Manufacturers' Shipments,

 Inventories, and Orders: November 2003 Issued January 2004

 M3-1(03)-11

 For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. E.S.T., January 6, 2004 Current 

 Industrial

 Reports

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Dan Sansbury or Derrick Roy, Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders Branch, Manufacturing and 

Construction Divison (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900 or call 301-763-4832.

The advance report on durable goods for December is scheduled for January 28, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on February 4, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 20402 

Our Internet address is : http://www.census.gov/m3

Total Manufacturing Shipments

and Three Month Moving Average

300

320

340

360

380

Nov-01

Jan-02

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

Nov-03

300

320

340

360

380

 Shipments Average

Billions Of Dollars

Total Manufacturing Inventories

and Three Month Moving Average

420

440

460

480

500

Nov-01

Jan-02

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

Nov-03

420

440

460

480

500

 Inventories Average

Billions Of Dollars
 2

Figures in text, other than year-to-date, are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data

for semiconductor manufacturing.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in November

decreased $4.9 billion or 1.4 percent to $336.9 billion, the

Department of Commerce, Census Bureau reported today. 

This follows a 2.4 percent October increase. Year to date,

new orders for 2003 were 3.3 percent above the same

period a year ago.

Shipments increased $0.1 billion to $339.9 billion. 

This is the sixth increase in the last seven months and

follows a 0.7 percent October increase. Year to date,

shipments for 2003 were 2.2 percent above the same

period a year ago. 

Unfilled orders, up four consecutive months, increased

$3.3 billion or 0.7 percent to $503.6 billion. This

followed a 1.7 percent October increase. The unfilled

orders-to-shipments ratio was 4.05, unchanged from

October.

Inventories, down six of the last seven months,

decreased $0.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $437.9 billion,

following a 0.1 percent October increase. The

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.29, unchanged from

October.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in

November decreased $4.6 billion or 2.5 percent to $181.2

billion, revised from the previously published 3.1 percent

decrease.

Computers and electronic products had the largest

decrease, $3.6 billion or 10.7 percent to $30.1 billion, due

to nondefense communications equipment, which

decreased $3.6 billion. This was the largest percent

decline in computers and electronic products since July

2000.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods

decreased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $155.7 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in

November, up six of the last seven months, increased $0.4

billion or 0.2 percent to $184.2 billion, revised from the

previously published 0.1 percent increase.

Transportation equipment had the largest increase,

$0.8 billion or 1.6 percent to $53.2 billion.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods

decreased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $155.7 billion. 

Basic chemicals had the largest decrease, $0.3 billion or

0.8 percent to $39.4 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods in

November, up four consecutive months, increased $3.3

billion or 0.7 percent to $503.6 billion, revised from the

previously published 0.4 percent increase.

Machinery had the largest increase, $0.9 billion or

2.1 percent to $42.5 billion, due to construction

machinery, which increased $0.4 billion. This is the

fourth consecutive monthly increase in machinery.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in

November, down thirty-two of the last thirty-four

months, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $261.7

billion, revised from the previously published 0.1

percent decrease.

Transportation equipment had the largest decrease,

$0.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $67.0 billion, due to

nondefense aircraft and parts, which decreased $0.6

billion. This is the fifth monthly decrease in

transportation equipment in the last six months. 

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down

three consecutive months, decreased $0.1 billion or 0.1

percent to $176.2 billion. Petroleum and coal products

had the largest decrease, $1.0 billion or 6.3 percent to

$14.6 billion.

By stage of fabrication, November materials and

supplies decreased 0.6 percent in durable goods and

increased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in

process decreased 0.3 percent in durable goods and

increased 1.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished

goods increased 0.2 percent in durable goods and

decreased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods. 

SEE BACK PAGE FOR SURVEY DESCRIPTION

Our internet address is: http://www.census.gov/m3

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Dan Sansbury or Derrick Roy, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch,

Manufacturing and Construction Division (MCD), Washington, DC 20233-6900, or call 301-763-4832.

The advance report on durable goods for December is scheduled for January 28, 2004 at 8:30 A.M. EST and the full report on February 4, 2004

at 10:00 A.M. EST. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. 
 3 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

 All manufacturing industries .................. 339,899 339,825 337,598 0.0 0.7 1.8 332,634 356,009 357,911 322,601 3,652,368 3,575,193 2.2

 Excluding transportation ................... 286,666 287,433 284,532 -0.3 1.0 1.0 280,464 298,468 300,909 271,206 3,084,342 2,996,749 2.9

 Excluding defense .............................. 331,102 330,758 328,175 0.1 0.8 1.8 323,512 347,039 347,684 313,813 3,555,156 3,489,433 1.9

 With unfilled orders ........................... 124,253 123,619 123,057 0.5 0.5 2.8 121,485 127,694 132,609 119,872 1,326,996 1,346,320 -1.4

 Durable goods industries ........................ 184,158 183,740 182,379 0.2 0.7 2.9 179,477 192,632 197,413 174,969 1,961,783 1,960,276 0.1

 Wood products................................. ...... 8,556 8,518 8,308 0.4 2.5 4.8 8,051 9,060 8,865 7,046 85,596 81,091 5.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 7,492 7,631 7,503 -1.8 1.7 2.6 7,056 8,475 8,049 6,888 81,598 82,092 -0.6

 Primary metals............................ .......... 10,980 10,968 10,782 0.1 1.7 1.9 10,350 11,636 11,041 10,744 121,009 126,208 -4.1

 Iron and steel mills............................ 4,897 4,841 4,788 1.2 1.1 1.2 4,536 5,084 4,899 4,927 54,742 57,401 -4.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,798 4,839 4,715 -0.8 2.6 2.0 4,612 5,146 4,804 4,592 52,046 53,930 -3.5

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,285 1,288 1,279 -0.2 0.7 4.7 1,202 1,406 1,338 1,225 14,221 14,877 -4.4

 Fabricated metal products...................... 20,403 20,532 20,424 -0.6 0.5 2.2 19,740 22,013 21,388 20,457 225,896 233,093 -3.1

 Machinery............................................. 21,270 21,492 21,375 -1.0 0.5 1.5 19,812 21,515 22,088 19,926 230,993 235,036 -1.7

 Farm machinery................................. 1,379 1,399 1,402 -1.4 -0.2 0.9 1,039 1,268 1,425 1,057 15,427 14,865 3.8

 Construction machinery..................... 1,927 1,947 1,811 -1.0 7.5 2.7 1,655 1,926 1,711 1,459 19,319 18,548 4.2

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 730 709 777 3.0 -8.8 10.2 696 648 815 581 7,710 6,951 10.9

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,713 2,861 2,979 -5.2 -4.0 -1.5 2,324 2,953 3,086 2,562 31,367 29,098 7.8

 Photographic equipment...................... 872 909 814 -4.1 11.7 -3.1 909 1,009 898 873 9,029 8,825 2.3

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,548 2,550 2,547 -0.1 0.1 0.4 2,394 2,435 2,685 2,321 27,747 28,293 -1.9

 Metalworking machinery..................... 1,431 1,496 1,529 -4.3 -2.2 -12.9 1,596 1,678 1,780 2,557 18,378 22,799 -19.4

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 2,750 2,682 2,579 2.5 4.0 0.1 2,675 2,655 2,803 2,349 29,149 34,783 -16.2

 Material handling equipment............... 1,404 1,405 1,364 -0.1 3.0 3.6 1,292 1,490 1,388 1,233 14,750 14,748 0.0

 Computers and electronic products ......... 36,421 36,529 35,614 -0.3 2.6 0.8 36,345 35,956 41,682 33,356 373,767 354,078 5.6

 Computers........................................ 5,489 5,731 5,120 -4.2 11.9 -1.8 4,925 6,443 6,063 3,686 52,955 44,910 17.9

 Computer storage devices................... 1,186 1,234 1,469 -3.9 -16.0 14.6 1,025 864 2,323 1,114 13,619 12,727 7.0

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,576 1,485 1,488 6.1 -0.2 0.4 1,564 1,305 1,931 1,502 15,818 15,226 3.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 6,217 6,297 6,125 -1.3 2.8 0.9 6,409 5,663 7,319 6,397 63,155 67,530 -6.5

 Defense communications equipment... 449 473 440 -5.1 7.5 -3.9 422 455 479 383 4,694 4,060 15.6

 Audio and video equipment.................. 724 738 687 -1.9 7.4 2.7 925 885 766 937 7,505 7,883 -4.8

 Semiconductors ................................. 6,316 6,270 5,611 0.7 11.7 -11.7 6,590 6,405 6,476 5,792 64,484 53,326 20.9

 Electronic components........................ 4,236 4,196 4,115 1.0 2.0 0.8 4,635 4,376 4,380 4,726 45,295 50,556 -10.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 779 842 860 -7.5 -2.1 5.0 756 804 996 782 9,127 9,223 -1.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,559 2,536 2,449 0.9 3.6 -1.7 2,614 2,474 2,549 2,234 26,462 23,258 13.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,366 6,191 6,738 2.8 -8.1 13.5 5,869 5,658 7,828 5,160 65,078 58,936 10.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,560 8,562 8,463 0.0 1.2 2.0 8,460 8,583 9,528 8,623 92,273 94,896 -2.8

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,061 1,051 1,058 1.0 -0.7 7.3 1,060 1,030 1,169 1,045 11,298 11,207 0.8

 Household appliances........................ 2,097 2,044 2,050 2.6 -0.3 0.9 2,040 2,016 2,236 1,983 21,567 20,830 3.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,463 2,546 2,465 -3.3 3.3 2.2 2,357 2,461 2,871 2,481 27,097 27,989 -3.2

 Batteries........................................... 499 480 469 4.0 2.3 -2.1 653 545 570 616 5,199 5,523 -5.9

 Transportation equipment...................... 53,233 52,392 53,066 1.6 -1.3 6.5 52,170 57,541 57,002 51,395 568,026 578,444 -1.8

 Automobiles..................................... 7,146 7,258 7,406 -1.5 -2.0 8.1 6,811 8,631 7,998 7,070 79,724 81,773 -2.5

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 11,142 11,194 11,289 -0.5 -0.8 10.5 10,494 13,180 12,257 10,022 118,330 118,582 -0.2

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,122 1,125 1,136 -0.3 -1.0 12.5 1,014 1,278 1,145 868 11,965 12,504 -4.3

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,165 18,258 18,228 -0.5 0.2 3.7 17,412 20,461 18,967 18,204 199,014 208,110 -4.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 5,867 5,486 5,637 6.9 -2.7 5.7 6,274 4,904 6,216 6,223 60,715 69,106 -12.1

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,017 3,380 3,515 -10.7 -3.8 3.0 3,265 3,375 3,858 3,470 35,711 31,915 11.9

 Ships and boats................................. 2,316 2,193 2,320 5.6 -5.5 7.6 2,386 2,291 2,456 2,150 23,732 19,912 19.2

 Furniture and related products................. 6,016 5,927 5,858 1.5 1.2 -0.7 5,974 6,255 6,105 5,663 64,194 64,355 -0.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 11,227 11,189 10,986 0.3 1.8 0.3 11,519 11,598 11,665 10,871 118,431 110,983 6.7

 Nondurable goods industries................... 155,741 156,085 155,219 -0.2 0.6 0.5 153,157 163,377 160,498 147,632 1,690,585 1,614,917 4.7

 Food products....................................... 39,207 39,147 39,241 0.2 -0.2 0.8 40,508 41,352 40,620 38,935 422,142 411,866 2.5

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 4,379 4,318 4,258 1.4 1.4 1.9 4,553 4,550 4,227 4,067 45,585 43,450 4.9

 Dairy products.................................. 5,725 5,820 5,741 -1.6 1.4 1.6 5,806 5,895 5,934 5,100 60,009 55,721 7.7

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 11,506 11,508 11,512 0.0 0.0 1.9 11,860 11,672 11,480 11,146 123,555 120,816 2.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 8,597 8,816 8,692 -2.5 1.4 -0.9 8,330 8,840 8,815 8,601 96,843 101,579 -4.7

 Beverages......................................... 5,713 5,754 5,702 -0.7 0.9 1.5 5,446 5,778 5,825 5,470 62,968 62,050 1.5

 Tobacco............................................ 2,884 3,062 2,990 -5.8 2.4 -5.1 2,884 3,062 2,990 3,131 33,875 39,529 -14.3

 Textile mills........................................... 3,337 3,364 3,270 -0.8 2.9 2.1 3,266 3,562 3,561 3,538 36,778 40,079 -8.2

 Textile products................................... 3,032 3,028 2,964 0.1 2.2 1.8 2,993 3,113 3,087 2,833 32,267 31,654 1.9

 Apparel................................................ 4,478 4,492 4,421 -0.3 1.6 3.7 4,609 5,176 4,796 4,645 48,947 49,894 -1.9

 Leather and allied products..................... 902 880 879 2.5 0.1 -4.8 973 925 881 1,022 9,981 9,461 5.5

 Paper products...................................... 13,204 13,266 13,137 -0.5 1.0 0.2 12,737 13,861 13,561 12,486 145,995 138,766 5.2

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 5,521 5,581 5,542 -1.1 0.7 -0.5 5,289 5,824 5,678 5,666 62,982 64,215 -1.9

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,545 3,559 3,565 -0.4 -0.2 -0.5 3,362 3,819 3,651 3,465 40,185 40,869 -1.7

 Printing................................................. 7,722 7,692 7,844 0.4 -1.9 0.3 8,181 8,340 8,264 8,689 86,868 89,543 -3.0

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 20,216 19,901 20,035 1.6 -0.7 -3.5 19,420 20,941 20,552 17,586 219,862 188,877 16.4

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 18,511 18,122 18,341 2.1 -1.2 -4.0 17,891 18,897 18,546 16,109 200,870 170,713 17.7

 Basic chemicals...................................... 39,397 39,731 39,160 -0.8 1.5 1.7 37,516 40,554 40,464 34,931 420,229 388,440 8.2

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,947 1,838 1,686 5.9 9.0 2.2 1,365 1,278 1,190 1,080 17,273 17,666 -2.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,820 9,946 9,758 -1.3 1.9 0.1 10,084 10,639 10,506 9,567 108,520 106,639 1.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,397 2,468 2,516 -2.9 -1.9 5.5 2,146 2,485 2,504 2,133 26,431 26,098 1.3

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 15,649 15,768 15,576 -0.8 1.2 2.1 14,624 16,713 15,897 14,366 170,673 164,758 3.6

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

 Shipments are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations.

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

Year to date
 4

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

All manufacturing industries 2................... 336,909 341,856 333,957 -1.4 2.4 1.4 329,290 356,785 349,573 312,600 3,602,128 3,486,973 3.3

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 283,001 287,232 282,623 -1.5 1.6 1.6 276,882 298,300 295,144 262,527 3,034,500 2,919,325 3.9

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 326,377 330,563 324,874 -1.3 1.8 2.3 319,010 346,566 340,889 305,459 3,497,452 3,403,129 2.8

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 127,579 131,920 125,027 -3.3 5.5 1.0 124,731 134,875 130,747 115,663 1,341,240 1,311,426 2.3

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 181,168 185,771 178,738 -2.5 3.9 2.2 176,133 193,408 189,075 164,968 1,911,543 1,872,056 2.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 11,649 11,948 10,885 -2.5 9.8 -1.0 10,977 12,200 10,729 10,078 122,072 124,383 -1.9

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 5,510 5,734 4,834 -3.9 18.6 -6.5 5,122 5,619 4,667 4,462 55,906 57,397 -2.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,843 4,871 4,701 -0.6 3.6 1.8 4,645 5,083 4,705 4,394 51,815 52,351 -1.0

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,296 1,343 1,350 -3.5 -0.5 11.3 1,210 1,498 1,357 1,222 14,351 14,635 -1.9

 Fabricated metal products...................... 20,975 21,191 20,755 -1.0 2.1 1.1 20,356 22,338 21,392 19,938 226,782 231,116 -1.9

 Machinery............................................. 22,158 21,705 21,411 2.1 1.4 1.5 20,723 21,779 21,767 19,107 230,666 225,021 2.5

 Construction machinery....................... 2,283 1,947 1,871 17.3 4.1 4.2 2,052 1,964 1,664 1,479 19,818 18,320 8.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 843 751 768 12.3 -2.2 -16.3 809 690 806 573 7,929 6,900 14.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,706 2,798 3,110 -3.3 -10.0 7.8 2,311 3,139 2,915 2,358 31,428 29,412 6.9

 Photographic equipment...................... 891 918 849 -2.9 8.1 -0.1 937 1,016 920 886 9,292 8,914 4.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,535 2,599 2,582 -2.5 0.7 -4.9 2,370 2,423 2,587 2,257 28,160 28,131 0.1

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,534 1,593 1,618 -3.7 -1.5 -7.0 1,763 1,836 1,825 2,571 18,723 22,739 -17.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,048 2,632 2,399 15.8 9.7 -1.6 3,011 2,552 2,594 1,831 26,805 25,212 6.3

 Material handling equipment............... 1,362 1,395 1,445 -2.4 -3.5 21.0 1,200 1,416 1,668 1,177 14,435 14,378 0.4

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 30,082 33,685 32,878 -10.7 2.5 7.2 30,035 33,673 36,582 26,826 319,901 291,379 9.8

 Computers........................................ 5,426 5,490 5,322 -1.2 3.2 -3.8 5,240 6,171 6,073 4,091 53,710 45,171 18.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 5,232 8,876 7,635 -41.1 16.3 15.6 5,502 8,961 8,279 6,225 70,594 63,140 11.8

 Defense communications equipment... 549 676 404 -18.8 67.3 7.7 522 658 443 287 5,054 3,915 29.1

 Semiconductors 2................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components........................ 4,547 4,488 4,264 1.3 5.3 1.6 4,797 4,628 4,390 4,131 43,498 48,151 -9.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 868 887 849 -2.1 4.5 -1.7 850 856 915 796 9,417 8,840 6.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,797 2,881 2,697 -2.9 6.8 -17.3 2,844 2,611 2,659 2,101 27,503 20,390 34.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 6,653 6,394 7,551 4.1 -15.3 27.7 6,155 6,110 8,231 4,999 67,608 59,493 13.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,454 8,665 8,598 -2.4 0.8 2.0 8,323 8,877 9,327 8,409 92,438 94,352 -2.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,012 930 1,079 8.8 -13.8 -7.1 969 918 1,120 976 11,199 11,373 -1.5

 Household appliances.......................... 2,083 2,088 2,004 -0.2 4.2 2.6 2,119 2,074 2,137 1,936 21,629 20,495 5.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,404 2,651 2,611 -9.3 1.5 8.3 2,250 2,696 2,899 2,387 27,592 27,347 0.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 53,908 54,624 51,334 -1.3 6.4 0.2 52,408 58,485 54,429 50,073 567,628 567,648 0.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 18,413 18,759 18,708 -1.8 0.3 6.6 17,905 20,823 19,215 18,498 199,781 207,704 -3.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 4,841 5,625 4,663 -13.9 20.6 -5.1 5,094 4,635 5,698 5,458 52,263 57,020 -8.3

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 3,575 3,931 3,668 -9.1 7.2 3.7 3,134 3,131 3,292 2,713 38,832 35,422 9.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,384 1,494 1,530 126.5 -2.4 -61.8 3,477 1,729 1,733 1,727 22,902 20,119 13.8

 Furniture and related products................. 6,128 5,981 5,943 2.5 0.6 2.5 6,146 6,289 6,133 5,682 64,658 63,698 1.5

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 155,741 156,085 155,219 -0.2 0.6 0.5 153,157 163,377 160,498 147,632 1,690,585 1,614,917 4.7

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

 New orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 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. Further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations are contained in our most recent annual benchmark publication,

Current Industrial Reports: M3-1(02), "Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: 1992-2002."

Year to date
 5 

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. Nov.

2003p 2003r 2003 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

All manufacturing industries 1................... 503,633 500,307 492,006 0.7 1.7 0.4 494,923 491,677 484,496 477,626 3.6

 Excluding transportation 1................... 254,542 251,891 245,822 1.1 2.5 1.5 250,905 247,897 241,660 236,975 5.9

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 346,658 345,067 338,992 0.5 1.8 0.7 342,914 340,826 334,894 337,870 1.5

 Durable goods industries 1

........................ 503,633 500,307 492,006 0.7 1.7 0.4 494,923 491,677 484,496 477,626 3.6

 Primary metals........................................ 16,311 15,642 14,662 4.3 6.7 0.7 15,522 14,895 14,331 14,475 7.2

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,512 8,899 8,006 6.9 11.2 0.6 8,964 8,378 7,843 7,911 13.3

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 4,441 4,396 4,364 1.0 0.7 -0.3 4,250 4,217 4,280 4,376 -2.9

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,358 2,347 2,292 0.5 2.4 3.2 2,308 2,300 2,208 2,188 5.5

 Fabricated metal products...................... 38,045 37,473 36,814 1.5 1.8 0.9 37,786 37,170 36,845 37,747 0.1

 Machinery.............................................. 42,542 41,654 41,441 2.1 0.5 0.1 42,093 41,182 40,918 43,497 -3.2

 Construction machinery....................... 2,645 2,289 2,289 15.6 0.0 2.7 2,508 2,111 2,073 1,900 32.0

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 1,117 1,004 962 11.3 4.4 -0.9 1,117 1,004 962 1,005 11.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,586 7,593 7,656 -0.1 -0.8 1.7 7,533 7,546 7,360 7,732 -2.6

 Photographic equipment...................... 803 784 775 2.4 1.2 4.7 817 789 782 552 48.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,580 4,593 4,544 -0.3 1.1 0.8 4,409 4,433 4,445 4,101 7.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,922 3,819 3,722 2.7 2.6 2.4 3,988 3,821 3,663 3,753 6.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 8,370 8,072 8,122 3.7 -0.6 -2.2 8,386 8,050 8,153 11,130 -24.7

 Material handling equipment............... 4,662 4,704 4,714 -0.9 -0.2 1.7 4,574 4,666 4,740 4,835 -5.4

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 131,566 131,589 128,163 0.0 2.7 2.3 129,435 129,155 125,033 117,110 10.5

 Computers......................................... 8,621 8,684 8,925 -0.7 -2.7 2.3 8,879 8,564 8,836 7,436 19.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 50,218 51,203 48,624 -1.9 5.3 3.2 49,244 50,151 46,853 42,527 15.8

 Defense communications equipment... 3,302 3,202 2,999 3.1 6.8 -1.2 3,302 3,202 2,999 2,897 14.0

 Semiconductors 1................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 13,913 13,602 13,310 2.3 2.2 1.1 13,687 13,525 13,273 15,502 -11.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 4,872 4,783 4,738 1.9 0.9 -0.2 4,779 4,685 4,633 4,491 6.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 35,643 35,405 35,060 0.7 1.0 0.7 34,675 34,445 34,308 32,027 8.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 14,997 14,710 14,507 2.0 1.4 5.9 14,869 14,583 14,131 12,230 21.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 14,054 14,160 14,057 -0.7 0.7 1.0 13,957 14,094 13,800 13,908 0.4

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,414 1,463 1,584 -3.3 -7.6 1.3 1,356 1,447 1,559 1,494 -9.2

 Household appliances.......................... 950 964 920 -1.5 4.8 -4.8 961 882 824 850 13.1

 Electrical equipment............................ 8,575 8,634 8,529 -0.7 1.2 1.7 8,566 8,673 8,438 8,164 4.9

 Transportation equipment........................ 249,091 248,416 246,184 0.3 0.9 -0.7 244,018 243,780 242,836 240,651 1.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 13,275 13,027 12,526 1.9 4.0 4.0 12,900 12,407 12,045 11,680 10.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 103,805 104,831 104,692 -1.0 0.1 -0.9 103,042 104,222 104,491 110,712 -6.9

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 61,681 61,123 60,572 0.9 0.9 0.3 59,085 59,216 59,460 54,511 8.4

 Ships and boats.................................. 20,301 19,233 19,932 5.6 -3.5 -3.8 19,818 18,727 19,289 20,436 -3.0

 Furniture and related products................. 5,630 5,518 5,464 2.0 1.0 1.6 5,718 5,546 5,512 5,637 1.4

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. Nov.

2003p 2003r 2003 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

 All manufacturing industries..................... 437,904 438,680 438,294 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 439,523 441,907 438,210 444,506 -1.1

 Excluding transportation...................... 370,922 371,125 371,071 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 371,912 373,263 370,499 378,042 -1.6

 Excluding defense............................. 414,479 415,244 415,335 -0.2 0.0 -0.4 415,981 418,245 415,006 423,535 -1.8

 With unfilled orders............................. 204,664 205,379 204,769 -0.3 0.3 -0.5 205,630 206,365 204,114 213,962 -3.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 261,721 262,351 261,678 -0.2 0.3 -0.5 262,717 263,266 260,534 271,153 -3.1

 Wood products........................................ 9,582 9,473 9,333 1.2 1.5 0.1 9,710 9,535 9,276 9,871 -1.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,632 9,613 9,729 0.2 -1.2 -0.6 9,359 9,297 9,567 9,168 2.1

 Primary metals........................................ 17,300 17,162 17,382 0.8 -1.3 -2.4 17,342 17,124 17,374 18,961 -8.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,182 9,191 9,339 -0.1 -1.6 -3.7 9,239 9,188 9,387 10,870 -15.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,469 6,306 6,356 2.6 -0.8 -0.8 6,490 6,319 6,360 6,417 1.1

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,649 1,665 1,687 -1.0 -1.3 -0.4 1,613 1,617 1,627 1,674 -3.6

 Fabricated metal products......................... 31,082 31,038 30,900 0.1 0.4 -0.5 30,850 30,820 30,656 31,631 -2.5

 Machinery.............................................. 41,189 41,465 41,381 -0.7 0.2 -0.3 41,544 41,599 40,992 43,523 -4.5

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,189 2,175 2,162 0.6 0.6 0.2 2,168 2,032 2,056 2,156 0.6

 Construction machinery........................ 3,468 3,477 3,476 -0.3 0.0 -0.4 3,497 3,469 3,415 3,640 -3.9

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,268 2,242 2,239 1.2 0.1 -1.1 2,270 2,247 2,249 2,281 -0.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,576 6,528 6,583 0.7 -0.8 -0.3 6,683 6,479 6,507 7,321 -8.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,401 1,410 1,402 -0.6 0.6 0.4 1,424 1,452 1,418 1,423 0.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,174 4,175 4,130 0.0 1.1 0.7 4,168 4,176 4,047 4,005 4.1

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,382 4,355 4,281 0.6 1.7 1.4 4,368 4,464 4,342 4,744 -7.9

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,979 4,220 4,140 -5.7 1.9 0.6 4,163 4,402 4,157 4,524 -8.0

 Material handling equipment............... 2,318 2,315 2,342 0.1 -1.2 -0.6 2,319 2,297 2,337 2,355 -1.5

 Computers and electronic products......... 47,065 47,174 46,937 -0.2 0.5 0.0 47,586 47,360 46,467 52,604 -9.5

 Computers......................................... 2,361 2,451 2,589 -3.7 -5.3 -1.7 2,488 2,382 2,687 2,833 -12.2

 Computer storage devices................... 1,185 1,208 1,215 -1.9 -0.6 -0.6 1,297 1,243 1,116 1,322 -1.9

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,408 2,409 2,362 0.0 2.0 1.1 2,490 2,503 2,322 2,646 -5.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 9,871 9,733 9,670 1.4 0.7 0.2 10,037 9,683 9,634 12,814 -21.7

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,250 1,270 1,373 -1.6 -7.5 5.9 1,250 1,270 1,373 1,192 4.9

 Audio and video equipment.................. 962 973 977 -1.1 -0.4 -0.1 1,038 1,124 1,053 1,235 -16.0

 Semiconductors1

................................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

 Electronic components.......................... 7,355 7,485 6,986 -1.7 7.1 -4.6 7,329 7,533 6,870 8,253 -11.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,522 2,561 2,600 -1.5 -1.5 -0.7 2,543 2,584 2,574 2,812 -9.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,816 2,892 2,769 -2.6 4.4 0.7 2,810 2,902 2,771 2,869 -2.1

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,356 10,242 10,278 1.1 -0.4 1.0 10,410 10,233 10,100 10,540 -1.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 12,335 12,290 12,284 0.4 0.0 -0.6 12,236 12,164 11,935 12,790 -4.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,394 1,409 1,436 -1.1 -1.9 -3.8 1,388 1,410 1,402 1,537 -9.7

 Household appliances.......................... 2,109 2,065 2,035 2.1 1.5 -0.4 2,065 2,020 1,925 2,070 -0.2

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,084 4,033 4,016 1.3 0.4 -0.5 4,126 4,024 3,885 4,062 1.6

 Batteries............................................ 576 592 591 -2.7 0.2 8.0 547 597 596 573 -4.5

 Transportation equipment...................... 66,982 67,555 67,223 -0.8 0.5 -0.3 67,611 68,644 67,711 66,464 1.7

 Automobiles....................................... 1,785 1,835 1,891 -2.7 -3.0 1.8 1,750 1,813 1,938 2,015 -13.2

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,296 2,301 2,202 -0.2 4.5 -8.7 2,336 2,352 2,269 2,232 4.7

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 742 738 737 0.5 0.1 -0.9 756 756 765 855 -11.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 15,298 15,150 15,172 1.0 -0.1 -1.2 15,347 15,233 15,294 15,593 -1.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 24,221 24,822 25,050 -2.4 -0.9 0.2 24,654 25,525 25,086 25,511 -3.4

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,042 11,029 10,846 0.1 1.7 2.1 11,137 11,190 10,971 9,659 15.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,886 2,946 2,810 -2.0 4.8 1.7 2,896 2,954 2,802 2,486 16.5

 Furniture and related products................. 7,674 7,688 7,698 -0.2 -0.1 -1.3 7,636 7,687 7,698 7,785 -1.9

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 18,880 18,893 18,811 -0.1 0.4 -0.6 18,843 19,036 18,858 18,356 2.7

 Nondurable goods industries................... 176,183 176,329 176,616 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 176,806 178,641 177,676 173,353 2.0

 Food products........................................ 33,554 33,478 33,364 0.2 0.3 0.6 35,028 35,734 33,781 34,192 2.4

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,634 3,703 3,659 -1.9 1.2 1.2 3,815 3,981 3,459 3,745 1.9

 Dairy products.................................... 3,583 3,519 3,497 1.8 0.6 0.1 3,420 3,498 3,488 3,335 2.5

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,216 6,162 6,146 0.9 0.3 2.0 6,379 6,411 6,179 5,988 6.5

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 14,846 14,805 14,850 0.3 -0.3 1.1 15,146 15,280 15,065 14,732 2.8

 Beverages......................................... 10,068 10,025 10,008 0.4 0.2 1.7 10,219 10,370 10,220 9,560 6.9

 Tobacco........................................... 4,778 4,780 4,842 0.0 -1.3 -0.1 4,927 4,910 4,845 5,172 -4.7

 Textile mills........................................... 5,040 5,028 5,112 0.2 -1.6 1.7 4,944 4,940 5,035 4,800 3.0

 Textile products...................................... 5,108 5,043 5,024 1.3 0.4 0.3 4,973 4,989 5,080 4,768 4.3

 Apparel................................................. 7,216 7,234 7,282 -0.2 -0.7 -0.7 6,869 7,104 7,393 6,674 2.9

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,675 1,668 1,647 0.4 1.3 2.6 1,658 1,676 1,689 1,627 1.9

 Paper products....................................... 14,676 14,765 14,863 -0.6 -0.7 -0.1 14,562 14,588 14,743 14,632 -0.5

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,669 6,697 6,720 -0.4 -0.3 0.7 6,599 6,551 6,622 6,415 2.9

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,084 4,071 4,125 0.3 -1.3 -1.2 4,050 4,049 4,138 4,226 -4.2

 Printing.................................................. 6,214 6,170 6,235 0.7 -1.0 -0.1 6,228 6,390 6,511 6,453 -3.5

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 14,576 15,558 15,601 -6.3 -0.3 -0.8 14,421 15,751 16,096 14,623 -1.4

 Petroleum refineries............................. 13,072 14,082 14,103 -7.2 -0.1 -0.6 12,963 14,299 14,601 13,194 -1.8

 Basic chemicals...................................... 53,245 52,489 52,478 1.4 0.0 -0.7 53,254 52,349 52,378 51,779 2.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,206 2,242 2,273 -1.6 -1.4 -2.8 2,188 2,106 2,046 2,561 -14.6

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 21,421 21,044 20,908 1.8 0.7 -0.2 21,709 21,310 21,119 20,326 6.8

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,733 2,717 2,793 0.6 -2.7 1.0 2,647 2,673 2,739 2,658 -0.4

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 20,033 20,091 20,160 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 19,723 19,840 19,905 19,073 3.4

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1 Inventories for semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and total durable goods industries, but are not shown separately. 

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

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

 Topical Series 1

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted2

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. 2003/

2003p 2003r 2003 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 2003p 2002 2002

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 339,899 339,825 337,598 0.0 0.7 1.8 332,634 356,009 357,911 322,601 3,652,368 3,575,193 2.2

 Construction materials and supplies...... 36,100 36,450 35,924 -1.0 1.5 2.9 34,121 39,142 38,136 33,347 388,932 387,798 0.3

 Information technology......................... 29,181 29,413 29,123 -0.8 1.0 3.5 28,379 28,715 34,406 26,209 300,129 288,368 4.1

 Computers and related products .......... 8,251 8,450 8,077 -2.4 4.6 1.3 7,514 8,612 10,317 6,302 82,392 72,863 13.1

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 37,575 37,835 38,059 -0.7 -0.6 6.7 35,731 43,550 40,367 36,164 409,033 420,969 -2.8

 Capital goods...................................... 66,256 66,523 66,430 -0.4 0.1 3.4 64,221 65,637 73,771 61,339 698,217 685,101 1.9

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 58,759 58,607 58,438 0.3 0.3 3.5 56,480 57,776 65,256 53,881 615,289 612,670 0.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 55,886 56,200 55,774 -0.6 0.8 3.1 53,348 55,836 62,456 50,876 587,846 577,751 1.7

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,497 7,916 7,992 -5.3 -1.0 2.7 7,741 7,861 8,515 7,458 82,928 72,431 14.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 128,859 128,943 128,739 -0.1 0.2 1.0 128,694 137,801 134,526 124,122 1,398,664 1,352,451 3.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,102 34,216 34,253 -0.3 -0.1 4.8 33,425 38,209 36,708 32,868 366,933 366,984 0.0

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 94,757 94,727 94,486 0.0 0.3 -0.3 95,269 99,592 97,818 91,254 1,031,731 985,467 4.7

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 336,909 341,856 333,957 -1.4 2.4 1.4 329,290 356,785 349,573 312,600 3,602,128 3,486,973 3.3

 Construction materials and supplies...... 36,425 36,817 36,338 -1.1 1.3 1.7 34,440 39,184 38,183 32,964 389,767 387,724 0.5

 Information technology......................... 28,882 32,631 31,898 -11.5 2.3 7.2 28,507 32,705 35,713 26,075 312,514 281,756 10.9

 Computers and related products .......... 8,188 8,209 8,279 -0.3 -0.8 -0.2 7,829 8,340 10,327 6,707 83,147 73,124 13.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 37,823 38,336 38,539 -1.3 -0.5 8.2 36,224 43,912 40,615 36,458 409,800 420,563 -2.6

 Capital goods...................................... 67,068 71,007 67,803 -5.5 4.7 0.6 64,879 70,139 73,036 58,802 711,264 654,761 8.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 58,164 61,672 60,225 -5.7 2.4 5.2 56,106 61,593 65,753 52,810 621,295 587,566 5.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 55,975 59,002 58,188 -5.1 1.4 6.0 53,812 59,798 63,124 50,038 600,088 562,762 6.6

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,904 9,335 7,578 -4.6 23.2 -25.4 8,773 8,546 7,283 5,992 89,969 67,195 33.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 129,346 129,622 128,789 -0.2 0.6 1.3 129,361 138,480 134,459 124,061 1,399,774 1,351,314 3.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,589 34,895 34,303 -0.9 1.7 5.8 34,092 38,888 36,641 32,807 368,043 365,847 0.6

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 94,757 94,727 94,486 0.0 0.3 -0.3 95,269 99,592 97,818 91,254 1,031,731 985,467 4.7

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 503,633 500,307 492,006 0.7 1.7 0.4 494,923 491,677 484,496 477,626 (X) (X) 3.6

 Construction materials and supplies...... 32,260 31,935 31,568 1.0 1.2 1.3 31,968 31,649 31,607 31,784 (X) (X) 0.6

 Information technology......................... 121,571 121,870 118,652 -0.2 2.7 2.4 119,639 119,511 115,521 105,560 (X) (X) 13.3

 Computers and related products .......... 8,621 8,684 8,925 -0.7 -2.7 2.3 8,879 8,564 8,836 7,436 (X) (X) 19.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 13,275 13,027 12,526 1.9 4.0 4.0 12,900 12,407 12,045 11,680 (X) (X) 10.4

 Capital goods...................................... 357,890 357,078 352,594 0.2 1.3 0.4 351,758 351,100 346,598 334,261 (X) (X) 5.2

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................221,516 222,111 219,046 -0.3 1.4 0.8 219,408 219,782 215,965 213,627 (X) (X) 2.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 141,858 141,769 138,967 0.1 2.0 1.8 140,513 140,049 136,087 129,953 (X) (X) 8.1

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 136,374 134,967 133,548 1.0 1.1 -0.3 132,350 131,318 130,633 120,634 (X) (X) 9.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 12,922 12,435 11,756 3.9 5.8 0.4 12,977 12,310 11,631 12,107 (X) (X) 7.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 12,922 12,435 11,756 3.9 5.8 0.4 12,977 12,310 11,631 12,107 (X) (X) 7.2 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 437,904 438,680 438,294 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 439,523 441,907 438,210 444,506 (X) (X) -1.1

 Construction materials and supplies...... 46,487 46,351 46,410 0.3 -0.1 -0.5 46,124 45,897 45,857 46,819 (X) (X) -1.5

 Information technology......................... 39,774 39,815 39,898 -0.1 -0.2 0.4 40,368 39,983 39,648 44,695 (X) (X) -9.7

 Computers and related products .......... 5,954 6,068 6,166 -1.9 -1.6 -0.4 6,275 6,128 6,125 6,801 (X) (X) -7.7

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 20,121 20,024 20,002 0.5 0.1 -1.8 20,189 20,154 20,266 20,695 (X) (X) -2.4

 Capital goods...................................... 124,247 124,708 124,497 -0.4 0.2 -0.2 125,715 125,624 123,999 131,478 (X) (X) -4.4

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................105,140 105,724 105,935 -0.6 -0.2 -0.2 106,577 106,596 105,299 114,024 (X) (X) -6.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 88,062 88,141 88,152 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 89,029 88,397 87,425 94,810 (X) (X) -6.1

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 19,107 18,984 18,562 0.6 2.3 0.2 19,138 19,028 18,700 17,454 (X) (X) 9.6

 Consumer goods.................................. 135,259 135,945 135,632 -0.5 0.2 0.0 136,569 139,011 137,069 134,094 (X) (X) 1.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,015 27,151 26,978 -0.5 0.6 -0.9 26,929 27,308 26,980 27,550 (X) (X) -2.3

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 108,244 108,794 108,654 -0.5 0.1 0.3 109,640 111,703 110,089 106,544 (X) (X) 2.9

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable.

1

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories. 2

 Shipments and new orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 3

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

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

equipment; pumps and compressors; material handling equipment; all other machinery; electronic computers; computer storage devices; other computer peripheral

equipment; communications equipment; search and navigation equipment; electromedical, measuring, and control instruments; electrical equipment; other electrical 

equipment, appliances, and components; heavy duty trucks; aircraft; railroad rolling stock; ships and boats; office and institutional furniture; and medical equipment

and supplies.

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 6

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

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

NEW ORDERS

UNFILLED ORDERS

TOTAL INVENTORIES
 8

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

 

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Nov. Oct. Sept. Oct. - Sept. - Aug. - Nov. Oct. Sept. Nov. Nov.

2003p 2003r 2003 Nov. Oct. Sept. 2003p 2003r 2003 2002 03/02

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 142,676 143,134 143,033 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 143,024 143,745 142,996 150,341 -4.9

 Durable goods industries ........................ 83,513 84,013 83,637 -0.6 0.4 -0.5 84,040 84,425 83,669 90,483 -7.1

 Wood products................................... 3,661 3,648 3,490 0.4 4.5 -1.0 3,973 3,912 3,598 3,872 2.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,351 3,379 3,365 -0.8 0.4 0.6 3,361 3,405 3,396 3,363 -0.1

 Primary metals.................................... 5,692 5,670 5,812 0.4 -2.4 0.1 5,827 5,788 5,896 6,619 -12.0

 Fabricated metal products..................... 11,093 11,031 11,036 0.6 0.0 0.2 10,974 10,915 11,048 11,348 -3.3

 Machinery.......................................... 12,233 12,528 12,495 -2.4 0.3 -0.4 12,231 12,587 12,408 13,743 -11.0

 Computers and electronic products ...... 16,330 16,633 16,468 -1.8 1.0 -2.0 16,397 16,603 16,371 19,720 -16.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,620 4,623 4,622 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 4,615 4,598 4,540 4,939 -6.6

 Transportation equipment.................. 17,072 16,984 16,912 0.5 0.4 -0.2 17,266 17,114 17,002 17,372 -0.6

 Furniture and related products............ 3,256 3,230 3,206 0.8 0.7 -2.2 3,225 3,207 3,192 3,237 -0.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,205 6,287 6,231 -1.3 0.9 1.4 6,171 6,296 6,218 6,270 -1.6

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 59,163 59,121 59,396 0.1 -0.5 0.5 58,984 59,320 59,327 59,858 -1.5

 Food products.................................... 10,848 10,594 10,398 2.4 1.9 0.8 11,012 10,795 10,151 10,586 4.0

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,501 5,486 5,590 0.3 -1.9 1.4 5,388 5,399 5,520 5,815 -7.3

 Textiles.............................................. 1,376 1,377 1,393 -0.1 -1.1 0.2 1,356 1,357 1,383 1,517 -10.6

 Textile products.................................. 1,788 1,704 1,692 4.9 0.7 -0.6 1,740 1,704 1,743 1,678 3.7

 Apparel............................................. 1,642 1,648 1,665 -0.4 -1.0 -2.1 1,621 1,642 1,643 1,768 -8.3

 Leather and allied products................... 431 436 436 -1.1 0.0 0.5 422 438 444 443 -4.7

 Paper products................................... 6,753 6,815 6,846 -0.9 -0.5 0.0 6,736 6,814 6,841 6,917 -2.6

 Printing ............................................. 2,715 2,683 2,745 1.2 -2.3 0.2 2,745 2,774 2,865 2,976 -7.8

 Petroleum and coal products............... 4,294 4,600 4,986 -6.7 -7.7 7.5 4,219 4,672 5,025 3,908 8.0

 Basic chemicals................................... 16,603 16,517 16,474 0.5 0.3 -0.3 16,594 16,477 16,526 17,122 -3.1

 Plastics and rubber products............... 7,212 7,261 7,171 -0.7 1.3 -2.0 7,151 7,248 7,186 7,128 0.3

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 127,877 127,880 126,826 0.0 0.8 -0.7 129,545 130,244 127,550 127,470 1.6

 Durable goods industries ........................ 95,905 96,225 95,533 -0.3 0.7 -0.8 96,784 97,338 95,818 95,953 0.9

 Wood products................................... 1,913 1,911 1,968 0.1 -2.9 0.9 1,911 1,910 1,961 2,138 -10.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,198 1,191 1,197 0.6 -0.5 0.2 1,128 1,131 1,163 1,168 -3.4

 Primary metals.................................... 5,828 5,802 5,787 0.4 0.3 -4.0 5,829 5,808 5,800 6,281 -7.2

 Fabricated metal products..................... 9,388 9,377 9,265 0.1 1.2 -0.6 9,413 9,441 9,303 9,498 -0.9

 Machinery.......................................... 14,652 14,575 14,635 0.5 -0.4 1.1 14,950 14,807 14,670 14,498 3.1

 Computers and electronic products ...... 18,234 18,106 17,578 0.7 3.0 -1.7 18,499 18,146 17,552 19,397 -4.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 2,887 2,878 2,891 0.3 -0.4 0.0 2,839 2,845 2,817 2,921 -2.8

 Transportation equipment.................. 37,182 38,007 37,828 -2.2 0.5 1.0 37,598 38,842 38,132 35,566 5.7

 Furniture and related products............ 1,517 1,520 1,550 -0.2 -1.9 0.2 1,503 1,510 1,543 1,562 -3.8

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,106 2,858 2,834 8.7 0.8 -19.4 3,114 2,898 2,877 2,924 6.5

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 31,972 31,655 31,293 1.0 1.2 -0.5 32,761 32,906 31,732 31,517 3.9

 Food products.................................... 2,940 2,996 2,995 -1.9 0.0 -0.5 3,364 3,607 2,890 3,192 5.4

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,701 4,690 4,702 0.2 -0.3 2.5 5,077 5,129 4,895 4,653 9.1

 Textiles.............................................. 1,278 1,287 1,290 -0.7 -0.2 0.2 1,262 1,278 1,290 1,171 7.8

 Textile products.................................. 684 705 723 -3.0 -2.5 2.3 681 702 730 743 -8.3

 Apparel............................................. 1,228 1,234 1,232 -0.5 0.2 0.8 1,216 1,181 1,190 1,348 -9.8

 Leather and allied products................... 181 175 164 3.4 6.7 5.1 185 179 167 189 -2.1

 Paper products................................... 1,179 1,188 1,183 -0.8 0.4 2.3 1,145 1,152 1,183 1,191 -3.9

 Printing ............................................. 1,755 1,741 1,738 0.8 0.2 -1.6 1,767 1,864 1,829 1,971 -10.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 4,632 4,565 4,154 1.5 9.9 -4.4 4,594 4,653 4,301 4,112 11.7

 Basic chemicals................................... 10,943 10,621 10,622 3.0 0.0 -1.6 11,014 10,690 10,777 10,552 4.4

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,451 2,453 2,490 -0.1 -1.5 2.9 2,456 2,471 2,480 2,395 2.5

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 167,351 167,666 168,435 -0.2 -0.5 -0.2 166,954 167,918 167,664 166,695 0.2

 Durable goods industries ........................ 82,303 82,113 82,508 0.2 -0.5 -0.1 81,893 81,503 81,047 84,717 -3.3

 Wood products................................... 4,008 3,914 3,875 2.4 1.0 0.7 3,826 3,713 3,717 3,861 -0.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,083 5,043 5,167 0.8 -2.4 -1.4 4,870 4,761 5,008 4,637 5.0

 Primary metals.................................... 5,780 5,690 5,783 1.6 -1.6 -3.1 5,686 5,528 5,678 6,061 -6.2

 Fabricated metal products..................... 10,601 10,630 10,599 -0.3 0.3 -1.2 10,463 10,464 10,305 10,785 -3.0

 Machinery.......................................... 14,304 14,362 14,251 -0.4 0.8 -1.5 14,363 14,205 13,914 15,282 -6.0

 Computers and electronic products ...... 12,501 12,435 12,891 0.5 -3.5 5.1 12,690 12,611 12,544 13,487 -5.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,828 4,789 4,771 0.8 0.4 -0.6 4,782 4,721 4,578 4,930 -3.0

 Transportation equipment.................. 12,728 12,564 12,483 1.3 0.6 -4.5 12,747 12,688 12,577 13,526 -5.8

 Furniture and related products............ 2,901 2,938 2,942 -1.3 -0.1 -1.0 2,908 2,970 2,963 2,986 -2.6

 Miscellaneous products........................ 9,569 9,748 9,746 -1.8 0.0 5.1 9,558 9,842 9,763 9,162 4.3

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 85,048 85,553 85,927 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 85,061 86,415 86,617 81,978 3.8

 Food products.................................... 19,766 19,888 19,971 -0.6 -0.4 0.7 20,652 21,332 20,740 20,414 1.2

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,644 4,629 4,558 0.3 1.6 -0.7 4,681 4,752 4,650 4,264 9.8

 Textiles.............................................. 2,386 2,364 2,429 0.9 -2.7 3.4 2,326 2,305 2,362 2,112 10.1

 Textile products.................................. 2,636 2,634 2,609 0.1 1.0 0.3 2,552 2,583 2,607 2,347 8.7

 Apparel............................................. 4,346 4,352 4,385 -0.1 -0.8 -0.5 4,032 4,281 4,560 3,558 13.3

 Leather and allied products................... 1,063 1,057 1,047 0.6 1.0 3.1 1,051 1,059 1,078 995 5.6

 Paper products................................... 6,744 6,762 6,834 -0.3 -1.1 -0.5 6,681 6,622 6,719 6,524 2.4

 Printing ............................................. 1,744 1,746 1,752 -0.1 -0.3 0.9 1,716 1,752 1,817 1,506 13.9

 Petroleum and coal products............... 5,650 6,393 6,461 -11.6 -1.1 -4.2 5,608 6,426 6,770 6,603 -15.1

 Basic chemicals................................... 25,699 25,351 25,382 1.4 -0.1 -0.6 25,646 25,182 25,075 24,105 6.4

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,370 10,377 10,499 -0.1 -1.2 0.7 10,116 10,121 10,239 9,550 5.9

p

 Preliminary r Revised

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

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio 1

Industry Nov Oct Sep Aug Nov Oct Sep Aug

2003p 2003r 2003 2003 2003p 2003r 2003 2003

 All manufacturing industries 2

...... 1.29 1.29 1.30 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries 2................... 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.48 4.05 4.05 4.00 4.09

 Wood products................................ 1.12 1.11 1.12 1.18 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.29 1.26 1.30 1.34 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.58 1.56 1.61 1.68 1.49 1.43 1.36 1.38

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.52 1.51 1.51 1.55 1.96 1.92 1.89 1.92

 Machinery....................................... 1.94 1.93 1.94 1.97 2.21 2.14 2.15 2.18

 Computers and electronic products 2.. 1.29 1.29 1.32 1.33 5.04 5.01 4.96 5.00

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.44 1.44 1.45 1.49 1.74 1.75 1.76 1.78

 Transportation equipment................. 1.26 1.29 1.27 1.35 7.36 7.57 7.41 7.80

 Furniture and related products........... 1.28 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.03

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.68 1.69 1.71 1.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.14 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.86 0.86 0.85 0.85 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.73 1.68 1.71 1.68 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.51 1.49 1.56 1.57 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.68 1.67 1.70 1.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.61 1.61 1.65 1.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 1.86 1.90 1.87 1.74 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.11 1.11 1.13 1.13 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.80 0.80 0.79 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.72 0.78 0.78 0.76 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Basic chemicals............................... 1.35 1.32 1.34 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.28 1.27 1.29 1.32 (X) (X) (X) (X)

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable

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.

Nov2 Nov2 Nov2 Nov2

Industry 2002- 2002- 2002- 2002-

Nov1 Oct Nov1 Oct Nov1 Oct Nov1 Oct

2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003

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

Durable goods industries ...................... 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.1

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.5 0.1 1.1 0.3 0.6 -0.1 0.4

 Fabricated metal products................... -0.3 0.4 0.1 1.1 0.8 0.5 -0.4 0.2

 Machinery.......................................... 1.9 0.3 3.0 0.8 0.6 0.3 -0.5 0.3

 Computers and electronic products ..... 0.2 0.4 0.1 1.3 0 0.3 -0.1 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2

 Transportation equipment................... -0.1 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.8 (X) 1.6 (X) 1.1 (X) 0.2

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 0.9 (X) 1.2 (X) 0.4

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Textiles............................................. (X) 1.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.1 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 1.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Petroleum and coal products................ (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.8

 Basic chemicals.................................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

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 publica 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.

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
10

Survey Description 

This report is compiled from results of the U.S.

Census Bureau’s Manufacturers’ Shipments,

Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey. This survey

provides statistics on manufacturers' value of

shipments, new orders (net of cancellations), end-ofmonth order backlog (unfilled orders), end-of-month

total inventory (at current cost or market value), and

inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and

supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods). The

M3 includes approximately 4,000 reporting units. 

Units may be divisions of diversified large

companies, large homogenous companies, or singleunit manufacturers in 89 industry categories. Due to

the small monthly sample, these 89 categories have

been combined into 59 publication levels. The

survey methodology assumes that the month-tomonth changes of the total operations of those

companies in the monthly survey effectively

represent the month-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 4,000 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 4,000 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.

Additional survey documentation can be found on our

web site: http://www.census.gov/m3.

Future Release Dates for M3 Survey

Survey Month Advance 8:30 A.M. Preliminary 10:00 A.M.

Dec 2003 1/28/04 2/4/04

Jan 2004 2/26/04 3/4/04

Feb 2004 3/24/04 3/31/04

Mar 2004 4/23/04 5/4/04

Apr 2004 5/26/04 6/3/04

May 2004 6/24/04 7/2/04

Jun 2004 7/28/04 8/4/04

Jul 2004 8/25/04 9/2/04

Aug 2004 9/24/04 10/4/04

Sep 2004 10/27/04 11/3/04

Oct 2004 11/24/04 12/2/04

Nov 2004 12/23/04