FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (12)-5 

CB12-121 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

May 2012 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in May, up 

following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased 

$3.3 billion or 0.7 percent to $469.0 billion, the U.S. 

Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.7 

percent April decrease. Excluding transportation, new 

orders increased 0.4 percent. 

 Shipments, up five of the last six months, increased 

$2.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $476.0 billion. This 

followed a 0.2 percent April decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, down two consecutive months, 

decreased $0.4 billion to $984.4 billion. This followed a 

0.1 percent April decrease. The unfilled orders-toshipments ratio was 6.25, down from 6.33 in April. 

 Inventories, also down two consecutive months, 

decreased $1.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $604.5 billion. 

The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.27, down from 

1.28 in April. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, 

up following two consecutive monthly decreases, 

increased $2.7 billion or 1.3 percent to $217.4 billion, 

revised from the previously published 1.1 percent 

increase. This followed a 0.3 percent April decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, up three of the last four 

months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 2.7 

percent to $63.1 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $251.7 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, up 

five of the last six months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.8 

percent to $224.3 billion, revised from the previously 

published 0.7 percent increase. This followed a 0.7 

percent April increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also up five of the last six 

months, had the largest increase, $1.0 billion or 1.6 

percent to $65.1 billion. 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased 

$0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $251.7 billion. This 

followed a 1.0 percent April decrease. Beverage and 

tobacco products, up four consecutive months, led the 

increase, up $0.5 billion or 3.8 percent to $12.9 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

May, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.4 

billion to $984.4 billion, unchanged from the previously 

published decrease. This followed a 0.1 percent April 

decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, down three consecutive 

months, had the largest decrease, $2.0 billion or 0.4 

percent to $563.4 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, up 

twenty-eight of the last twenty-nine months, increased 

$1.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $365.6 billion, unchanged 

from the previously published increase. This was at the 

highest level since the series was first published on a 

NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.3 percent April 

increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up twenty-eight of the 

last twenty-nine months, had the largest increase, $1.5 

billion or 1.4 percent to $108.2 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

three consecutive months, decreased $3.0 billion or 1.2 

percent to $238.9 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent 

April decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also down 

three consecutive months, led the decrease, down $2.3 

billion or 4.3 percent to $51.9 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, May materials and supplies 

increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and decreased 2.3 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 

0.2 percent in durable goods and 1.8 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 1.0 percent 

in durable goods and decreased 1.7 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 June is scheduled for release on July 26, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full report on August 2, 2012, at 10:00 

a.m. EDT. See back page for survey description. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups 1

[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

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 May Apr. Mar. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

 All manufacturing industries.................. 475,955 473,660 474,690 0.5 -0.2 0.1 494,259 475,728 503,185 465,615 2,364,751 2,215,766 6.7

 Excluding transportation ................... 410,860 409,592 412,792 0.3 -0.8 -0.3 427,058 413,994 433,413 409,449 2,051,101 1,935,723 6.0

 Excluding defense.............................. 465,078 463,556 463,683 0.3 0.0 -0.1 483,279 466,220 490,709 454,452 2,312,747 2,159,098 7.1

 With unfilled orders ............................ 157,452 155,642 156,846 1.2 -0.8 1.2 162,427 152,673 171,405 148,120 777,464 710,734 9.4

 Durable goods industries ......................... 224,295 222,574 221,050 0.8 0.7 0.9 230,357 220,917 238,715 207,619 1,101,673 1,005,957 9.5

 Wood products................................. ...... 6,140 6,035 6,003 1.7 0.5 1.8 6,692 6,321 5,979 6,141 29,620 27,753 6.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,135 8,092 7,985 0.5 1.3 -0.2 8,724 8,106 7,966 8,153 38,633 36,670 5.4

 Primary metals............................ ........... 28,482 28,483 28,387 0.0 0.3 -1.9 30,318 29,447 30,605 25,715 147,447 119,402 23.5

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,467 11,403 11,440 0.6 -0.3 -2.7 12,496 11,944 12,691 12,268 60,589 58,326 3.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 15,155 15,198 15,075 -0.3 0.8 -1.5 15,836 15,622 15,905 11,781 77,416 53,342 45.1

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,860 1,882 1,872 -1.2 0.5 -0.1 1,986 1,881 2,009 1,666 9,442 7,734 22.1

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,606 27,555 27,535 0.2 0.1 -0.2 28,761 27,344 28,507 26,970 136,562 127,028 7.5

 Machinery............................................. 31,513 31,543 32,592 -0.1 -3.2 4.8 32,285 32,092 36,253 29,364 157,479 141,600 11.2

 Farm machinery................................. 2,127 2,421 2,656 -12.1 -8.8 6.2 2,136 3,268 3,318 2,291 13,569 12,292 10.4

 Construction machinery..................... 4,028 4,243 4,094 -5.1 3.6 2.4 4,024 4,232 4,236 3,424 19,901 16,255 22.4

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 2,175 2,107 2,081 3.2 1.2 2.7 2,151 1,951 2,211 2,004 10,121 9,335 8.4

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,167 3,163 3,052 0.1 3.6 2.8 3,189 3,045 3,811 2,862 14,986 13,912 7.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 657 624 666 5.3 -6.3 -0.7 641 546 766 622 3,114 3,236 -3.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,198 3,173 3,201 0.8 -0.9 6.2 3,477 3,056 3,282 3,146 14,621 13,874 5.4

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,414 2,422 2,352 -0.3 3.0 0.0 2,471 2,253 2,515 2,006 11,429 9,331 22.5

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,628 3,398 4,464 6.8 -23.9 26.3 3,714 3,464 4,660 3,338 18,527 16,365 13.2

 Material handling equipment............... 2,834 2,767 2,771 2.4 -0.1 1.8 2,910 2,613 3,064 2,578 13,667 11,842 15.4

 Computers and electronic products 2

.......... 28,396 27,913 27,528 1.7 1.4 -2.5 27,050 27,758 28,508 26,886 135,277 136,158 -0.6

 Computers........................................ 1,276 1,239 1,252 3.0 -1.0 -10.8 1,050 1,099 1,250 1,248 5,767 6,503 -11.3

 Computer storage devices..................... 778 729 731 6.7 -0.3 0.4 600 455 1,123 493 3,184 2,775 14.7

 Other peripheral equipment................ 888 897 894 -1.0 0.3 -4.9 790 663 1,117 783 3,884 3,624 7.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,744 2,682 2,684 2.3 -0.1 -2.6 2,575 2,287 3,106 2,654 12,568 13,332 -5.7

 Defense communications equipment.... 552 377 391 46.4 -3.6 4.5 566 347 427 481 2,056 2,423 -15.1

 Audio and video equipment.................... 257 264 255 -2.7 3.5 14.9 223 201 258 197 1,057 1,030 2.6

 Electronic components......................... 3,567 3,546 3,597 0.6 -1.4 0.1 3,533 3,295 3,928 3,683 17,387 17,815 -2.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,287 1,273 1,339 1.1 -4.9 4.0 1,335 1,148 1,559 1,389 6,407 6,263 2.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,843 2,865 2,839 -0.8 0.9 -2.9 2,936 2,750 3,093 3,039 14,311 14,733 -2.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 7,105 7,060 7,013 0.6 0.7 1.2 6,924 6,702 7,866 6,633 34,052 33,176 2.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,031 9,918 10,016 1.1 -1.0 1.4 10,261 9,699 10,831 9,769 48,998 47,059 4.1

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 908 902 917 0.7 -1.6 3.7 906 870 953 934 4,459 4,595 -3.0

 Household appliances........................ 1,585 1,568 1,560 1.1 0.5 1.3 1,707 1,614 1,784 1,567 7,760 7,418 4.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,154 3,106 3,130 1.5 -0.8 2.4 3,237 2,921 3,513 3,007 15,292 14,401 6.2

 Batteries........................................... 966 970 975 -0.4 -0.5 1.0 909 899 937 889 4,417 4,237 4.2

 Transportation equipment........................ 65,095 64,068 61,898 1.6 3.5 2.4 67,201 61,734 69,772 56,166 313,650 280,043 12.0

 Automobiles..................................... 9,285 9,160 8,441 1.4 8.5 2.8 9,624 8,686 8,946 6,779 42,903 33,820 26.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 13,745 14,041 12,239 -2.1 14.7 1.5 14,166 13,677 13,983 10,776 65,228 56,871 14.7

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,773 2,604 2,557 6.5 1.8 -1.4 2,739 2,453 2,757 2,167 12,913 9,751 32.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,560 18,364 18,385 1.1 -0.1 2.3 20,059 18,690 20,260 18,405 95,181 89,607 6.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,664 9,447 8,929 2.3 5.8 -2.7 9,490 8,307 10,813 6,898 44,271 34,585 28.0

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,662 4,156 5,063 12.2 -17.9 20.3 4,545 3,757 5,910 4,422 22,026 22,413 -1.7

 Ships and boats................................. 2,206 2,165 2,228 1.9 -2.8 5.2 2,360 2,238 2,473 2,310 11,192 11,237 -0.4

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,326 5,351 5,349 -0.5 0.0 2.5 5,472 5,225 5,535 5,250 26,468 25,449 4.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,571 13,616 13,757 -0.3 -1.0 0.1 13,593 13,191 14,759 13,205 67,539 64,795 4.2

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 251,660 251,086 253,640 0.2 -1.0 -0.7 263,902 254,811 264,470 257,996 1,263,078 1,209,809 4.4

 Food products....................................... 60,582 60,277 59,858 0.5 0.7 1.3 60,531 58,120 60,962 58,362 296,671 284,845 4.2

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,267 8,236 8,015 0.4 2.8 0.6 7,978 7,729 8,042 7,437 39,709 38,055 4.3

 Dairy products.................................. 8,209 8,292 8,395 -1.0 -1.2 0.4 8,258 7,990 8,527 8,660 40,997 41,593 -1.4

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,099 16,744 16,640 2.1 0.6 3.3 17,393 16,384 16,781 16,461 82,894 79,885 3.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,948 12,480 12,149 3.8 2.7 0.4 13,988 12,415 12,275 12,520 60,516 56,051 8.0

 Beverages......................................... 9,047 9,050 8,798 0.0 2.9 -1.1 10,087 8,985 8,924 9,174 43,756 40,256 8.7

 Tobacco............................................ 3,901 3,430 3,351 13.7 2.4 4.5 3,901 3,430 3,351 3,346 16,760 15,795 6.1

 Textile mills........................................... 2,495 2,476 2,488 0.8 -0.5 1.3 2,597 2,521 2,644 2,642 12,552 12,819 -2.1

 Textile products................................... 1,981 1,956 1,955 1.3 0.1 1.7 2,076 2,024 2,071 1,943 9,839 9,290 5.9

 Apparel................................................ 1,242 1,247 1,245 -0.4 0.2 -1.0 1,145 1,134 1,210 1,104 5,899 5,523 6.8

 Leather and allied products...................... 490 473 460 3.6 2.8 4.5 477 453 482 442 2,261 2,200 2.8

 Paper products...................................... 13,943 13,997 13,948 -0.4 0.4 0.1 14,126 13,675 14,171 14,215 69,159 70,357 -1.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,554 6,559 6,574 -0.1 -0.2 -0.5 6,572 6,360 6,651 6,581 32,499 32,879 -1.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,070 4,116 4,071 -1.1 1.1 0.4 4,148 4,090 4,181 4,228 20,256 20,925 -3.2

 Printing................................................. 7,073 6,749 6,658 4.8 1.4 1.7 7,218 6,670 6,934 6,852 33,152 33,814 -2.0

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 70,087 70,226 72,950 -0.2 -3.7 -2.9 76,253 74,211 75,947 74,744 360,384 334,058 7.9

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 65,808 65,796 68,287 0.0 -3.6 -3.5 71,569 70,031 71,721 70,527 340,532 317,196 7.4

 Chemical products..................................... 63,262 63,547 64,205 -0.4 -1.0 -0.7 66,847 65,636 69,108 67,694 324,137 318,784 1.7

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,085 3,322 3,213 -7.1 3.4 4.3 4,279 4,805 4,668 3,946 19,400 16,977 14.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 14,397 14,380 14,499 0.1 -0.8 -2.1 14,691 14,049 14,863 15,398 71,778 74,469 -3.6

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,940 2,901 2,899 1.3 0.1 0.2 3,279 3,082 3,075 2,889 14,717 13,022 13.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,557 17,658 17,724 -0.6 -0.4 -0.4 18,644 17,952 18,666 17,478 88,508 82,068 7.8

p

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

1

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

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

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

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 Groups 1

[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

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 May Apr. Mar. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 469,038 465,752 468,921 0.7 -0.7 -2.1 483,349 463,532 502,316 464,880 2,358,673 2,223,528 6.1

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 405,932 404,330 408,012 0.4 -0.9 -0.7 421,138 407,427 432,390 407,411 2,040,710 1,932,028 5.6

 Excluding defense 2

.............................. 459,728 457,299 458,114 0.5 -0.2 -2.1 476,161 456,529 487,196 454,331 2,308,513 2,158,628 6.9

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 157,099 154,206 157,098 1.9 -1.8 -5.4 157,559 148,833 174,822 153,304 803,651 751,255 7.0

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 217,378 214,666 215,281 1.3 -0.3 -3.7 219,447 208,721 237,846 206,884 1,095,595 1,013,719 8.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 27,898 28,400 28,352 -1.8 0.2 0.6 28,646 29,245 30,335 25,466 146,632 121,073 21.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,729 11,176 11,437 -4.0 -2.3 3.0 10,996 11,589 12,502 12,131 59,578 58,347 2.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 15,261 15,336 15,055 -0.5 1.9 -0.4 15,644 15,777 15,867 11,625 77,345 54,547 41.8

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,908 1,888 1,860 1.1 1.5 -5.2 2,006 1,879 1,966 1,710 9,709 8,179 18.7

 Fabricated metal products........................ 27,962 27,954 28,415 0.0 -1.6 0.7 29,457 27,980 31,233 27,552 143,273 133,023 7.7

 Machinery............................................. 32,064 30,781 31,876 4.2 -3.4 -5.1 32,864 32,104 35,170 33,883 164,805 160,485 2.7

 Construction machinery....................... 3,652 3,962 3,718 -7.8 6.6 -13.8 3,374 4,122 3,612 3,620 21,038 20,364 3.3

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 2,120 1,426 1,085 48.7 31.4 -59.3 2,654 1,288 789 4,350 9,751 14,250 -31.6

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,160 3,174 3,382 -0.4 -6.2 9.6 3,015 3,299 4,123 2,828 15,744 14,851 6.0

 Photographic equipment...................... 720 730 675 -1.4 8.1 -5.1 721 694 726 696 3,525 3,333 5.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,392 3,310 3,358 2.5 -1.4 -2.8 3,835 3,495 3,690 3,426 16,374 15,767 3.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,408 2,388 2,407 0.8 -0.8 -2.2 2,403 2,207 2,560 2,031 11,929 10,446 14.2

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,939 3,350 4,653 17.6 -28.0 11.4 3,942 3,371 4,807 4,363 20,221 18,435 9.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,873 2,901 2,936 -1.0 -1.2 4.9 2,894 2,808 3,281 2,588 14,395 12,757 12.8

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 22,935 22,957 22,597 -0.1 1.6 -0.8 21,086 20,652 25,764 19,554 109,301 102,972 6.1

 Computers........................................ 1,330 1,236 1,296 7.6 -4.6 -5.6 1,104 1,096 1,294 1,257 5,791 6,426 -9.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,183 3,250 3,461 -2.1 -6.1 4.5 2,790 2,863 3,643 2,139 15,119 11,937 26.7

 Defense communications equipment...... 461 312 378 47.8 -17.5 18.9 341 234 654 287 1,808 2,120 -14.7

 Electronic components......................... 3,687 3,558 3,610 3.6 -1.4 -0.8 3,609 3,340 3,848 3,597 17,749 17,996 -1.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,700 1,926 1,751 -11.7 10.0 14.6 1,734 1,958 1,834 1,361 8,533 6,494 31.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,963 3,101 2,922 -4.5 6.1 -6.3 2,629 2,807 3,497 2,608 15,115 14,277 5.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,153 7,175 6,787 -0.3 5.7 -4.4 6,790 6,580 8,001 6,465 34,722 34,568 0.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,314 10,062 10,065 2.5 0.0 2.6 10,569 9,533 10,797 10,043 50,246 48,763 3.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 922 914 925 0.9 -1.2 8.4 932 906 963 952 4,483 4,658 -3.8

 Household appliances.......................... 1,612 1,580 1,604 2.0 -1.5 7.9 1,744 1,584 1,749 1,552 7,861 7,537 4.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,170 3,202 3,074 -1.0 4.2 1.3 3,281 3,110 3,402 3,170 15,922 15,469 2.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 63,106 61,422 60,909 2.7 0.8 -10.5 62,211 56,105 69,926 57,469 317,963 291,500 9.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,509 18,268 18,440 1.3 -0.9 2.0 19,678 18,538 20,053 18,233 94,669 89,493 5.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 9,356 8,918 8,908 4.9 0.1 -46.6 8,122 5,416 10,404 9,299 53,936 41,587 29.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 3,998 3,740 5,855 6.9 -36.1 19.5 3,232 3,107 7,611 4,923 22,918 25,481 -10.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,065 987 923 7.9 6.9 -45.8 714 1,120 1,249 1,835 7,627 15,192 -49.8

 Furniture and related products................. 5,255 5,295 5,372 -0.8 -1.4 0.4 5,607 5,432 5,967 5,421 27,628 26,725 3.4

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 251,660 251,086 253,640 0.2 -1.0 -0.7 263,902 254,811 264,470 257,996 1,263,078 1,209,809 4.4

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 Groups 1

[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

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

2012p 2012r 2012 May Apr. Mar. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 984,397 984,750 986,186 0.0 -0.1 0.0 992,110 996,978 1,000,818 916,795 8.2

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 420,954 419,318 418,108 0.4 0.3 0.3 427,131 427,009 425,220 391,069 9.2

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 798,263 797,049 796,834 0.2 0.0 0.1 804,439 805,515 806,850 723,610 11.2

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 984,397 984,750 986,186 0.0 -0.1 0.0 992,110 996,978 1,000,818 916,795 8.2

 Primary metals........................................ 34,731 35,315 35,398 -1.7 -0.2 -0.1 35,187 36,859 37,061 34,821 1.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 19,022 19,760 19,987 -3.7 -1.1 0.0 19,408 20,908 21,263 20,575 -5.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 12,128 12,022 11,884 0.9 1.2 -0.2 12,155 12,347 12,192 11,169 8.8

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 3,581 3,533 3,527 1.4 0.2 -0.3 3,624 3,604 3,606 3,077 17.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 81,723 81,367 80,968 0.4 0.5 1.1 84,082 83,386 82,750 77,395 8.6

 Machinery.............................................. 139,748 139,197 139,959 0.4 -0.5 -0.5 141,788 141,209 141,197 121,811 16.4

 Construction machinery....................... 27,177 27,553 27,834 -1.4 -1.0 -1.3 27,956 28,606 28,716 24,530 14.0

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 19,564 19,619 20,300 -0.3 -3.4 -4.7 19,821 19,318 19,981 18,516 7.0

 Industrial machinery............................ 9,051 9,058 9,047 -0.1 0.1 3.8 9,154 9,328 9,074 9,533 -4.0

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,849 2,786 2,680 2.3 4.0 0.3 2,873 2,793 2,645 2,625 9.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 9,647 9,453 9,316 2.1 1.5 1.7 10,143 9,785 9,346 8,902 13.9

 Metalworking machinery....................... 7,707 7,713 7,747 -0.1 -0.4 0.7 7,808 7,876 7,922 6,616 18.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 29,218 28,907 28,955 1.1 -0.2 0.7 29,191 28,963 29,056 20,751 40.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,320 8,281 8,147 0.5 1.6 2.1 8,461 8,477 8,282 7,733 9.4

 Computers and electronic products 2......... 135,814 134,711 133,195 0.8 1.1 0.8 136,401 136,323 135,073 130,485 4.5

 Computers......................................... 1,180 1,126 1,129 4.8 -0.3 4.1 1,180 1,126 1,129 1,187 -0.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 27,967 27,528 26,960 1.6 2.1 3.0 27,938 27,723 27,147 24,057 16.1

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,325 5,416 5,481 -1.7 -1.2 -0.2 5,326 5,551 5,664 6,647 -19.9

 Electronic components.......................... 13,433 13,313 13,301 0.9 0.1 0.1 13,430 13,354 13,309 13,088 2.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 12,081 11,668 11,015 3.5 5.9 3.9 12,203 11,804 10,994 9,341 30.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 46,368 46,248 46,012 0.3 0.5 0.2 46,652 46,959 46,902 46,596 0.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 29,460 29,412 29,297 0.2 0.4 -0.8 29,672 29,806 29,928 29,569 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 21,844 21,561 21,417 1.3 0.7 0.2 21,976 21,668 21,834 18,833 16.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,079 1,065 1,053 1.3 1.1 0.8 1,059 1,033 997 1,042 1.6

 Household appliances.......................... 727 700 688 3.9 1.7 6.8 750 713 743 656 14.3

 Electrical equipment............................. 10,027 10,011 9,915 0.2 1.0 -0.6 10,136 10,092 9,903 9,258 9.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 563,443 565,432 568,078 -0.4 -0.5 -0.2 564,979 569,969 575,598 525,726 7.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,607 16,658 16,754 -0.3 -0.6 0.3 16,606 16,987 17,139 16,429 1.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 394,983 395,291 395,820 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 395,422 396,790 399,681 348,556 13.4

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 59,456 60,120 60,536 -1.1 -0.7 1.3 60,248 61,561 62,211 59,205 1.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 17,932 19,073 20,251 -6.0 -5.8 -6.1 18,223 19,869 20,987 25,828 -29.4

 Furniture and related products................. 6,229 6,300 6,356 -1.1 -0.9 0.4 6,832 6,697 6,490 6,887 -0.8

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups 1

[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

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

2012p 2012r 2012 May Apr. Mar. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

 All manufacturing industries..................... 604,515 605,878 607,190 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 610,397 610,568 606,737 590,383 3.4

 Excluding transportation...................... 496,354 499,203 500,532 -0.6 -0.3 0.0 500,940 503,149 500,312 490,637 2.1

 Excluding defense............................. 578,852 580,337 581,950 -0.3 -0.3 0.2 584,698 584,919 581,380 563,729 3.7

 With unfilled orders............................. 296,591 294,990 294,235 0.5 0.3 0.2 300,266 297,168 292,856 282,201 6.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 365,608 363,968 362,921 0.5 0.3 0.4 369,781 366,275 361,474 349,320 5.9

 Wood products........................................ 8,748 8,769 8,733 -0.2 0.4 -0.5 8,599 8,672 8,855 8,505 1.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,573 11,619 11,603 -0.4 0.1 0.7 11,834 11,918 11,859 11,188 5.8

 Primary metals......................................... 34,289 34,511 35,060 -0.6 -1.6 -1.3 35,021 35,029 34,763 34,878 0.4

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 20,179 20,473 20,987 -1.4 -2.4 -2.0 20,808 20,863 20,690 20,788 0.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,992 11,931 11,985 0.5 -0.5 -0.3 12,079 12,016 11,954 12,132 -0.4

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,118 2,107 2,088 0.5 0.9 1.1 2,134 2,150 2,119 1,958 9.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 46,074 45,894 45,717 0.4 0.4 0.3 46,387 46,091 45,555 44,807 3.5

 Machinery.............................................. 65,754 65,216 64,156 0.8 1.7 0.3 66,671 65,818 64,337 59,096 12.8

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,708 3,696 3,611 0.3 2.4 -1.0 3,791 3,807 3,876 3,286 15.4

 Construction machinery........................ 5,859 5,757 5,743 1.8 0.2 4.2 5,907 5,844 5,843 4,657 26.8

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,496 7,512 7,366 -0.2 2.0 0.8 7,709 7,625 7,363 6,508 18.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,265 7,299 7,291 -0.5 0.1 0.2 7,380 7,295 7,272 6,985 5.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,446 1,502 1,409 -3.7 6.6 0.9 1,428 1,473 1,343 1,387 3.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,110 4,001 3,956 2.7 1.1 -1.1 4,356 4,169 4,007 4,552 -4.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,361 5,329 5,408 0.6 -1.5 2.7 5,399 5,355 5,362 4,510 19.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 10,785 10,616 10,187 1.6 4.2 -3.0 10,946 10,710 9,942 9,584 14.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,277 4,215 4,076 1.5 3.4 1.5 4,306 4,207 4,028 3,631 18.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 45,948 46,234 46,119 -0.6 0.2 1.6 46,390 46,199 45,294 46,371 0.0

 Computers......................................... 1,218 1,273 1,304 -4.3 -2.4 4.2 1,251 1,200 1,260 1,279 -2.2

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,099 1,090 1,097 0.8 -0.6 1.9 1,140 1,086 1,034 1,084 5.2

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,777 1,786 1,741 -0.5 2.6 3.0 1,828 1,818 1,669 1,658 10.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,815 6,745 6,781 1.0 -0.5 -0.3 6,835 6,667 6,642 6,720 1.7

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,517 1,809 1,803 -16.1 0.3 0.8 1,517 1,809 1,803 2,286 -33.6

 Audio and video equipment.................. 603 607 592 -0.7 2.5 0.7 570 563 511 578 -1.4

 Electronic components.......................... 7,194 7,241 7,359 -0.6 -1.6 3.0 7,266 7,355 7,227 7,027 3.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,338 3,328 3,376 0.3 -1.4 -0.2 3,362 3,353 3,369 3,195 5.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,878 2,810 2,779 2.4 1.1 2.4 2,954 2,873 2,803 3,037 -2.7

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 11,648 11,669 11,629 -0.2 0.3 -0.4 11,834 11,728 11,418 12,042 -1.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,427 15,415 15,365 0.1 0.3 -0.3 15,657 15,616 15,335 15,281 2.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,721 1,719 1,702 0.1 1.0 0.1 1,783 1,759 1,687 1,688 5.6

 Household appliances.......................... 1,668 1,689 1,725 -1.2 -2.1 0.5 1,662 1,699 1,695 1,838 -9.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,737 4,726 4,680 0.2 1.0 1.1 4,773 4,749 4,621 4,677 2.1

 Batteries............................................ 1,041 1,048 1,045 -0.7 0.3 -0.8 1,070 1,073 1,054 1,058 1.1

 Transportation equipment......................... 108,161 106,675 106,658 1.4 0.0 0.4 109,457 107,419 106,425 99,746 9.7

 Automobiles....................................... 2,605 2,587 2,796 0.7 -7.5 6.8 2,673 2,623 2,679 2,498 7.0

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 2,610 2,541 2,422 2.7 4.9 -3.1 2,710 2,574 2,398 2,369 14.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,876 1,851 1,962 1.4 -5.7 -1.5 1,904 1,787 1,921 2,257 -15.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 17,389 17,280 17,450 0.6 -1.0 0.2 17,463 17,424 17,492 16,532 5.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 57,728 56,747 56,540 1.7 0.4 1.1 58,716 57,267 56,487 50,531 16.2

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 13,227 13,023 12,838 1.6 1.4 -3.7 13,228 12,993 12,745 13,175 0.4

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,963 2,906 2,798 2.0 3.9 0.0 2,918 2,945 2,888 2,692 8.4

 Furniture and related products................. 6,100 6,070 5,949 0.5 2.0 0.0 6,188 6,011 5,812 6,145 0.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 23,534 23,565 23,561 -0.1 0.0 1.3 23,577 23,502 23,239 23,303 1.2

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 238,907 241,910 244,269 -1.2 -1.0 -0.3 240,616 244,293 245,263 241,063 -0.2

 Food products........................................ 44,879 44,998 45,252 -0.3 -0.6 0.3 43,541 43,875 44,197 42,899 1.5

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 4,999 5,189 5,262 -3.7 -1.4 1.5 4,758 5,142 5,249 5,189 -8.3

 Dairy products.................................... 5,922 5,898 5,967 0.4 -1.2 -0.5 6,123 6,036 5,924 5,918 3.5

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 7,629 7,563 7,629 0.9 -0.9 -0.3 7,538 7,475 7,546 7,428 1.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 18,358 18,368 18,167 -0.1 1.1 1.4 18,183 18,599 18,467 17,284 5.2

 Beverages......................................... 14,668 14,659 14,480 0.1 1.2 1.7 14,584 14,873 14,680 13,657 6.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,690 3,709 3,687 -0.5 0.6 -0.2 3,599 3,726 3,787 3,627 -0.8

 Textile mills............................................ 3,430 3,455 3,488 -0.7 -0.9 -0.3 3,464 3,471 3,458 3,490 -0.7

 Textile products...................................... 3,191 3,194 3,225 -0.1 -1.0 0.1 3,225 3,208 3,201 3,225 0.0

 Apparel................................................. 2,263 2,262 2,252 0.0 0.4 -0.3 2,227 2,168 2,155 1,981 12.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 823 812 802 1.4 1.2 -0.1 826 794 783 794 4.0

 Paper products....................................... 14,254 14,264 14,255 -0.1 0.1 0.2 14,265 14,328 14,327 14,313 -0.3

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,301 6,287 6,264 0.2 0.4 -0.3 6,312 6,310 6,320 6,342 -0.5

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,035 4,055 4,073 -0.5 -0.4 0.7 4,051 4,096 4,110 4,005 1.1

 Printing.................................................. 5,262 5,314 5,343 -1.0 -0.5 -0.7 5,225 5,390 5,371 5,445 -4.0

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 51,935 54,257 55,925 -4.3 -3.0 -2.2 54,152 56,713 57,293 55,503 -2.4

 Petroleum refineries............................. 47,829 50,193 51,833 -4.7 -3.2 -2.2 50,022 52,681 53,300 51,886 -3.6

 Chemical products..................................... 72,739 73,257 73,806 -0.7 -0.7 -0.2 73,461 73,706 74,072 75,154 -2.3

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 3,759 3,736 3,886 0.6 -3.9 -5.7 3,648 3,786 4,374 3,796 -3.9

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 23,779 23,945 24,165 -0.7 -0.9 -1.1 24,068 24,021 24,037 25,510 -5.7

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,894 2,904 2,859 -0.3 1.6 -2.6 2,962 2,982 2,938 3,068 -3.5

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 21,773 21,729 21,754 0.2 -0.1 1.1 22,047 22,041 21,939 20,975 5.1

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

1

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

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

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

2 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 Series 1, 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

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2012/

2012p 2012r 2012 May Apr. Mar. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 2012p 2011 2011

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 475,955 473,660 474,690 0.5 -0.2 0.1 494,259 475,728 503,185 465,615 2,364,751 2,215,766 6.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,273 41,261 41,323 0.0 -0.2 1.4 44,067 41,275 41,492 40,777 199,252 184,427 8.0

 Information technology......................... 22,340 21,891 22,010 2.1 -0.5 -0.8 21,618 20,048 24,704 21,278 105,809 105,228 0.6

 Computers and related products .......... 2,942 2,865 2,877 2.7 -0.4 -6.3 2,440 2,217 3,490 2,524 12,835 12,902 -0.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 44,363 44,169 41,622 0.4 6.1 1.9 46,588 43,506 45,946 38,127 216,225 190,049 13.8

 Capital goods...................................... 78,379 77,254 78,410 1.5 -1.5 2.0 78,520 74,360 87,536 72,549 380,488 353,334 7.7

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 69,944 69,507 69,901 0.6 -0.6 1.3 69,911 66,939 77,978 63,468 339,959 307,115 10.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,715 63,312 64,293 0.6 -1.5 1.8 63,656 61,449 71,110 59,444 311,662 287,543 8.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,435 7,747 8,509 8.9 -9.0 8.8 8,609 7,421 9,558 9,081 40,529 46,219 -12.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 204,876 204,291 203,690 0.3 0.3 -0.7 213,164 204,856 212,864 202,036 1,018,153 959,949 6.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,911 36,142 33,740 -0.6 7.1 1.7 37,002 35,385 37,589 30,232 173,480 153,381 13.1

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 168,965 168,149 169,950 0.5 -1.1 -1.1 176,162 169,471 175,275 171,804 844,673 806,568 4.7

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 469,038 465,752 468,921 0.7 -0.7 -2.1 483,349 463,532 502,316 464,880 2,358,673 2,223,528 6.1

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,566 41,207 41,280 0.9 -0.2 0.2 44,910 41,815 42,494 41,507 203,128 190,202 6.8

 Information technology......................... 23,612 23,525 23,149 0.4 1.6 -0.7 21,901 21,040 26,388 20,133 112,640 105,171 7.1

 Computers and related products .......... 2,996 2,862 2,921 4.7 -2.0 -3.9 2,494 2,214 3,534 2,533 12,859 12,825 0.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 44,312 44,073 41,677 0.5 5.7 1.8 46,207 43,354 45,739 37,955 215,713 189,935 13.6

 Capital goods...................................... 77,571 75,827 78,481 2.3 -3.4 -10.7 74,530 70,359 90,089 77,411 402,594 384,717 4.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 70,666 69,417 70,030 1.8 -0.9 -12.2 69,354 65,065 78,093 69,158 363,980 330,960 10.0

 Excluding aircraft............................. 65,363 64,011 64,967 2.1 -1.5 -2.3 64,989 62,476 72,129 62,973 327,066 306,081 6.9

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 6,905 6,410 8,451 7.7 -24.2 4.0 5,176 5,294 11,996 8,253 38,614 53,757 -28.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 204,885 204,331 203,613 0.3 0.4 -0.7 213,112 204,849 212,840 201,864 1,018,506 960,332 6.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,920 36,182 33,663 -0.7 7.5 1.6 36,950 35,378 37,565 30,060 173,833 153,764 13.1

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 168,965 168,149 169,950 0.5 -1.1 -1.1 176,162 169,471 175,275 171,804 844,673 806,568 4.7

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 984,397 984,750 986,186 0.0 -0.1 0.0 992,110 996,978 1,000,818 916,795 (X) (X) 8.2

 Construction materials and supplies...... 55,886 55,593 55,647 0.5 -0.1 -0.1 57,673 56,830 56,290 56,618 (X) (X) 1.9

 Information technology......................... 135,241 133,969 132,335 0.9 1.2 0.9 135,875 135,592 134,600 127,899 (X) (X) 6.2

 Computers and related products .......... 1,180 1,126 1,129 4.8 -0.3 4.1 1,180 1,126 1,129 1,187 (X) (X) -0.6

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 16,607 16,658 16,754 -0.3 -0.6 0.3 16,606 16,987 17,139 16,429 (X) (X) 1.1

 Capital goods...................................... 746,965 747,773 749,200 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 751,552 755,542 759,543 685,598 (X) (X) 9.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................584,717 583,995 584,085 0.1 0.0 0.0 588,136 588,693 590,567 516,530 (X) (X) 13.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 245,549 243,901 243,202 0.7 0.3 0.3 248,811 247,478 246,451 219,648 (X) (X) 13.3

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 162,248 163,778 165,115 -0.9 -0.8 0.0 163,416 166,849 168,976 169,068 (X) (X) -3.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 3,879 3,870 3,830 0.2 1.0 -2.0 4,100 4,152 4,159 4,020 (X) (X) 2.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 3,879 3,870 3,830 0.2 1.0 -2.0 4,100 4,152 4,159 4,020 (X) (X) 2.0 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 604,515 605,878 607,190 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 610,397 610,568 606,737 590,383 (X) (X) 3.4

 Construction materials and supplies...... 58,865 58,702 58,510 0.3 0.3 -0.1 59,485 59,214 58,737 58,328 (X) (X) 2.0

 Information technology......................... 38,940 39,194 39,052 -0.6 0.4 0.1 39,435 39,247 38,441 39,662 (X) (X) -0.6

 Computers and related products .......... 4,094 4,149 4,142 -1.3 0.2 3.1 4,219 4,104 3,963 4,021 (X) (X) 4.9

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 24,480 24,259 24,630 0.9 -1.5 0.4 24,750 24,408 24,490 23,656 (X) (X) 4.6

 Capital goods...................................... 188,288 186,809 185,340 0.8 0.8 0.4 190,776 188,032 184,773 175,794 (X) (X) 8.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................167,432 166,102 164,971 0.8 0.7 0.7 169,885 167,187 164,194 154,288 (X) (X) 10.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 119,203 118,662 117,774 0.5 0.8 0.5 120,760 119,209 116,947 112,090 (X) (X) 7.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 20,856 20,707 20,369 0.7 1.7 -1.7 20,891 20,845 20,579 21,506 (X) (X) -2.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 178,307 180,878 182,763 -1.4 -1.0 -0.4 179,198 182,229 182,719 179,720 (X) (X) -0.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,995 24,945 24,910 0.2 0.1 1.0 24,960 24,763 24,448 24,153 (X) (X) 3.3

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 153,312 155,933 157,853 -1.7 -1.2 -0.7 154,238 157,466 158,271 155,567 (X) (X) -0.9

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

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

2012p 2012r 2012 May Apr. Mar. 2012p 2012r 2012 2011 12/11

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 200,925 202,509 201,435 -0.8 0.5 0.6 201,840 203,630 201,520 193,776 4.2

 Durable goods industries........................ 119,921 119,583 119,313 0.3 0.2 0.6 120,078 119,612 118,468 112,776 6.5

 Wood products................................... 3,504 3,451 3,436 1.5 0.4 -1.3 3,240 3,226 3,383 3,107 4.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,742 4,785 4,806 -0.9 -0.4 1.2 4,771 4,816 4,833 4,427 7.8

 Primary metals.................................... 12,785 13,039 13,455 -1.9 -3.1 -1.9 12,770 12,994 13,229 13,069 -2.3

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,947 16,925 16,829 0.1 0.6 1.0 16,890 16,871 16,661 16,277 3.8

 Machinery.......................................... 25,525 25,221 24,896 1.2 1.3 0.3 25,678 25,335 24,771 22,402 14.6

 Computers and electronic products...... 17,480 17,454 17,356 0.1 0.6 2.8 17,581 17,517 17,129 16,649 5.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 6,881 6,830 6,759 0.7 1.1 -0.6 6,995 6,908 6,807 6,568 6.5

 Transportation equipment.................. 21,206 21,073 21,018 0.6 0.3 1.6 21,242 21,163 20,965 19,783 7.4

 Furniture and related products............ 2,922 2,916 2,852 0.2 2.2 0.1 2,946 2,908 2,826 2,918 1.0

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,929 7,889 7,906 0.5 -0.2 0.3 7,965 7,874 7,864 7,576 5.1

 Nondurable goods industries................. 81,004 82,926 82,122 -2.3 1.0 0.6 81,762 84,018 83,052 81,000 0.9

 Food products................................... 14,632 14,564 14,622 0.5 -0.4 0.1 14,354 14,424 14,554 14,366 -0.1

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,912 4,899 4,808 0.3 1.9 2.2 4,889 4,990 4,946 4,466 9.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,214 1,223 1,235 -0.7 -1.0 -1.6 1,237 1,232 1,223 1,296 -4.6

 Textile products.................................. 1,527 1,532 1,526 -0.3 0.4 0.7 1,540 1,536 1,501 1,432 7.5

 Apparel............................................. 724 716 705 1.1 1.6 0.9 723 712 697 585 23.6

 Leather and allied products................ 265 264 261 0.4 1.1 -1.1 270 261 252 273 -1.1

 Paper products................................... 7,047 7,062 7,049 -0.2 0.2 0.2 6,984 7,069 7,115 6,892 1.3

 Printing ............................................ 2,455 2,471 2,574 -0.6 -4.0 -1.2 2,434 2,457 2,594 2,651 -8.2

 Petroleum and coal products............... 16,340 18,080 17,523 -9.6 3.2 0.2 17,191 18,990 18,227 17,414 -1.3

 Chemical products............................. 23,032 23,240 23,176 -0.9 0.3 1.3 23,192 23,356 23,271 23,073 0.5

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,856 8,875 8,643 -0.2 2.7 0.8 8,948 8,991 8,672 8,552 4.6

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 186,656 185,631 187,449 0.6 -1.0 -0.3 188,573 187,221 187,407 181,453 3.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 140,673 140,459 140,301 0.2 0.1 0.1 142,685 141,636 139,470 135,026 5.7

 Wood products................................... 1,470 1,510 1,468 -2.6 2.9 -0.9 1,490 1,531 1,491 1,477 0.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,330 1,331 1,310 -0.1 1.6 0.4 1,388 1,392 1,355 1,326 4.7

 Primary metals.................................... 11,104 11,215 11,348 -1.0 -1.2 -1.2 11,535 11,534 11,180 11,443 0.8

 Fabricated metal products.................. 13,479 13,440 13,372 0.3 0.5 0.1 13,573 13,437 13,188 12,321 10.2

 Machinery.......................................... 16,650 16,748 16,455 -0.6 1.8 0.1 16,996 16,827 16,308 16,255 4.6

 Computers and electronic products...... 15,860 16,439 16,716 -3.5 -1.7 1.2 16,025 16,526 16,455 17,754 -9.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,559 3,545 3,555 0.4 -0.3 -0.4 3,631 3,616 3,527 3,519 3.2

 Transportation equipment.................. 72,920 71,900 71,792 1.4 0.2 0.0 73,699 72,433 71,727 66,762 10.4

 Furniture and related products............ 1,048 1,030 1,022 1.7 0.8 2.0 1,056 1,027 1,012 1,009 4.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,253 3,301 3,263 -1.5 1.2 2.0 3,292 3,313 3,227 3,160 4.2

 Nondurable goods industries................. 45,983 45,172 47,148 1.8 -4.2 -1.6 45,888 45,585 47,937 46,427 -1.2

 Food products................................... 4,067 3,970 3,922 2.4 1.2 2.4 3,536 3,557 3,742 3,278 7.9

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,863 5,906 5,887 -0.7 0.3 0.7 5,708 5,897 5,995 5,623 1.5

 Textiles.............................................. 770 778 785 -1.0 -0.9 -0.1 781 778 773 796 -1.9

 Textile products.................................. 421 412 430 2.2 -4.2 -0.9 426 417 435 458 -7.0

 Apparel............................................. 371 369 374 0.5 -1.3 3.0 380 368 359 363 4.7

 Leather and allied products................ 123 121 120 1.7 0.8 0.0 122 120 120 110 10.9

 Paper products................................... 1,303 1,298 1,311 0.4 -1.0 -1.4 1,299 1,294 1,301 1,310 -0.8

 Printing ............................................ 1,202 1,216 1,198 -1.2 1.5 -1.6 1,136 1,248 1,210 1,228 -7.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... 14,327 13,598 15,213 5.4 -10.6 -4.6 14,732 14,387 16,112 15,214 -3.2

 Chemical products............................. 15,228 15,272 15,686 -0.3 -2.6 -1.1 15,452 15,255 15,625 15,902 -2.8

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,308 2,232 2,222 3.4 0.5 1.2 2,316 2,264 2,265 2,145 8.0

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 216,934 217,738 218,306 -0.4 -0.3 -0.1 219,984 219,717 217,810 215,154 2.2

 Durable goods industries........................ 105,014 103,926 103,307 1.0 0.6 0.3 107,018 105,027 103,536 101,518 5.4

 Wood products................................... 3,774 3,808 3,829 -0.9 -0.5 0.3 3,869 3,915 3,981 3,921 -1.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,501 5,503 5,487 0.0 0.3 0.3 5,675 5,710 5,671 5,435 4.4

 Primary metals.................................... 10,400 10,257 10,257 1.4 0.0 -0.5 10,716 10,501 10,354 10,366 3.4

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,648 15,529 15,516 0.8 0.1 -0.3 15,924 15,783 15,706 16,209 -1.8

 Machinery.......................................... 23,579 23,247 22,805 1.4 1.9 0.5 23,997 23,656 23,258 20,439 17.4

 Computers and electronic products...... 12,608 12,341 12,047 2.2 2.4 0.6 12,784 12,156 11,710 11,968 6.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,987 5,040 5,051 -1.1 -0.2 0.3 5,031 5,092 5,001 5,194 -3.1

 Transportation equipment.................. 14,035 13,702 13,848 2.4 -1.1 0.4 14,516 13,823 13,733 13,201 10.0

 Furniture and related products............ 2,130 2,124 2,075 0.3 2.4 -1.1 2,186 2,076 1,974 2,218 -1.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 12,352 12,375 12,392 -0.2 -0.1 1.8 12,320 12,315 12,148 12,567 -2.0

 Nondurable goods industries................. 111,920 113,812 114,999 -1.7 -1.0 -0.4 112,966 114,690 114,274 113,636 -0.6

 Food products................................... 26,180 26,464 26,708 -1.1 -0.9 0.2 25,651 25,894 25,901 25,255 1.6

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 7,583 7,563 7,472 0.3 1.2 1.3 7,586 7,712 7,526 7,195 5.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,446 1,454 1,468 -0.6 -1.0 0.8 1,446 1,461 1,462 1,398 3.4

 Textile products.................................. 1,243 1,250 1,269 -0.6 -1.5 -0.3 1,259 1,255 1,265 1,335 -5.7

 Apparel............................................. 1,168 1,177 1,173 -0.8 0.3 -2.0 1,124 1,088 1,099 1,033 8.8

 Leather and allied products................ 435 427 421 1.9 1.4 0.5 434 413 411 411 5.6

 Paper products................................... 5,904 5,904 5,895 0.0 0.2 0.6 5,982 5,965 5,911 6,111 -2.1

 Printing ............................................ 1,605 1,627 1,571 -1.4 3.6 0.8 1,655 1,685 1,567 1,566 5.7

 Petroleum and coal products............... 21,268 22,579 23,189 -5.8 -2.6 -2.3 22,229 23,336 22,954 22,875 -2.8

 Chemical products............................. 34,479 34,745 34,944 -0.8 -0.6 -0.8 34,817 35,095 35,176 36,179 -3.8

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,609 10,622 10,889 -0.1 -2.5 1.3 10,783 10,786 11,002 10,278 4.9

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

1

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

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

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

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
 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 May Apr Mar Feb May Apr Mar Feb

2012p 2012r 2012 2012 2012p 2012r 2012 2012

All manufacturing industries2

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

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.63 1.64 1.64 1.65 6.25 6.33 6.29 6.36

 Wood products.............................................. 1.42 1.45 1.45 1.49 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.42 1.44 1.45 1.44 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.20 1.21 1.24 1.23 1.22 1.24 1.25 1.22

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.67 1.67 1.66 1.65 3.07 3.06 3.05 3.01

 Machinery..................................................... 2.09 2.07 1.97 2.06 4.85 4.88 4.78 5.03

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.62 1.66 1.68 1.61 7.01 7.07 6.97 6.86

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.54 1.55 1.53 1.56 2.41 2.41 2.37 2.40

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.66 1.67 1.72 1.76 14.34 14.78 14.69 15.13

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.15 1.13 1.11 1.14 1.35 1.36 1.38 1.41

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.73 1.73 1.71 1.69 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.95 0.96 0.96 0.96 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.42 1.47 1.50 1.48 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.37 1.40 1.40 1.42 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.61 1.63 1.65 1.68 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.82 1.81 1.81 1.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 1.68 1.72 1.74 1.83 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.74 0.79 0.80 0.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.74 0.77 0.77 0.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.14 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.24 1.23 1.23 1.21 (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.

May2 May2 May2 May2

Industry 2011- 2011- 2011- 2011-

May1 Apr May1 Apr May1 Apr May1 Apr

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

 

All manufacturing industries.................. (X) 0.2 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.1

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

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

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

 Primary metals.................................... 0.0 0.9 -0.3 1.4 -0.8 0.7 -0.2 0.6

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 0.3 0.8 0.1 1.6 -0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.1

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.5 0.5 1.4 1.0 0.5 0.4 -0.2 0.4

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

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

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

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

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

 publication.

2

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

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

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

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 Changes 3

[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.