.1 2,156 2,165 2,149 1,968 9.6

 Fabricated metal products......................... 46,440 46,418 46,153 0.0 0.6 0.2 46,467 46,523 46,114 43,644 6.5

 Machinery.............................................. 62,466 62,139 61,636 0.5 0.8 1.7 62,742 63,093 61,542 56,013 12.0

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,601 3,654 3,600 -1.5 1.5 0.5 3,881 4,044 3,758 3,371 15.1

 Construction machinery........................ 6,528 6,292 6,242 3.8 0.8 2.2 6,653 6,393 6,200 5,155 29.1

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 8,029 7,995 7,863 0.4 1.7 2.0 8,049 7,991 7,753 6,759 19.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,904 6,895 7,056 0.1 -2.3 -3.8 6,897 6,911 6,901 6,498 6.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,573 1,552 1,559 1.4 -0.4 2.5 1,496 1,545 1,587 1,488 0.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,946 3,998 3,952 -1.3 1.2 1.1 4,026 4,031 3,767 4,239 -5.0

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,450 5,296 5,216 2.9 1.5 1.5 5,366 5,180 5,084 4,269 25.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 7,914 8,023 7,845 -1.4 2.3 8.4 7,717 8,203 7,859 6,740 14.5

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,768 3,717 3,650 1.4 1.8 3.0 3,715 3,708 3,662 3,358 10.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 48,134 47,593 47,635 1.1 -0.1 0.7 47,308 47,812 47,583 46,484 1.8

 Computers......................................... 3,219 3,082 3,154 4.4 -2.3 0.3 3,102 3,060 2,994 2,599 19.4

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,375 1,333 1,328 3.2 0.4 -1.6 1,281 1,323 1,294 1,227 4.4

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,495 1,487 1,524 0.5 -2.4 1.6 1,443 1,506 1,493 1,375 4.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 7,248 7,197 7,148 0.7 0.7 2.6 7,074 7,326 7,276 6,835 3.5

 Defense communications equipment...... 2,081 2,064 2,031 0.8 1.6 1.0 2,081 2,064 2,031 2,596 -19.8

 Audio and video equipment.................. 495 497 510 -0.4 -2.5 -3.4 433 460 493 453 -4.4

 Electronic components.......................... 7,415 7,368 7,328 0.6 0.5 1.4 7,253 7,429 7,463 7,081 2.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,457 3,478 3,373 -0.6 3.1 0.7 3,467 3,480 3,310 3,214 7.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,705 2,642 2,681 2.4 -1.5 1.0 2,726 2,661 2,650 2,871 -5.1

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 12,500 12,557 12,500 -0.5 0.5 -0.5 12,300 12,649 12,541 12,286 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,809 15,850 15,965 -0.3 -0.7 3.5 15,753 15,972 15,840 15,246 3.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,865 1,860 2,022 0.3 -8.0 12.6 1,843 1,857 1,997 1,655 11.4

 Household appliances.......................... 2,120 2,112 2,093 0.4 0.9 -0.2 2,079 2,129 2,071 2,216 -6.2

 Electrical equipment............................. 5,004 4,964 4,970 0.8 -0.1 1.7 4,934 5,022 5,003 4,796 2.9

 Batteries............................................ 1,063 1,068 1,062 -0.5 0.6 0.5 1,078 1,068 1,037 1,088 -0.9

 Transportation equipment......................... 118,082 117,248 116,731 0.7 0.4 0.3 117,387 117,031 115,927 104,921 11.9

 Automobiles....................................... 3,449 3,211 3,143 7.4 2.2 -5.4 3,308 3,253 3,237 2,755 20.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 3,083 3,180 3,443 -3.1 -7.6 3.8 3,063 3,147 3,225 2,917 5.0

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,413 1,408 1,401 0.4 0.5 1.2 1,360 1,387 1,368 1,415 -3.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 18,841 18,713 18,812 0.7 -0.5 0.9 18,762 18,842 19,147 17,253 8.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 66,130 65,184 64,467 1.5 1.1 0.4 65,823 64,742 63,503 55,360 18.9

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 14,288 14,835 14,616 -3.7 1.5 -0.2 14,183 14,782 14,492 14,329 -1.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,339 3,363 3,469 -0.7 -3.1 -1.2 3,472 3,463 3,522 3,544 -2.0

 Furniture and related products................. 6,652 6,632 6,683 0.3 -0.8 -0.8 6,515 6,554 6,656 6,635 -1.8

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 22,643 22,426 22,727 1.0 -1.3 -1.3 22,306 22,428 22,664 21,919 1.8

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 243,248 243,204 242,399 0.0 0.3 0.7 243,347 242,605 239,371 231,637 5.1

 Food products........................................ 45,538 45,471 45,204 0.1 0.6 0.4 44,502 45,299 45,039 42,998 3.5

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,442 5,389 5,262 1.0 2.4 -0.6 5,409 5,556 5,433 5,599 -3.4

 Dairy products.................................... 6,030 6,045 6,042 -0.2 0.0 -1.4 5,982 5,959 5,807 5,653 5.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 8,564 8,535 8,471 0.3 0.8 0.6 8,494 8,576 8,391 8,392 1.2

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 16,982 16,808 16,819 1.0 -0.1 0.0 17,274 17,162 17,171 16,600 4.1

 Beverages......................................... 13,537 13,381 13,365 1.2 0.1 -0.1 13,722 13,556 13,500 13,019 5.4

 Tobacco............................................ 3,445 3,427 3,454 0.5 -0.8 0.4 3,552 3,606 3,671 3,581 -0.8

 Textile mills............................................ 3,609 3,601 3,602 0.2 0.0 -0.5 3,565 3,591 3,606 3,389 5.2

 Textile products...................................... 3,040 3,038 3,055 0.1 -0.6 -2.2 3,024 3,040 3,048 2,924 3.4

 Apparel................................................. 2,763 2,753 2,757 0.4 -0.1 0.8 2,647 2,709 2,780 2,311 14.5

 Leather and allied products...................... 897 902 898 -0.6 0.4 -1.1 876 908 922 855 2.5

 Paper products....................................... 13,946 13,884 13,853 0.4 0.2 0.5 13,975 13,968 13,880 14,000 -0.2

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 5,958 5,965 5,974 -0.1 -0.2 0.9 5,994 6,037 6,012 5,996 0.0

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,064 4,021 3,980 1.1 1.0 0.5 4,086 4,075 4,021 4,040 1.1

 Printing.................................................. 5,324 5,336 5,321 -0.2 0.3 0.0 5,319 5,341 5,197 5,629 -5.5

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 57,374 58,076 57,326 -1.2 1.3 2.4 58,237 56,501 54,374 51,786 12.5

 Petroleum refineries............................. 53,688 54,275 53,459 -1.1 1.5 2.6 54,655 52,733 50,500 48,666 12.3

 Chemical products..................................... 72,537 72,362 72,793 0.2 -0.6 0.1 72,563 72,910 72,587 71,021 2.2

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,832 3,934 4,052 -2.6 -2.9 -2.3 4,245 4,615 4,560 4,113 3.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 24,708 24,881 25,038 -0.7 -0.6 0.3 24,556 24,878 24,684 24,926 -1.5

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,956 3,071 3,077 -3.7 -0.2 0.7 3,049 3,175 3,080 3,208 -5.0

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 21,238 20,973 20,771 1.3 1.0 0.3 21,365 21,176 20,767 20,124 6.2

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 466,196 462,882 462,315 0.7 0.1 0.6 490,637 442,310 425,465 471,211 1,358,412 1,261,012 7.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 38,796 38,396 38,787 1.0 -1.0 1.5 38,940 34,607 33,379 37,500 106,926 99,572 7.4

 Information technology......................... 23,911 24,150 23,993 -1.0 0.7 -2.3 26,380 21,958 20,468 27,050 68,806 69,676 -1.2

 Computers and related products .......... 5,067 5,317 5,410 -4.7 -1.7 -4.6 5,528 4,155 4,310 6,112 13,993 15,028 -6.9

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 31,313 31,274 30,883 0.1 1.3 2.2 34,598 31,926 28,526 33,975 95,050 86,883 9.4

 Capital goods...................................... 80,309 78,278 78,452 2.6 -0.2 -0.9 89,136 74,524 67,999 84,291 231,659 214,577 8.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 72,868 71,420 70,984 2.0 0.6 -0.8 80,787 67,543 61,910 74,860 210,240 190,525 10.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 67,783 66,042 65,061 2.6 1.5 -2.8 74,538 62,585 58,057 69,836 195,180 179,901 8.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,441 6,858 7,468 8.5 -8.2 -2.2 8,349 6,981 6,089 9,431 21,419 24,052 -10.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 204,338 203,399 202,023 0.5 0.7 1.3 209,938 194,085 188,819 203,087 592,842 552,466 7.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,650 27,328 26,825 1.2 1.9 3.1 30,964 27,744 24,236 29,966 82,944 76,531 8.4

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 176,688 176,071 175,198 0.4 0.5 1.1 178,974 166,341 164,583 173,121 509,898 475,935 7.1

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 460,458 467,535 462,357 -1.5 1.1 -1.1 489,561 453,204 429,490 478,410 1,372,255 1,273,190 7.8

 Construction materials and supplies...... 38,897 39,593 38,852 -1.8 1.9 1.9 40,277 36,485 33,585 39,103 110,347 103,869 6.2

 Information technology......................... 24,395 24,853 24,429 -1.8 1.7 2.9 27,541 24,107 21,498 27,545 73,146 72,614 0.7

 Computers and related products .......... 5,192 5,232 5,170 -0.8 1.2 -7.7 5,653 4,070 4,070 6,196 13,793 14,789 -6.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 31,393 31,390 30,783 0.0 2.0 1.3 34,397 32,143 28,555 33,708 95,095 86,933 9.4

 Capital goods...................................... 81,134 88,532 86,995 -8.4 1.8 -3.4 91,879 87,949 79,100 93,906 258,928 236,324 9.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 73,469 81,585 80,744 -9.9 1.0 -5.0 80,990 80,306 72,790 82,031 234,086 204,920 14.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 68,579 68,617 66,781 -0.1 2.7 -3.4 75,652 67,529 62,301 72,739 205,482 189,253 8.6

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,665 6,947 6,251 10.3 11.1 23.1 10,889 7,643 6,310 11,875 24,842 31,404 -20.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 204,265 203,411 201,859 0.4 0.8 1.2 209,864 194,399 188,945 203,193 593,208 553,037 7.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,577 27,340 26,661 0.9 2.5 2.0 30,890 28,058 24,362 30,072 83,310 77,102 8.1

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 176,688 176,071 175,198 0.4 0.5 1.1 178,974 166,341 164,583 173,121 509,898 475,935 7.1

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 930,640 930,167 919,011 0.1 1.2 0.7 943,137 939,547 922,570 860,105 (X) (X) 9.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 59,045 58,944 57,747 0.2 2.1 0.1 59,578 58,241 56,363 56,729 (X) (X) 5.0

 Information technology......................... 126,321 125,837 125,134 0.4 0.6 0.3 128,597 127,436 125,287 125,751 (X) (X) 2.3

 Computers and related products .......... 3,244 3,119 3,204 4.0 -2.7 -7.0 3,244 3,119 3,204 3,415 (X) (X) -5.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 14,132 14,052 13,936 0.6 0.8 -0.7 14,450 14,651 14,434 13,846 (X) (X) 4.4

 Capital goods...................................... 714,158 713,333 703,079 0.1 1.5 1.2 722,924 720,181 706,756 649,959 (X) (X) 11.2

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................566,391 565,790 555,625 0.1 1.8 1.8 571,720 571,517 558,754 497,935 (X) (X) 14.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 218,583 217,787 215,212 0.4 1.2 0.8 220,809 219,695 214,751 195,446 (X) (X) 13.0

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 147,767 147,543 147,454 0.2 0.1 -0.8 151,204 148,664 148,002 152,024 (X) (X) -0.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,846 4,919 4,907 -1.5 0.2 -3.2 5,119 5,193 4,879 5,181 (X) (X) -1.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,846 4,919 4,907 -1.5 0.2 -3.2 5,119 5,193 4,879 5,181 (X) (X) -1.2

 All manufacturing industries .................. 618,352 616,459 614,564 0.3 0.3 0.6 616,523 616,914 609,647 578,111 (X) (X) 6.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 57,866 58,003 57,967 -0.2 0.1 0.0 58,178 58,538 57,843 55,877 (X) (X) 4.1

 Information technology......................... 42,269 42,103 42,000 0.4 0.2 1.1 41,572 42,328 41,764 40,842 (X) (X) 1.8

 Computers and related products .......... 6,089 5,902 6,006 3.2 -1.7 0.2 5,826 5,889 5,781 5,201 (X) (X) 12.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 26,786 26,512 26,799 1.0 -1.1 0.5 26,493 26,629 26,977 24,340 (X) (X) 8.8

 Capital goods...................................... 194,219 192,907 191,863 0.7 0.5 0.8 193,348 193,451 190,351 175,920 (X) (X) 9.9

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................174,514 172,771 171,790 1.0 0.6 0.8 173,458 173,199 170,188 155,147 (X) (X) 11.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 117,734 116,897 116,560 0.7 0.3 1.1 116,865 117,818 115,911 107,810 (X) (X) 8.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 19,705 20,136 20,073 -2.1 0.3 0.1 19,890 20,252 20,163 20,773 (X) (X) -4.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 186,494 186,829 186,150 -0.2 0.4 0.8 185,875 185,782 183,354 176,623 (X) (X) 5.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,423 27,218 27,431 0.8 -0.8 -0.4 26,927 27,539 27,713 26,001 (X) (X) 3.6

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 159,071 159,611 158,719 -0.3 0.6 1.0 158,948 158,243 155,641 150,622 (X) (X) 5.5

X Not Applicable p Preliminary r Revised data due to late receipts and concurrent seasonal adjustment.

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

estimates of shipments and new orders include adjusted data for non-calendar reporters. Seasonally adjusted estimates include concurrent adjustments for holiday and trading-day differences, where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes.

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

3

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

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

material handling equipment; all other machinery; electronic computers; computer storage devices; other computer peripheral equipment; communications equipment; search and navigation

equipment; electromedical, measuring, and control instruments; electrical equipment; other electrical equipment, appliances, and components; heavy duty trucks; aircraft; railroad rolling stock;

ships and boats; office and institutional furniture; and medical equipment and supplies.

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 
 7

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2012p 2012r 2012 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 203,575 202,403 202,561 0.6 -0.1 0.9 203,342 202,531 202,425 191,197 6.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 120,955 120,100 119,937 0.7 0.1 1.1 119,956 120,070 120,120 111,227 7.8

 Wood products................................... 3,303 3,329 3,351 -0.8 -0.7 -0.6 3,281 3,451 3,496 3,159 3.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,669 4,617 4,584 1.1 0.7 2.2 4,694 4,632 4,574 4,185 12.2

 Primary metals.................................... 14,232 14,357 14,180 -0.9 1.2 1.1 13,839 14,057 13,932 13,190 4.9

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,586 16,514 16,408 0.4 0.6 0.7 16,481 16,480 16,506 15,448 6.7

 Machinery.......................................... 23,435 23,265 22,987 0.7 1.2 0.9 23,332 23,258 23,070 20,817 12.1

 Computers and electronic products...... 18,996 18,649 18,670 1.9 -0.1 1.8 18,712 18,608 18,731 17,601 6.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 6,767 6,831 6,874 -0.9 -0.6 3.5 6,842 6,874 6,826 6,459 5.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 22,277 21,891 22,193 1.8 -1.4 0.5 22,164 22,040 22,260 20,256 9.4

 Furniture and related products............ 3,234 3,208 3,291 0.8 -2.5 -0.3 3,209 3,200 3,293 3,177 1.0

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,456 7,439 7,399 0.2 0.5 1.6 7,402 7,470 7,432 6,935 6.7

 Nondurable goods industries................. 82,620 82,303 82,624 0.4 -0.4 0.6 83,386 82,461 82,305 79,970 4.3

 Food products................................... 14,450 14,446 14,333 0.0 0.8 -0.4 14,370 14,608 14,659 14,326 0.3

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,535 4,468 4,434 1.5 0.8 1.2 4,660 4,638 4,643 4,414 5.6

 Textiles.............................................. 1,286 1,298 1,292 -0.9 0.5 -0.5 1,270 1,286 1,283 1,247 1.8

 Textile products.................................. 1,479 1,470 1,469 0.6 0.1 -0.5 1,456 1,455 1,446 1,318 10.5

 Apparel............................................. 988 995 990 -0.7 0.5 2.6 972 995 995 786 23.7

 Leather and allied products................ 303 302 295 0.3 2.4 -1.0 296 300 298 299 -1.0

 Paper products................................... 6,774 6,759 6,752 0.2 0.1 0.6 6,809 6,805 6,797 6,763 0.7

 Printing ............................................ 2,681 2,717 2,582 -1.3 5.2 1.6 2,677 2,708 2,539 2,711 -1.3

 Petroleum and coal products............... 18,609 18,546 18,939 0.3 -2.1 3.9 19,325 18,138 18,009 17,260 12.0

 Chemical products............................. 22,765 22,587 22,752 0.8 -0.7 -2.0 22,784 22,763 22,798 22,515 1.2

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,750 8,715 8,786 0.4 -0.8 1.6 8,767 8,765 8,838 8,331 5.2

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 193,816 193,841 192,597 0.0 0.6 0.8 193,410 194,059 190,767 179,133 8.0

 Durable goods industries........................ 146,257 145,919 145,061 0.2 0.6 0.5 145,245 145,938 143,813 133,578 8.7

 Wood products................................... 1,545 1,571 1,552 -1.7 1.2 0.8 1,572 1,581 1,535 1,572 0.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,206 1,217 1,216 -0.9 0.1 -2.7 1,253 1,244 1,203 1,205 4.0

 Primary metals.................................... 10,222 10,247 10,147 -0.2 1.0 0.1 9,987 10,101 9,802 9,170 8.9

 Fabricated metal products.................. 13,440 13,479 13,366 -0.3 0.8 0.5 13,340 13,515 13,365 11,865 12.4

 Machinery.......................................... 15,514 15,526 15,761 -0.1 -1.5 2.3 15,388 15,664 15,495 14,472 6.3

 Computers and electronic products...... 17,367 17,250 17,335 0.7 -0.5 -0.1 17,111 17,268 17,267 17,766 -3.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,771 3,790 3,870 -0.5 -2.1 3.2 3,731 3,820 3,864 3,537 5.5

 Transportation equipment.................. 78,736 78,415 77,374 0.4 1.3 0.3 78,458 78,317 76,894 69,728 12.5

 Furniture and related products............ 1,092 1,078 1,058 1.3 1.9 0.9 1,084 1,075 1,059 1,046 3.6

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,364 3,346 3,382 0.5 -1.1 -0.7 3,321 3,353 3,329 3,217 3.2

 Nondurable goods industries................. 47,559 47,922 47,536 -0.8 0.8 1.9 48,165 48,121 46,954 45,555 5.7

 Food products................................... 3,587 3,552 3,604 1.0 -1.4 2.2 3,473 3,627 3,840 3,331 4.3

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,620 5,602 5,630 0.3 -0.5 -0.1 5,741 5,839 5,884 5,635 1.9

 Textiles.............................................. 825 820 823 0.6 -0.4 -3.1 809 809 825 767 5.5

 Textile products.................................. 443 449 458 -1.3 -2.0 -3.6 448 455 461 479 -6.5

 Apparel............................................. 364 355 353 2.5 0.6 -0.8 348 344 347 343 1.5

 Leather and allied products................ 106 104 104 1.9 0.0 -2.8 104 106 106 84 23.8

 Paper products................................... 1,235 1,250 1,253 -1.2 -0.2 2.7 1,220 1,251 1,258 1,235 -1.2

 Printing ............................................ 1,152 1,144 1,112 0.7 2.9 -2.2 1,171 1,200 1,075 1,260 -7.1

 Petroleum and coal products............... 17,117 17,622 17,049 -2.9 3.4 1.9 17,825 17,422 15,973 15,661 13.8

 Chemical products............................. 15,113 15,034 15,165 0.5 -0.9 3.6 14,993 15,024 15,162 14,798 1.3

 Plastics and rubber products............... 1,997 1,990 1,985 0.4 0.3 0.2 2,033 2,044 2,023 1,962 3.6

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 220,961 220,215 219,406 0.3 0.4 0.2 219,771 220,324 216,455 207,781 5.8

 Durable goods industries........................ 107,892 107,236 107,167 0.6 0.1 0.1 107,975 108,301 106,343 101,669 6.2

 Wood products................................... 3,831 3,820 3,828 0.3 -0.2 -2.7 3,961 3,949 3,826 4,001 -1.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,479 5,461 5,462 0.3 0.0 -0.9 5,659 5,605 5,463 5,394 4.9

 Primary metals.................................... 10,391 10,330 10,315 0.6 0.1 -0.3 10,452 10,276 10,119 9,736 7.4

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,414 16,425 16,379 -0.1 0.3 -0.5 16,646 16,528 16,243 16,331 1.9

 Machinery.......................................... 23,517 23,348 22,888 0.7 2.0 2.2 24,022 24,171 22,977 20,724 15.9

 Computers and electronic products...... 11,771 11,694 11,630 0.7 0.6 0.0 11,485 11,936 11,585 11,117 3.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,271 5,229 5,221 0.8 0.2 3.8 5,180 5,278 5,150 5,250 -1.3

 Transportation equipment.................. 17,069 16,942 17,164 0.7 -1.3 0.5 16,765 16,674 16,773 14,937 12.2

 Furniture and related products............ 2,326 2,346 2,334 -0.9 0.5 -2.1 2,222 2,279 2,304 2,412 -7.9

 Miscellaneous products........................ 11,823 11,641 11,946 1.6 -2.6 -3.1 11,583 11,605 11,903 11,767 -1.6

 Nondurable goods industries................. 113,069 112,979 112,239 0.1 0.7 0.3 111,796 112,023 110,112 106,112 5.4

 Food products................................... 27,501 27,473 27,267 0.1 0.8 0.6 26,659 27,064 26,540 25,341 5.2

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 6,827 6,738 6,755 1.3 -0.3 -0.6 6,873 6,685 6,644 6,551 4.9

 Textiles.............................................. 1,498 1,483 1,487 1.0 -0.3 0.9 1,486 1,496 1,498 1,375 8.1

 Textile products.................................. 1,118 1,119 1,128 -0.1 -0.8 -3.8 1,120 1,130 1,141 1,127 -0.6

 Apparel............................................. 1,411 1,403 1,414 0.6 -0.8 0.0 1,327 1,370 1,438 1,182 12.3

 Leather and allied products................ 488 496 499 -1.6 -0.6 -0.8 476 502 518 472 0.8

 Paper products................................... 5,937 5,875 5,848 1.1 0.5 -0.2 5,946 5,912 5,825 6,002 -0.9

 Printing ............................................ 1,491 1,475 1,627 1.1 -9.3 -1.0 1,471 1,433 1,583 1,658 -11.3

 Petroleum and coal products............... 21,648 21,908 21,338 -1.2 2.7 1.6 21,087 20,941 20,392 18,865 11.8

 Chemical products............................. 34,659 34,741 34,876 -0.2 -0.4 0.1 34,786 35,123 34,627 33,708 3.2

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,491 10,268 10,000 2.2 2.7 -0.8 10,565 10,367 9,906 9,831 7.5

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Mar Feb Jan Dec Mar Feb Jan Dec

2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2012r 2012 2011

All manufacturing industries2

............................ 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.80 1.80 1.79 1.79 6.17 6.24 6.12 6.04

 Wood products.............................................. 1.56 1.60 1.54 1.63 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.47 1.45 1.44 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.31 1.28 1.27 1.22 1.24 1.23 1.25 1.22

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.78 1.78 1.75 1.76 2.68 2.66 2.60 2.61

 Machinery..................................................... 1.90 2.01 2.06 1.91 4.25 4.52 4.58 4.25

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.63 1.58 1.59 1.57 6.04 5.91 5.92 5.70

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.50 1.54 1.53 1.51 2.93 3.00 2.98 3.03

 Transportation equipment.............................. 2.37 2.38 2.31 2.44 16.26 16.56 15.57 16.45

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.18 1.19 1.18 1.21 1.48 1.49 1.42 1.44

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.59 1.60 1.64 1.67 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.95 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.74 0.75 0.72 0.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.35 1.35 1.39 1.32 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.41 1.43 1.43 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.59 1.60 1.60 1.63 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.97 1.93 1.88 1.88 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.87 2.96 2.86 2.93 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.97 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.78 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.75 0.76 0.77 0.78 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.17 1.17 1.18 1.18 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.24 1.23 1.23 1.24 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Mar2 Mar2 Mar2 Mar2

Industry 2011- 2011- 2011- 2011-

Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

 

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

Durable goods industries....................... -0.1 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... -0.2 1.0 -0.2 1.7 0.1 0.8 0.0 0.6

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.0 0.4 1.1 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.3

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.8 0.7 2.0 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.9 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.2 0.6 -0.5 1.1 -0.3 0.4 -0.2 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.1 0.5 -0.1 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 1.0 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.5 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.2 (X) 0.3

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

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

 publication.

2

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

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

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

3

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

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

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

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

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
9 

Survey Description 

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

and Orders (M3) survey. This survey provides statistics on manufacturers' value of shipments, new 

orders (net of cancellations), end-of-month order backlog (unfilled orders), end-of-month total inventory 

(at current cost or market value), and inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and supplies, work-inprocess, and finished goods). The M3 includes approximately 4,300 reporting units. Units may be 

divisions of diversified large companies, large homogenous companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 89 

industry categories. Due to the small monthly sample, these 89 categories have been combined into 65 

publication levels. The survey methodology assumes that the month-to-month changes of the total 

operations of those companies in the monthly survey effectively represent the month-to-month 

movements of all establishments that make up the category. The current coverage levels in the survey 

show that reported data in the monthly survey represent approximately 60 percent of the shipments 

estimates at the total manufacturing level. Data published represent manufacturing in a calendar month. 

The data collection is based on a voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

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

provide an indication of the activity within the manufacturing sector. The results differ from what would 

be obtained from a complete enumeration of all manufacturing companies. In addition, a different panel 

of 4,300 companies would yield different results. The M3 panel is comprised of companies with $500 

million or more in shipments and a limited number of smaller companies. From a statistical perspective, 

the panel is not a probability sample; therefore, the sampling errors that are normally provided with 

sample surveys cannot be measured. Nonsampling errors are attributable to many sources. The use of 

company or divisional reports to estimate the monthly change for establishments is one source of 

nonsampling error. The use of primarily large companies to represent the month-to-month movement of 

all companies is another potential source. Any corrections will be published in the full report. 

Corrections received after the full report will be released in the next month’s advance report. Any 

revisions made later than two months will be reflected in the annual benchmark publication. 

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

Benchmark Notice 

Revised historical data for Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders will be issued on May 18, 

2012. These revisions reflect: 

 benchmarking the shipments and inventories data to the 2010 Annual Survey of Manufactures 

(ASM) data, as well as revised ASM benchmarks for prior years; 

 incorporating the unfilled orders to shipments ratios obtained from the 2009/2010 Manufacturers’ 

Unfilled Orders Survey by applying these ratios to the respective ASM shipments data, as well as 

incorporating revised unfilled orders to shipments ratios for prior years; 

 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; 

 incorporating the monthly data corrections when producing estimates for industry groups for which 

we identified companies to be tabbed separately from the link-relative estimation procedure; 

 implementing a new SAS® benchmarking program, which is based on the same benchmarking 

methodology as the previous ASCII Fortran program; and 

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

review of the seasonal adjustment models. 

An accompanying press release will include the revised 2012 January through March data. Please call 

Jessica Young on (301) 763-4832 with any questions.