FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Patrick Kent 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (05)-03 

CB05-61 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

March 2005 

Summary

 New orders for manufactured goods in March 

increased $0.4 billion or 0.1 percent to $378.2 billion, 

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

0.5 percent February decrease. 

 Shipments, up five of the last six months, increased 

$5.0 billion or 1.3 percent to $387.3 billion. This 

followed a 1.5 percent February decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, down two of the last three months, 

decreased $1.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $552.9 billion. 

This followed a 0.5 percent February increase. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 3.93, down from 

3.95 in February. 

 Inventories, up sixteen consecutive months, increased 

$2.8 billion or 0.6 percent to $484.1 billion. This 

followed a 0.6 percent February increase. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.25, down from 1.26 

in February. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, down three consecutive months, decreased $4.6 billion 

or 2.3 percent to $195.1 billion, revised from the 

previously published 2.8 percent decrease. This 

followed a 0.1 percent February decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, down four consecutive 

months, had the largest decrease, $3.9 billion or 7.3 

percent to $48.7 billion, due to nondefense aircraft and 

parts, which decreased $1.6 billion. 

 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $5.0 billion or 2.8 percent to $183.1 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up five of the last six months, increased slightly to 

$204.2 billion, revised from the previously published 0.2 

percent decrease. This followed a 1.9 percent February 

decrease. 

 Computers and electronic products, up five of the last 

six months, had the largest increase, $0.3 billion or 0.8 

percent to $41.7 billion. 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $5.0 billion or 2.8 percent to $183.1 billion, 

due to petroleum and coal products, which increased 

$5.6 billion. This was the largest monthly increase and 

at the highest level since the series was first stated on a 

NAICS basis in 1992. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods in 

March, down two of the last three months, decreased 

$1.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $552.9 billion, revised from 

the previously published 0.5 percent decrease. This 

followed a 0.5 percent February increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, down two of the last three 

months, had the largest decrease, $3.7 billion or 1.4 

percent to $258.9 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up sixteen consecutive months, increased $1.7 billion or 

0.6 percent to $291.7 billion, revised from the previously 

published 0.4 percent increase. This followed a 0.7 

percent February increase. 

 Transportation equipment, up five of the last six 

months, had the largest increase, $0.8 billion or 1.1 

percent to $72.2 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up five 

of the last six months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.6 

percent to $192.4 billion. This was at the highest level 

since the series began. 

 By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies 

increased 0.9 percent in durable goods and 1.0 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.2 

percent in durable goods and increased 0.1 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 1.2 percent 

in durable goods and 0.5 percent in nondurable goods. 

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

The advance report on durable goods for April is scheduled for release on May 25, 2005, at 8:30 a.m. EDT and the full 

report on June 2, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. See back page for survey description. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2005/

2005p 2005r 2005 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2005p 2005r 2005 2004 2005p 2004 2004

 All manufacturing industries .................. 387,341 382,305 387,936 1.3 -1.5 1.1 411,408 363,517 351,469 390,300 1,126,394 1,047,956 7.5

 Excluding transportation ................... 334,937 329,821 333,779 1.6 -1.2 1.5 352,096 310,566 304,160 325,886 966,822 880,769 9.8

 Excluding defense .............................. 377,410 372,349 378,014 1.4 -1.5 0.9 400,600 354,091 343,469 379,535 1,098,160 1,018,841 7.8

 With unfilled orders ........................... 140,785 140,483 143,256 0.2 -1.9 2.0 154,146 133,873 127,495 146,469 415,514 383,757 8.3

 Durable goods industries ........................ 204,242 204,239 208,112 0.0 -1.9 0.8 223,595 195,045 184,141 218,053 602,781 568,304 6.1

 Wood products................................. ...... 9,483 9,454 9,250 0.3 2.2 -2.4 9,514 8,502 7,637 9,126 25,653 23,851 7.6

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 8,239 8,102 7,969 1.7 1.7 -0.7 8,327 7,184 7,101 7,667 22,612 20,434 10.7

 Primary metals............................ .......... 15,143 15,126 15,458 0.1 -2.1 0.8 16,268 14,947 14,903 14,270 46,118 38,094 21.1

 Iron and steel mills............................ 7,129 7,242 7,421 -1.6 -2.4 -0.6 7,678 7,091 7,069 6,366 21,838 16,882 29.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,353 6,227 6,241 2.0 -0.2 1.1 6,786 6,189 6,142 6,209 19,117 16,866 13.3

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,661 1,657 1,796 0.2 -7.7 5.6 1,804 1,667 1,692 1,695 5,163 4,346 18.8

 Fabricated metal products...................... 23,694 23,465 23,725 1.0 -1.1 1.1 24,713 22,493 21,795 23,793 69,001 63,318 9.0

 Machinery............................................. 25,703 26,353 27,155 -2.5 -3.0 1.6 28,758 24,781 23,723 27,286 77,262 68,484 12.8

 Farm machinery................................. 1,873 1,881 1,836 -0.4 2.5 -6.9 2,381 2,076 1,591 2,119 6,048 5,144 17.6

 Construction machinery..................... 2,605 2,723 2,805 -4.3 -2.9 -4.6 3,047 2,631 2,407 2,659 8,085 6,608 22.4

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 979 971 949 0.8 2.3 1.1 1,068 931 900 889 2,899 2,368 22.4

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,863 3,123 3,535 -8.3 -11.7 5.3 3,166 2,783 3,222 4,019 9,171 9,373 -2.2

 Photographic equipment...................... 857 867 866 -1.2 0.1 3.0 892 752 704 963 2,348 2,483 -5.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,987 2,962 2,984 0.8 -0.7 -4.4 3,268 2,547 2,443 3,038 8,258 7,492 10.2

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,554 2,632 2,635 -3.0 -0.1 -1.5 2,690 2,212 2,105 2,174 7,007 5,505 27.3

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,345 3,459 3,615 -3.3 -4.3 10.9 3,650 3,358 3,195 3,377 10,203 8,898 14.7

 Material handling equipment............... 1,768 1,760 1,705 0.5 3.2 5.0 2,094 1,717 1,622 1,766 5,433 4,484 21.2

 Computers and electronic products ......... 41,690 41,373 42,082 0.8 -1.7 3.7 46,717 37,598 36,381 43,078 120,696 110,378 9.3

 Computers........................................ 6,659 6,815 6,860 -2.3 -0.7 10.3 6,922 5,895 6,792 5,620 19,609 15,496 26.5

 Computer storage devices................... 1,729 1,630 1,691 6.1 -3.6 -1.9 2,488 1,070 1,016 2,339 4,574 4,042 13.2

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,629 1,581 1,642 3.0 -3.7 6.9 2,021 1,312 1,167 1,922 4,500 4,367 3.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 6,473 6,442 6,590 0.5 -2.2 6.7 7,516 5,634 5,505 7,349 18,655 18,196 2.5

 Defense communications equipment... 648 707 488 -8.3 44.9 -34.6 695 687 443 521 1,825 1,533 19.0

 Audio and video equipment.................. 803 754 837 6.5 -9.9 0.0 794 712 721 664 2,227 1,792 24.3

 Semiconductors ................................. 7,198 7,281 7,905 -1.1 -7.9 13.0 7,484 7,144 7,213 7,281 21,841 20,127 8.5

 Electronic components........................ 5,533 5,300 5,124 4.4 3.4 0.0 5,889 5,043 4,627 4,458 15,559 12,758 22.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 1,025 959 960 6.9 -0.1 2.8 1,118 927 814 992 2,859 2,583 10.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,824 2,833 2,690 -0.3 5.3 -2.8 3,070 2,747 2,128 2,732 7,945 7,336 8.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,655 6,556 6,736 1.5 -2.7 -2.9 8,174 5,946 5,439 8,595 19,559 20,560 -4.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,098 9,231 9,381 -1.4 -1.6 4.2 9,756 8,678 8,063 9,447 26,497 24,823 6.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,080 1,078 1,128 0.2 -4.4 4.3 1,174 1,067 988 1,223 3,229 3,155 2.3

 Household appliances........................ 2,113 2,119 2,097 -0.3 1.0 -4.3 2,228 1,951 1,657 2,132 5,836 5,583 4.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,724 2,832 2,901 -3.8 -2.4 9.7 3,067 2,662 2,475 2,942 8,204 7,413 10.7

 Batteries........................................... 509 496 511 2.6 -2.9 4.5 507 410 427 487 1,344 1,328 1.2

 Transportation equipment...................... 52,404 52,484 54,157 -0.2 -3.1 -1.3 59,312 52,951 47,309 64,414 159,572 167,187 -4.6

 Automobiles..................................... 7,017 7,229 7,369 -2.9 -1.9 -3.5 7,933 7,558 6,780 9,369 22,271 24,188 -7.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 10,184 10,568 10,633 -3.6 -0.6 -12.7 11,858 11,061 9,324 14,721 32,243 37,222 -13.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,368 1,385 1,439 -1.2 -3.8 2.4 1,427 1,343 1,310 1,222 4,080 3,344 22.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 17,483 17,847 18,659 -2.0 -4.4 0.6 18,961 18,330 17,115 21,091 54,406 56,785 -4.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 6,459 5,552 5,977 16.3 -7.1 1.2 8,256 5,182 4,563 7,219 18,001 16,750 7.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,784 3,635 3,792 4.1 -4.1 19.6 4,078 3,276 3,077 4,232 10,431 11,609 -10.1

 Ships and boats................................. 2,618 2,718 2,931 -3.7 -7.3 17.6 2,835 2,852 2,514 2,549 8,201 6,644 23.4

 Furniture and related products................. 6,710 6,670 6,651 0.6 0.3 -0.2 6,932 6,655 6,301 6,159 19,888 18,150 9.6

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 12,078 11,981 12,284 0.8 -2.5 -0.2 13,298 11,256 10,928 12,813 35,482 33,585 5.6

 Nondurable goods industries................... 183,099 178,066 179,824 2.8 -1.0 1.4 187,813 168,472 167,328 172,247 523,613 479,652 9.2

 Food products....................................... 41,406 41,973 42,402 -1.4 -1.0 2.3 41,848 40,170 40,092 39,814 122,110 114,090 7.0

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 2,918 2,862 2,958 2.0 -3.2 -2.9 3,003 2,832 2,830 3,577 8,665 10,424 -16.9

 Dairy products.................................. 6,493 6,640 6,792 -2.2 -2.2 3.3 6,783 6,032 6,395 6,509 19,210 17,521 9.6

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 13,186 13,262 13,408 -0.6 -1.1 0.9 12,701 12,893 12,796 10,554 38,390 32,461 18.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 9,233 8,932 9,000 3.4 -0.8 -1.3 9,300 8,305 8,151 9,373 25,756 25,201 2.2

 Beverages......................................... 6,125 6,109 6,064 0.3 0.7 1.0 6,192 5,482 5,215 5,909 16,889 16,412 2.9

 Tobacco............................................ 3,108 2,823 2,936 10.1 -3.8 -5.8 3,108 2,823 2,936 3,464 8,867 8,789 0.9

 Textile mills........................................... 3,348 3,498 3,528 -4.3 -0.9 1.5 3,458 3,469 3,189 3,593 10,116 10,111 0.0

 Textile products................................... 3,245 3,275 3,300 -0.9 -0.8 3.4 3,347 3,174 2,908 3,278 9,429 9,279 1.6

 Apparel................................................ 4,260 4,390 4,496 -3.0 -2.4 -1.7 4,309 4,425 3,962 4,873 12,696 13,699 -7.3

 Leather and allied products..................... 916 924 950 -0.9 -2.7 27.0 898 954 833 881 2,685 2,538 5.8

 Paper products...................................... 15,150 14,934 15,140 1.4 -1.4 2.8 15,489 14,441 14,651 14,264 44,581 41,317 7.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,309 6,209 6,285 1.6 -1.2 -0.1 6,495 6,012 6,160 6,048 18,667 17,417 7.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,984 3,968 4,025 0.4 -1.4 -2.0 4,010 3,741 3,845 3,747 11,596 10,768 7.7

 Printing................................................. 8,009 7,936 7,995 0.9 -0.7 0.6 8,231 7,375 7,423 8,157 23,029 22,806 1.0

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 36,466 30,833 31,190 18.3 -1.1 1.3 34,791 27,926 28,236 25,371 90,953 70,831 28.4

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 34,118 28,478 28,542 19.8 -0.2 1.1 32,553 26,047 26,401 23,479 85,001 65,920 28.9

 Chemical products.................................. 43,595 43,749 44,108 -0.4 -0.8 0.8 47,472 41,382 41,535 44,795 130,389 121,401 7.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,782 1,882 1,839 -5.3 2.3 5.1 2,533 1,844 1,536 2,425 5,913 5,333 10.9

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,344 9,383 9,564 -0.4 -1.9 0.4 9,832 8,397 9,329 10,059 27,558 28,406 -3.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,638 2,529 2,530 4.3 0.0 -1.3 2,823 2,350 2,249 2,896 7,422 7,232 2.6

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 17,471 17,622 17,715 -0.9 -0.5 0.4 18,670 16,851 16,348 17,848 51,869 48,379 7.2

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
 3

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2005/

2005p 2005r 2005 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2005p 2005r 2005 2004 2005p 2004 2004

All manufacturing industries 2................... 378,203 377,816 379,848 0.1 -0.5 0.0 403,585 362,941 352,341 392,335 1,118,867 1,051,406 6.4

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 329,514 325,270 327,134 1.3 -0.6 1.1 347,161 309,803 303,147 324,956 960,111 880,270 9.1

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 369,200 369,588 371,565 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 391,224 355,047 343,681 378,090 1,089,952 1,015,454 7.3

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 138,845 143,275 143,073 -3.1 0.1 -0.3 153,807 140,441 135,580 155,785 429,828 407,334 5.5

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 195,104 199,750 200,024 -2.3 -0.1 -1.2 215,772 194,469 185,013 220,088 595,254 571,754 4.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 15,019 14,902 14,810 0.8 0.6 -2.9 16,238 15,380 14,994 15,150 46,612 41,151 13.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 7,002 7,101 6,839 -1.4 3.8 -7.2 7,656 7,430 6,737 6,909 21,823 18,402 18.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,360 6,215 6,204 2.3 0.2 0.4 6,800 6,327 6,488 6,512 19,615 18,122 8.2

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,657 1,586 1,767 4.5 -10.2 3.9 1,782 1,623 1,769 1,729 5,174 4,627 11.8

 Fabricated metal products...................... 24,098 23,907 24,224 0.8 -1.3 2.5 25,860 23,716 23,038 25,398 72,614 68,448 6.1

 Machinery............................................. 25,583 27,557 27,660 -7.2 -0.4 1.5 28,777 26,674 25,604 28,771 81,055 73,309 10.6

 Construction machinery....................... 2,489 2,940 3,104 -15.3 -5.3 3.5 2,918 3,081 3,115 2,992 9,114 8,319 9.6

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 967 1,205 1,003 -19.8 20.1 1.1 1,056 1,165 954 994 3,175 2,609 21.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,810 3,022 3,115 -7.0 -3.0 -2.5 2,976 2,694 3,245 4,016 8,915 10,278 -13.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 893 844 876 5.8 -3.7 1.3 960 735 743 1,014 2,438 2,604 -6.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,122 2,967 2,854 5.2 4.0 -14.3 3,477 2,574 2,512 3,131 8,563 7,799 9.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,523 2,722 2,880 -7.3 -5.5 -0.1 2,652 2,454 2,531 2,342 7,637 5,940 28.6

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,259 4,022 3,424 -19.0 17.5 0.3 3,480 3,860 3,028 3,910 10,368 9,419 10.1

 Material handling equipment............... 1,719 1,978 2,432 -13.1 -18.7 51.1 2,160 2,124 2,290 1,797 6,574 4,538 44.9

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 36,363 35,136 34,775 3.5 1.0 -0.8 41,001 32,647 31,554 37,784 105,202 95,566 10.1

 Computers........................................ 5,926 6,854 6,688 -13.5 2.5 -4.4 5,973 6,099 6,274 5,370 18,346 14,723 24.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 6,366 7,192 7,218 -11.5 -0.4 24.3 7,535 6,858 7,242 7,229 21,635 19,181 12.8

 Defense communications equipment... 1,742 340 259 412.4 31.3 -85.4 1,789 320 214 505 2,323 1,687 37.7

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

 Electronic components........................ 5,499 5,512 5,055 -0.2 9.0 -2.3 5,619 5,454 4,851 4,535 15,924 13,646 16.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 1,057 980 1,182 7.9 -17.1 2.1 1,208 1,018 1,145 1,070 3,371 2,636 27.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,237 3,078 2,826 5.2 8.9 12.9 4,090 3,167 2,660 3,486 9,917 9,808 1.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,861 6,700 6,818 17.3 -1.7 -2.2 8,938 6,156 5,748 10,059 20,842 22,096 -5.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,996 9,309 9,868 -3.4 -5.7 13.6 9,492 9,173 8,752 9,643 27,417 25,832 6.1

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,090 1,062 1,136 2.6 -6.5 21.9 1,200 1,034 1,066 1,292 3,300 3,252 1.5

 Household appliances.......................... 1,958 2,077 2,365 -5.7 -12.2 20.8 1,918 2,031 1,919 2,187 5,868 5,610 4.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,756 2,985 3,078 -7.7 -3.0 14.9 3,060 2,985 2,732 2,924 8,777 7,691 14.1

 Transportation equipment........................ 48,689 52,546 52,714 -7.3 -0.3 -6.3 56,424 53,138 49,194 67,379 158,756 171,136 -7.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 17,372 17,889 18,379 -2.9 -2.7 -0.1 18,691 18,603 17,257 21,168 54,551 57,760 -5.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 5,409 6,998 5,432 -22.7 28.8 -32.2 6,353 6,515 5,053 7,413 17,921 16,308 9.9

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 2,218 2,735 2,949 -18.9 -7.3 53.4 3,360 2,618 3,021 4,205 8,999 10,584 -15.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,217 2,158 2,270 2.7 -4.9 -37.6 2,355 2,087 2,748 2,064 7,190 7,745 -7.2

 Furniture and related products................. 6,821 6,900 6,573 -1.1 5.0 -0.5 7,106 6,843 6,314 6,334 20,263 18,602 8.9

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 183,099 178,066 179,824 2.8 -1.0 1.4 187,813 168,472 167,328 172,247 523,613 479,652 9.2

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
 4 

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

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

2005p 2005r 2005 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2005p 2005r 2005 2004 05/04

All manufacturing industries 1................... 552,867 554,807 552,015 -0.3 0.5 0.0 561,158 561,497 554,929 525,993 6.7

 Excluding transportation 1................... 294,007 292,232 289,502 0.6 0.9 0.4 298,175 295,626 289,245 270,763 10.1

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 391,414 392,426 387,906 -0.3 1.2 0.4 395,633 397,525 389,425 361,199 9.5

 Durable goods industries 1

........................ 552,867 554,807 552,015 -0.3 0.5 0.0 561,158 561,497 554,929 525,993 6.7

 Primary metals........................................ 18,688 18,812 19,036 -0.7 -1.2 -3.3 19,359 19,389 18,956 19,059 1.6

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,054 10,181 10,322 -1.2 -1.4 -5.3 10,399 10,421 10,082 10,787 -3.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,990 5,983 5,995 0.1 -0.2 -0.6 6,239 6,225 6,087 5,674 10.0

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,644 2,648 2,719 -0.2 -2.6 -1.1 2,721 2,743 2,787 2,598 4.7

 Fabricated metal products...................... 47,417 47,013 46,571 0.9 0.9 1.1 48,231 47,084 45,861 43,151 11.8

 Machinery.............................................. 53,107 53,227 52,023 -0.2 2.3 1.0 54,194 54,175 52,282 47,707 13.6

 Construction machinery....................... 5,407 5,523 5,306 -2.1 4.1 6.0 5,914 6,043 5,593 4,417 33.9

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 1,778 1,790 1,556 -0.7 15.0 3.6 1,778 1,790 1,556 1,303 36.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 8,698 8,751 8,852 -0.6 -1.1 -4.5 8,714 8,904 8,993 8,243 5.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 973 937 960 3.8 -2.4 1.1 997 929 946 948 5.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,876 4,741 4,736 2.8 0.1 -2.7 4,937 4,728 4,701 4,554 8.4

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,137 5,168 5,078 -0.6 1.8 5.1 5,266 5,304 5,062 4,395 19.8

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 10,265 10,351 9,788 -0.8 5.8 -1.9 10,183 10,353 9,851 9,859 3.3

 Material handling equipment............... 6,101 6,150 5,932 -0.8 3.7 14.0 6,354 6,288 5,881 4,915 29.3

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 145,609 143,738 142,694 1.3 0.7 0.4 147,233 145,465 143,272 134,471 9.5

 Computers......................................... 8,268 9,001 8,962 -8.1 0.4 -1.9 8,012 8,961 8,757 8,032 -0.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 45,853 45,960 45,210 -0.2 1.7 1.4 46,493 46,474 45,250 47,365 -1.8

 Defense communications equipment... 10,977 9,883 10,250 11.1 -3.6 -2.2 10,977 9,883 10,250 3,543 209.8

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

 Electronic components.......................... 15,027 15,061 14,849 -0.2 1.4 -0.5 15,067 15,337 14,926 14,817 1.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 5,521 5,489 5,468 0.6 0.4 4.2 5,649 5,559 5,468 4,634 21.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 39,198 38,785 38,540 1.1 0.6 0.4 40,400 39,380 38,960 38,546 4.8

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 20,765 19,559 19,415 6.2 0.7 0.4 20,635 19,871 19,661 17,534 17.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 15,672 15,774 15,696 -0.6 0.5 3.2 15,772 16,036 15,541 14,424 9.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,765 1,755 1,771 0.6 -0.9 0.5 1,761 1,735 1,768 1,354 30.1

 Household appliances.......................... 766 921 963 -16.8 -4.4 38.6 744 1,054 974 794 -6.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 9,367 9,335 9,182 0.3 1.7 2.0 9,368 9,375 9,052 8,551 9.6

 Transportation equipment........................ 258,860 262,575 262,513 -1.4 0.0 -0.5 262,983 265,871 265,684 255,230 3.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 14,299 14,410 14,368 -0.8 0.3 -1.9 14,810 15,080 14,807 14,595 1.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 116,273 117,323 115,877 -0.9 1.2 -0.5 117,058 118,961 117,628 104,629 11.9

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 50,329 51,895 52,795 -3.0 -1.7 -1.6 51,241 51,959 52,617 59,745 -14.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 19,321 19,722 20,282 -2.0 -2.8 -3.2 20,021 20,501 21,266 21,562 -7.1

 Furniture and related products................. 6,499 6,388 6,158 1.7 3.7 -1.3 6,371 6,197 6,009 5,808 9.7

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.
 5

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2005p 2005r 2005 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2005p 2005r 2005 2004 05/04

 All manufacturing industries..................... 484,084 481,287 478,351 0.6 0.6 1.5 482,764 484,430 475,933 443,371 8.9

 Excluding transportation...................... 411,869 409,829 407,945 0.5 0.5 1.5 410,998 412,409 406,172 376,069 9.3

 Excluding defense............................. 458,960 456,393 453,306 0.6 0.7 1.5 457,944 459,336 451,106 419,403 9.2

 With unfilled orders............................. 228,803 227,473 225,598 0.6 0.8 1.5 227,723 229,252 224,707 206,055 10.5

 Durable goods industries........................ 291,691 289,964 287,835 0.6 0.7 1.6 290,854 292,796 286,792 264,981 9.8

 Wood products........................................ 10,596 10,528 10,469 0.6 0.6 3.4 11,018 10,880 10,555 10,355 6.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,830 9,840 9,713 -0.1 1.3 1.3 10,044 10,051 9,732 9,425 6.6

 Primary metals........................................ 23,519 22,915 22,538 2.6 1.7 3.9 23,418 22,970 22,778 17,951 30.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 13,896 13,549 13,161 2.6 2.9 5.1 13,725 13,556 13,355 9,304 47.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 7,509 7,314 7,386 2.7 -1.0 2.1 7,503 7,314 7,417 6,900 8.7

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,114 2,052 1,991 3.0 3.1 2.4 2,190 2,100 2,006 1,747 25.4

 Fabricated metal products......................... 36,867 36,653 36,131 0.6 1.4 1.5 37,173 37,038 36,022 31,882 16.6

 Machinery.............................................. 47,221 47,151 46,860 0.1 0.6 1.7 47,441 48,003 46,823 42,788 10.9

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,724 2,715 2,634 0.3 3.1 3.7 2,894 2,935 2,754 2,463 17.5

 Construction machinery........................ 4,426 4,397 4,339 0.7 1.3 0.7 4,529 4,519 4,356 3,873 16.9

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,507 2,452 2,403 2.2 2.0 1.4 2,492 2,420 2,352 2,288 8.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 7,172 7,259 7,183 -1.2 1.1 1.7 7,148 7,423 7,111 6,803 5.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,435 1,447 1,466 -0.8 -1.3 5.9 1,424 1,453 1,426 1,383 3.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,778 4,766 4,643 0.3 2.6 1.4 4,869 4,865 4,548 4,332 12.4

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,415 4,426 4,486 -0.2 -1.3 0.1 4,367 4,415 4,441 4,380 -0.3

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 5,221 5,263 5,276 -0.8 -0.2 1.4 5,077 5,276 5,240 4,217 20.4

 Material handling equipment............... 2,865 2,821 2,787 1.6 1.2 5.3 2,887 2,837 2,772 2,308 25.1

 Computers and electronic products......... 49,458 49,505 49,838 -0.1 -0.7 1.1 48,165 49,686 49,516 46,126 4.4

 Computers......................................... 2,833 2,776 2,809 2.1 -1.2 2.6 2,709 2,722 2,658 2,389 13.4

 Computer storage devices................... 1,409 1,370 1,356 2.8 1.0 0.4 1,306 1,415 1,328 1,107 18.0

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,473 2,440 2,389 1.4 2.1 0.4 2,329 2,444 2,370 2,113 10.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 9,538 9,689 9,843 -1.6 -1.6 1.0 9,244 9,746 9,812 9,013 2.6

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,085 1,112 1,298 -2.4 -14.3 -2.7 1,085 1,112 1,298 1,306 -16.9

 Audio and video equipment.................. 1,223 1,194 1,146 2.4 4.2 0.5 1,018 1,130 1,132 772 31.9

 Semiconductors1

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

 Electronic components.......................... 8,157 8,060 8,072 1.2 -0.1 0.6 8,042 8,081 8,155 7,570 6.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,663 2,652 2,598 0.4 2.1 -0.6 2,644 2,657 2,602 2,450 7.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,773 2,913 2,920 -4.8 -0.2 1.6 2,700 2,918 2,895 2,785 -3.1

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,379 10,432 10,474 -0.5 -0.4 0.7 10,261 10,619 10,450 9,977 2.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 13,304 13,167 13,136 1.0 0.2 1.0 13,476 13,469 13,106 12,535 7.5

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,509 1,512 1,503 -0.2 0.6 0.5 1,499 1,522 1,477 1,404 6.8

 Household appliances.......................... 2,376 2,363 2,362 0.6 0.0 0.6 2,430 2,449 2,339 2,199 10.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,663 4,568 4,545 2.1 0.5 0.8 4,719 4,694 4,614 4,351 8.5

 Batteries............................................ 617 611 609 1.0 0.3 2.9 614 598 571 592 3.7

 Transportation equipment...................... 72,215 71,458 70,406 1.1 1.5 1.7 71,766 72,021 69,761 67,302 6.6

 Automobiles....................................... 2,039 2,050 2,290 -0.5 -10.5 9.3 1,982 2,080 2,256 1,943 2.0

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,816 2,635 2,476 6.9 6.4 -2.5 2,782 2,630 2,378 2,402 15.8

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 938 911 889 3.0 2.5 1.5 938 921 885 766 22.5

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 16,914 16,789 16,539 0.7 1.5 2.1 17,098 16,960 16,634 15,956 7.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 24,403 24,423 23,690 -0.1 3.1 2.0 24,116 24,532 23,285 23,225 3.8

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 12,740 12,309 12,336 3.5 -0.2 0.5 12,534 12,568 12,272 11,409 9.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,383 3,333 3,341 1.5 -0.2 1.6 3,406 3,339 3,334 3,176 7.2

 Furniture and related products................. 8,558 8,586 8,573 -0.3 0.2 0.2 8,372 8,443 8,496 7,492 11.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 20,123 20,161 20,171 -0.2 0.0 0.3 19,981 20,235 20,003 19,125 4.5

 Nondurable goods industries................... 192,393 191,323 190,516 0.6 0.4 1.3 191,910 191,634 189,141 178,390 7.6

 Food products........................................ 34,079 34,087 33,894 0.0 0.6 0.0 33,421 34,024 33,691 32,845 1.8

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 2,767 2,738 2,652 1.1 3.2 -0.5 2,908 2,923 2,790 3,490 -16.7

 Dairy products.................................... 3,957 3,948 3,967 0.2 -0.5 0.4 3,959 3,906 3,854 3,730 6.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,431 6,472 6,373 -0.6 1.6 0.0 6,461 6,469 6,203 6,250 3.4

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 14,808 14,813 14,916 0.0 -0.7 1.7 14,824 15,029 15,174 14,711 0.8

 Beverages......................................... 10,339 10,318 10,366 0.2 -0.5 2.4 10,353 10,306 10,356 10,149 2.0

 Tobacco........................................... 4,469 4,495 4,550 -0.6 -1.2 0.1 4,471 4,723 4,818 4,562 -2.0

 Textile mills........................................... 4,587 4,663 4,712 -1.6 -1.0 -1.0 4,570 4,696 4,704 4,900 -6.7

 Textile products...................................... 5,433 5,433 5,395 0.0 0.7 1.8 5,419 5,453 5,393 5,079 6.7

 Apparel................................................. 7,419 7,427 7,329 -0.1 1.3 1.1 7,200 7,310 7,296 6,724 7.1

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,721 1,715 1,804 0.3 -4.9 4.6 1,677 1,712 1,809 1,626 3.1

 Paper products....................................... 15,375 15,342 15,247 0.2 0.6 1.9 15,436 15,482 15,327 14,318 7.8

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,635 6,580 6,485 0.8 1.5 2.1 6,682 6,673 6,524 6,275 6.5

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,595 4,603 4,601 -0.2 0.0 1.4 4,565 4,640 4,661 4,021 13.5

 Printing.................................................. 6,822 6,767 6,654 0.8 1.7 -2.6 6,626 6,539 6,309 6,013 10.2

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 19,786 19,210 18,994 3.0 1.1 8.4 19,518 18,698 18,207 15,982 22.1

 Petroleum refineries............................. 17,883 17,329 17,191 3.2 0.8 9.5 17,590 16,851 16,477 14,341 22.7

 Chemical products.................................. 57,702 57,412 57,349 0.5 0.1 0.0 58,008 57,734 56,813 55,050 5.4

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,521 2,519 2,509 0.1 0.4 0.8 2,936 2,978 2,823 2,705 8.5

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 21,985 22,046 22,383 -0.3 -1.5 -1.2 21,720 21,596 21,428 22,708 -4.4

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,998 2,962 2,921 1.2 1.4 -0.4 3,098 3,017 2,916 2,848 8.8

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 24,661 24,454 24,222 0.8 1.0 1.9 25,211 24,957 24,418 21,142 19.2

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.
 6 

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2005/

2005p 2005r 2005 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2005p 2005r 2005 2004 2005p 2004 2004

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 387,341 382,305 387,936 1.3 -1.5 1.1 411,408 363,517 351,469 390,300 1,126,394 1,047,956 7.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,265 40,755 40,943 1.3 -0.5 -0.1 42,351 37,212 35,563 40,365 115,126 105,403 9.2

 Information technology......................... 32,488 32,365 32,663 0.4 -0.9 2.4 37,016 28,751 27,761 34,965 93,528 87,320 7.1

 Computers and related products .......... 10,017 10,026 10,193 -0.1 -1.6 7.5 11,431 8,277 8,975 9,881 28,683 23,905 20.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 36,052 37,029 38,100 -2.6 -2.8 -4.2 40,179 38,292 34,529 46,403 113,000 121,539 -7.0

 Capital goods...................................... 75,193 75,046 76,685 0.2 -2.1 2.3 84,631 69,572 65,906 80,199 220,109 203,914 7.9

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 67,009 66,771 68,610 0.4 -2.7 2.6 75,715 61,652 59,318 71,187 196,685 178,966 9.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 64,186 64,691 66,396 -0.8 -2.6 3.6 71,905 59,655 58,014 67,723 189,574 171,727 10.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,184 8,275 8,075 -1.1 2.5 0.0 8,916 7,920 6,588 9,012 23,424 24,948 -6.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 148,845 144,109 145,300 3.3 -0.8 -0.1 153,057 138,324 134,395 144,802 425,776 400,022 6.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 34,258 34,908 35,077 -1.9 -0.5 -5.7 38,556 35,320 31,111 41,691 104,987 108,049 -2.8

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 114,587 109,201 110,223 4.9 -0.9 1.8 114,501 103,004 103,284 103,111 320,789 291,973 9.9

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 378,203 377,816 379,848 0.1 -0.5 0.0 403,585 362,941 352,341 392,335 1,118,867 1,051,406 6.4

 Construction materials and supplies...... 41,687 41,029 41,042 1.6 0.0 -0.3 43,440 38,078 36,283 41,687 117,801 109,453 7.6

 Information technology......................... 34,440 33,157 33,374 3.9 -0.7 0.0 39,149 30,641 30,054 37,016 99,844 92,475 8.0

 Computers and related products .......... 9,284 10,065 10,021 -7.8 0.4 -2.3 10,482 8,481 8,457 9,631 27,420 23,132 18.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 35,941 37,071 37,820 -3.0 -2.0 -4.5 39,909 38,565 34,671 46,480 113,145 122,514 -7.6

 Capital goods...................................... 74,044 77,227 77,044 -4.1 0.2 0.1 84,779 73,456 71,467 86,205 229,702 216,787 6.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 66,120 70,028 70,286 -5.6 -0.4 1.1 73,744 66,624 64,465 73,524 204,833 184,686 10.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 64,085 66,776 68,231 -4.0 -2.1 4.4 71,575 63,568 62,285 70,758 197,428 178,876 10.4

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 7,924 7,199 6,758 10.1 6.5 -9.8 11,035 6,832 7,002 12,681 24,869 32,101 -22.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 148,281 143,911 145,380 3.0 -1.0 0.1 152,330 138,282 134,732 144,857 425,344 400,231 6.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 33,694 34,710 35,157 -2.9 -1.3 -4.9 37,829 35,278 31,448 41,746 104,555 108,258 -3.4

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 114,587 109,201 110,223 4.9 -0.9 1.8 114,501 103,004 103,284 103,111 320,789 291,973 9.9

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 552,867 554,807 552,015 -0.3 0.5 0.0 561,158 561,497 554,929 525,993 (X) (X) 6.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 38,692 38,270 37,996 1.1 0.7 0.3 39,249 38,160 37,294 35,919 (X) (X) 9.3

 Information technology......................... 135,329 133,377 132,585 1.5 0.6 0.5 137,062 134,929 133,039 124,327 (X) (X) 10.2

 Computers and related products .......... 8,268 9,001 8,962 -8.1 0.4 -1.9 8,012 8,961 8,757 8,032 (X) (X) -0.2

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 14,299 14,410 14,368 -0.8 0.3 -1.9 14,810 15,080 14,807 14,595 (X) (X) 1.5

 Capital goods...................................... 394,464 395,613 393,432 -0.3 0.6 0.1 400,508 400,360 396,476 370,670 (X) (X) 8.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................248,891 249,780 246,523 -0.4 1.3 0.7 251,186 253,157 248,185 225,267 (X) (X) 11.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 156,653 156,754 154,669 -0.1 1.3 1.2 158,163 158,493 154,580 146,433 (X) (X) 8.0

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 145,573 145,833 146,909 -0.2 -0.7 -0.9 149,322 147,203 148,291 145,403 (X) (X) 2.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 13,468 14,032 14,230 -4.0 -1.4 0.6 13,496 14,223 14,265 12,820 (X) (X) 5.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 13,468 14,032 14,230 -4.0 -1.4 0.6 13,496 14,223 14,265 12,820 (X) (X) 5.3 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 484,084 481,287 478,351 0.6 0.6 1.5 482,764 484,430 475,933 443,371 (X) (X) 8.9

 Construction materials and supplies...... 53,566 53,251 52,405 0.6 1.6 1.6 54,572 54,223 52,282 48,154 (X) (X) 13.3

 Information technology......................... 40,377 40,563 40,819 -0.5 -0.6 0.9 39,343 40,845 40,473 37,751 (X) (X) 4.2

 Computers and related products .......... 6,715 6,586 6,554 2.0 0.5 1.3 6,344 6,581 6,356 5,609 (X) (X) 13.1

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 22,707 22,385 22,194 1.4 0.9 2.2 22,800 22,591 22,153 21,067 (X) (X) 8.2

 Capital goods...................................... 133,230 133,111 132,463 0.1 0.5 1.2 132,091 134,350 131,507 124,028 (X) (X) 6.5

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................113,533 113,142 112,372 0.3 0.7 1.3 112,611 114,289 111,556 104,517 (X) (X) 7.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 95,944 95,720 95,500 0.2 0.2 1.2 95,210 96,732 94,979 87,786 (X) (X) 8.5

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 19,697 19,969 20,091 -1.4 -0.6 0.8 19,480 20,061 19,951 19,511 (X) (X) -0.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 145,096 144,463 144,499 0.4 0.0 1.6 143,307 143,948 142,770 136,569 (X) (X) 4.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 30,103 29,988 30,076 0.4 -0.3 0.8 29,729 30,256 29,976 27,481 (X) (X) 8.2

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 114,993 114,475 114,423 0.5 0.0 1.8 113,578 113,692 112,794 109,088 (X) (X) 4.1

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
 7

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

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

2005p 2005r 2005 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2005p 2005r 2005 2004 05/04

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 158,952 157,497 157,310 0.9 0.1 1.6 158,612 158,115 157,947 145,160 9.3

 Durable goods industries ........................ 96,130 95,267 95,351 0.9 -0.1 1.7 95,614 95,799 95,905 85,344 12.0

 Wood products................................... 3,925 3,888 3,851 1.0 1.0 2.9 3,858 3,958 4,038 3,719 3.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,479 3,415 3,417 1.9 -0.1 1.5 3,463 3,391 3,422 3,287 5.4

 Primary metals.................................... 9,214 8,782 8,627 4.9 1.8 1.3 8,941 8,655 8,776 6,206 44.1

 Fabricated metal products..................... 14,403 14,472 14,128 -0.5 2.4 2.2 14,440 14,560 14,139 11,556 25.0

 Machinery.......................................... 14,276 14,303 14,243 -0.2 0.4 1.8 14,200 14,380 14,369 12,479 13.8

 Computers and electronic products ...... 16,765 17,050 17,378 -1.7 -1.9 0.9 16,676 17,299 17,345 16,704 -0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,048 4,961 4,930 1.8 0.6 0.3 5,086 5,080 4,979 4,605 10.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 18,402 17,979 18,271 2.4 -1.6 3.5 18,392 18,066 18,316 17,498 5.1

 Furniture and related products............ 3,620 3,571 3,626 1.4 -1.5 -1.3 3,617 3,551 3,627 3,133 15.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,998 6,846 6,880 2.2 -0.5 0.5 6,941 6,859 6,894 6,157 12.7

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 62,822 62,230 61,959 1.0 0.4 1.4 62,998 62,316 62,042 59,816 5.3

 Food products.................................... 9,391 9,371 9,409 0.2 -0.4 -1.8 9,462 9,503 9,531 10,285 -8.0

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,038 5,100 5,172 -1.2 -1.4 0.8 5,132 5,257 5,416 5,410 -5.1

 Textiles.............................................. 1,349 1,342 1,385 0.5 -3.1 1.8 1,355 1,348 1,384 1,366 -0.8

 Textile products.................................. 1,961 1,941 1,946 1.0 -0.3 0.2 1,949 1,938 1,947 1,790 8.9

 Apparel............................................. 1,633 1,646 1,631 -0.8 0.9 0.1 1,611 1,634 1,627 1,602 0.6

 Leather and allied products................... 458 463 486 -1.1 -4.7 1.9 441 452 476 432 2.1

 Paper products................................... 6,542 6,507 6,483 0.5 0.4 2.3 6,539 6,528 6,506 6,509 0.5

 Printing ............................................. 3,022 2,959 2,945 2.1 0.5 -4.0 3,000 2,882 2,862 2,709 10.7

 Petroleum and coal products............... 6,234 5,880 5,929 6.0 -0.8 6.5 6,222 5,704 5,654 5,149 20.8

 Chemical products................................ 18,276 18,261 17,859 0.1 2.3 1.4 18,281 18,220 17,815 17,104 6.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,918 8,760 8,714 1.8 0.5 3.4 9,006 8,850 8,824 7,460 20.7

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 136,158 136,304 134,338 -0.1 1.5 0.8 135,252 136,734 133,171 128,725 5.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 104,351 104,536 103,247 -0.2 1.2 1.4 103,659 105,108 102,261 97,005 6.9

 Wood products................................... 2,122 2,062 2,026 2.9 1.8 3.1 2,137 2,065 2,024 2,035 5.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,127 1,141 1,146 -1.2 -0.4 -0.4 1,192 1,197 1,149 1,285 -7.2

 Primary metals.................................... 7,331 7,496 7,498 -2.2 0.0 8.6 7,332 7,511 7,509 6,198 18.3

 Fabricated metal products..................... 10,641 10,466 10,318 1.7 1.4 0.6 10,661 10,506 10,245 9,554 11.6

 Machinery.......................................... 16,251 16,248 16,241 0.0 0.0 2.8 16,026 16,284 15,818 14,763 8.6

 Computers and electronic products ...... 19,394 19,386 19,376 0.0 0.1 0.0 18,711 19,183 19,139 17,948 4.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,068 3,068 3,101 0.0 -1.1 1.4 3,101 3,128 3,091 2,954 5.0

 Transportation equipment.................. 39,404 39,402 38,624 0.0 2.0 0.6 39,475 39,999 38,487 37,508 5.2

 Furniture and related products............ 1,647 1,692 1,633 -2.7 3.6 3.4 1,646 1,683 1,633 1,555 5.9

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,366 3,575 3,284 -5.8 8.9 -2.7 3,378 3,552 3,166 3,205 5.4

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 31,807 31,768 31,091 0.1 2.2 -1.2 31,593 31,626 30,910 31,720 -0.4

 Food products.................................... 3,327 3,679 3,471 -9.6 6.0 -0.8 3,248 3,734 3,579 2,971 9.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,905 4,862 4,893 0.9 -0.6 0.7 4,858 4,947 5,102 4,687 3.6

 Textiles.............................................. 1,207 1,226 1,232 -1.5 -0.5 -0.5 1,205 1,242 1,249 1,288 -6.4

 Textile products.................................. 669 672 676 -0.4 -0.6 1.2 669 674 671 693 -3.5

 Apparel............................................. 1,102 1,078 1,072 2.2 0.6 -1.6 1,084 1,060 1,074 1,160 -6.6

 Leather and allied products................... 167 167 166 0.0 0.6 1.8 170 171 177 180 -5.6

 Paper products................................... 1,385 1,350 1,298 2.6 4.0 0.3 1,366 1,332 1,321 1,139 19.9

 Printing ............................................. 1,798 1,834 1,731 -2.0 6.0 -4.5 1,706 1,772 1,602 1,620 5.3

 Petroleum and coal products............... 3,934 3,767 3,551 4.4 6.1 4.9 3,996 3,672 3,351 4,520 -11.6

 Chemical products................................ 10,472 10,302 10,237 1.7 0.6 -4.2 10,368 10,139 9,960 10,917 -5.0

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,841 2,831 2,764 0.4 2.4 0.1 2,923 2,883 2,824 2,545 14.9

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 188,974 187,486 186,703 0.8 0.4 1.9 188,900 189,581 184,815 169,486 11.5

 Durable goods industries ........................ 91,210 90,161 89,237 1.2 1.0 1.7 91,581 91,889 88,626 82,632 10.8

 Wood products................................... 4,549 4,578 4,592 -0.6 -0.3 3.9 5,023 4,857 4,493 4,601 9.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,224 5,284 5,150 -1.1 2.6 1.6 5,389 5,463 5,161 4,853 11.0

 Primary metals.................................... 6,974 6,637 6,413 5.1 3.5 2.2 7,145 6,804 6,493 5,547 28.8

 Fabricated metal products..................... 11,823 11,715 11,685 0.9 0.3 1.5 12,072 11,972 11,638 10,772 12.1

 Machinery.......................................... 16,694 16,600 16,376 0.6 1.4 0.6 17,215 17,339 16,636 15,546 10.7

 Computers and electronic products ...... 13,299 13,069 13,084 1.8 -0.1 2.9 12,778 13,204 13,032 11,474 11.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,188 5,138 5,105 1.0 0.6 1.5 5,289 5,261 5,036 4,976 6.3

 Transportation equipment.................. 14,409 14,077 13,511 2.4 4.2 2.2 13,899 13,956 12,958 12,296 13.0

 Furniture and related products............ 3,291 3,323 3,314 -1.0 0.3 0.3 3,109 3,209 3,236 2,804 10.9

 Miscellaneous products........................ 9,759 9,740 10,007 0.2 -2.7 1.2 9,662 9,824 9,943 9,763 -1.0

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 97,764 97,325 97,466 0.5 -0.1 2.1 97,319 97,692 96,189 86,854 12.0

 Food products.................................... 21,361 21,037 21,014 1.5 0.1 1.0 20,711 20,787 20,581 19,589 5.7

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,865 4,851 4,851 0.3 0.0 3.6 4,834 4,825 4,656 4,614 4.8

 Textiles.............................................. 2,031 2,095 2,095 -3.1 0.0 -3.0 2,010 2,106 2,071 2,246 -10.5

 Textile products.................................. 2,803 2,820 2,773 -0.6 1.7 3.0 2,801 2,841 2,775 2,596 7.9

 Apparel............................................. 4,684 4,703 4,626 -0.4 1.7 2.2 4,505 4,616 4,595 3,962 13.7

 Leather and allied products................... 1,096 1,085 1,152 1.0 -5.8 6.2 1,066 1,089 1,156 1,014 5.1

 Paper products................................... 7,448 7,485 7,466 -0.5 0.3 1.9 7,531 7,622 7,500 6,670 12.9

 Printing ............................................. 2,002 1,974 1,978 1.4 -0.2 1.5 1,920 1,885 1,845 1,684 14.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... 9,618 9,563 9,514 0.6 0.5 10.9 9,300 9,322 9,202 6,313 47.3

 Chemical products................................ 28,954 28,849 29,253 0.4 -1.4 0.6 29,359 29,375 29,038 27,029 8.6

 Plastics and rubber products............... 12,902 12,863 12,744 0.3 0.9 1.4 13,282 13,224 12,770 11,137 19.3

p

 Preliminary r Revised

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

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Mar Feb Jan Dec Mar Feb Jan Dec

2005p 2005r 2005 2004 2005p 2005r 2005 2004

 All manufacturing industries2...... 1.25 1.26 1.23 1.23 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries 2

................... 1.43 1.42 1.38 1.37 3.93 3.95 3.85 3.93

 Wood products................................ 1.12 1.11 1.13 1.07 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.19 1.21 1.22 1.19 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.55 1.51 1.46 1.41 1.23 1.24 1.23 1.28

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.56 1.56 1.52 1.52 2.07 2.08 2.03 2.04

 Machinery....................................... 1.84 1.79 1.73 1.72 2.29 2.24 2.11 2.14

 Computers and electronic products 2

.. 1.19 1.20 1.18 1.22 4.88 4.85 4.85 4.92

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.46 1.43 1.40 1.44 1.82 1.81 1.77 1.79

 Transportation equipment................. 1.38 1.36 1.30 1.26 7.65 7.88 7.56 7.84

 Furniture and related products........... 1.28 1.29 1.29 1.28 1.10 1.09 1.05 1.06

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.67 1.68 1.64 1.63 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.05 1.07 1.06 1.06 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.82 0.81 0.80 0.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.60 1.66 1.66 1.61 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.37 1.33 1.34 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.67 1.66 1.63 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.74 1.69 1.63 1.58 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 1.88 1.86 1.90 2.31 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.01 1.03 1.01 1.02 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.85 0.85 0.83 0.86 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.54 0.62 0.61 0.57 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products............................. 1.32 1.31 1.30 1.31 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.41 1.39 1.37 1.35 (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.

Mar2 Mar2 Mar2 Mar2

Industry 2004- 2004- 2004- 2004-

Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005

 All manufacturing industries........... (X) 0.3 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.2

Durable goods industries ...................... 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.7 -0.2 1.3 -0.1 0.6 0.0 0.4

 Fabricated metal products.................... 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.3

 Machinery.......................................... 0.3 0.6 0.4 1.2 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.2

 Computers and electronic products ..... 0.5 0.6 1.3 1.3 0.3 0.2 -0.2 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.1 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.7 (X) 0.8 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.4

Nondurable goods industries.................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Food products................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Leather and allied products................... (X) 1.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Chemical products................................ (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

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

 publication.

2

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

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

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

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

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.

2005 Release Dates for M3 Survey

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

Dec 2004 January 27, 2005 February 3, 2005

Jan 2005 February 24, 2005 March 4, 2005

Feb 2005 March 24, 2005 March 31, 2005

Mar 2005 April 27, 2005 May 3, 2005

Apr 2005 May 25, 2005 June 2, 2005

May 2005 June 24, 2005 July 5, 2005

Jun 2005 July 27, 2005 August 2, 2005

Jul 2005 August 24, 2005 August 30, 2005

Aug 2005 September 28, 2005 October 4, 2005

Sep 2005 October 27, 2005 November 3, 2005

Oct 2005 November 29, 2005 December 6, 2005

Nov 2005 December 23, 2005