FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2011, AT 10:00 A.M. EST 

Chris Savage or Adriana Stoica 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (11)-10 

CB11-205 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

October 2011 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in October, down 

two consecutive months, decreased $1.6 billion or 0.4 

percent to $450.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 0.1 percent September 

decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders 

increased 0.2 percent. 

 Shipments, up five consecutive months, increased $2.6 

billion or 0.6 percent to $455.4 billion. This followed a 

0.3 percent September increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up eighteen of the last nineteen 

months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $885.9 

billion. This followed a 0.6 percent September increase. 

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.07, down 

from 6.08 in September. 

 Inventories, up twenty four of the last twenty five 

months, increased $5.6 billion or 0.9 percent to $607.1 

billion. This was at the highest level since the series was 

first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 

0.1 percent September increase. The inventories-toshipments ratio was 1.33, unchanged from September. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

October, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.9 

billion or 0.5 percent to $198.5 billion, revised from the 

previously published 0.7 percent decrease. This 

followed a 1.4 percent September decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive 

months, had the largest decrease, $2.5 billion or 5.1 

percent to $47.2 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

decreased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $251.5 billion. 

 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, 

up five of the last six months, increased $3.2 billion or 

1.6 percent to $203.9 billion, revised from the previously 

published 1.3 percent increase. This followed a 0.4 

percent September decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, up following two 

consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, 

 

 

$2.3 billion or 5.0 percent to $48.4 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down 

following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased 

$0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $251.5 billion. This 

followed a 0.9 percent September increase. Petroleum 

and coal products, down two of the last three months, led 

the decrease, down $0.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $71.2 

billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

October, up eighteen of the last nineteen months, 

increased $1.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $885.9 billion, 

unchanged from the previously published increase. This 

followed a 0.6 percent September increase. 

 

 Machinery, up twenty one consecutive months, had the 

largest increase, $1.6 billion or 1.3 percent to $117.3 

billion. This was at the highest level since the series was 

first published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.2 

percent September increase. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in October, 

up twenty two consecutive months, increased $1.6 

billion or 0.4 percent to $366.9 billion, revised from the 

previously published 0.5 percent increase. This was at 

the highest level since the series was first published on a 

NAICS basis and followed a slight September increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up twenty two 

consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.9 billion 

or 0.8 percent to $113.6 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up two 

consecutive months, increased $3.9 billion or 1.7 percent 

to $240.2 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent September 

increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up two 

consecutive months, led the increase, up $3.1 billion or 

6.1 percent to $53.8 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, October materials and supplies 

increased 0.2 percent in durable goods and 3.5 percent in 

nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.8 

percent in durable goods and 1.7 percent in nondurable 

goods. Finished goods increased 0.3 percent in durable 

goods and 0.4 percent in nondurable goods. 

Figures in text are adjusted for seasonality but not for inflation. Figures on new and unfilled orders exclude data for semiconductor manufacturing. For 

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

The advance report on durable goods for November is scheduled for release on December 23, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. EST and the full report on January 4, 2012, 

at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description. 
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

 All manufacturing industries.................. 455,440 452,874 451,411 0.6 0.3 0.1 460,504 466,684 472,254 414,825 4,469,424 4,001,089 11.7

 Excluding transportation................... 407,078 406,818 404,468 0.1 0.6 0.7 411,050 416,196 422,572 368,517 4,003,536 3,553,413 12.7

 Excluding defense.............................. 446,333 443,135 441,511 0.7 0.4 0.0 451,676 456,005 462,563 404,193 4,370,989 3,881,794 12.6

 With unfilled orders............................ 146,072 145,446 144,855 0.4 0.4 0.8 146,292 155,020 150,485 133,872 1,424,278 1,318,443 8.0

 Durable goods industries......................... 203,949 200,700 201,505 1.6 -0.4 0.1 208,539 212,699 210,208 190,102 1,980,830 1,835,553 7.9

 Wood products....................................... 5,400 5,314 5,296 1.6 0.3 -0.8 5,639 5,603 5,748 5,498 53,918 55,758 -3.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,013 7,934 7,893 1.0 0.5 0.8 8,446 8,529 8,963 8,128 79,943 77,917 2.6

 Primary metals....................................... 25,352 24,575 24,217 3.2 1.5 -0.6 25,479 25,307 26,038 18,893 239,332 185,100 29.3

 Iron and steel mills............................ 11,211 10,930 10,927 2.6 0.0 -2.2 11,023 11,169 11,695 9,417 113,646 95,385 19.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 12,421 11,953 11,616 3.9 2.9 1.1 12,754 12,311 12,548 8,042 109,027 75,933 43.6

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,720 1,692 1,674 1.7 1.1 -0.5 1,702 1,827 1,795 1,434 16,659 13,782 20.9

 Fabricated metal products....................... 25,209 25,310 25,055 -0.4 1.0 0.8 26,059 26,873 27,285 24,447 251,390 237,239 6.0

 Machinery............................................. 30,749 31,140 31,461 -1.3 -1.0 5.8 30,292 32,226 31,534 26,064 293,743 260,847 12.6

 Farm machinery................................. 3,063 2,719 3,681 12.7 -26.1 23.9 2,948 2,686 3,675 2,088 27,167 22,757 19.4

 Construction machinery..................... 4,223 4,269 4,297 -1.1 -0.7 4.7 4,492 4,414 4,355 3,420 38,452 27,617 39.2

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,619 1,680 1,816 -3.6 -7.5 2.4 1,616 1,666 1,794 1,501 16,330 15,204 7.4

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,707 3,572 3,393 3.8 5.3 5.3 3,377 3,931 3,002 2,527 32,000 26,645 20.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 640 640 642 0.0 -0.3 4.9 647 701 687 682 6,478 6,759 -4.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,464 2,475 2,588 -0.4 -4.4 -0.8 2,231 2,684 2,804 2,502 26,091 27,689 -5.8

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,066 1,916 1,952 7.8 -1.8 -0.7 2,161 2,056 2,085 1,717 19,031 18,525 2.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,615 4,619 3,908 -21.7 18.2 9.8 3,719 4,568 3,932 3,346 37,637 32,097 17.3

 Material handling equipment............... 2,720 2,625 2,631 3.6 -0.2 4.7 2,670 2,690 2,779 2,211 25,196 21,475 17.3

 Computers and electronic products2.......... 31,482 30,921 31,185 1.8 -0.8 0.6 33,866 32,918 30,489 32,993 306,547 299,957 2.2

 Computers........................................ 4,573 4,248 4,092 7.7 3.8 -4.7 5,533 4,402 3,877 4,826 41,828 37,401 11.8

 Computer storage devices..................... 759 793 768 -4.3 3.3 22.3 557 1,140 633 471 6,728 5,857 14.9

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,029 985 934 4.5 5.5 3.8 904 1,275 849 753 8,815 8,040 9.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,511 2,572 2,574 -2.4 -0.1 0.3 2,180 3,125 2,433 2,595 25,549 30,656 -16.7

 Defense communications equipment.... 467 593 495 -21.2 19.8 6.2 452 672 478 527 4,992 5,532 -9.8

 Audio and video equipment.................... 227 233 249 -2.6 -6.4 -0.4 280 228 212 330 2,271 2,275 -0.2

 Electronic components......................... 3,259 3,231 3,338 0.9 -3.2 4.0 3,183 3,475 3,483 3,392 33,007 34,163 -3.4

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,145 1,123 1,185 2.0 -5.2 -2.9 1,082 1,268 1,234 1,063 11,668 10,689 9.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,590 2,768 2,780 -6.4 -0.4 2.2 2,540 2,932 2,806 2,840 26,925 30,001 -10.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 7,228 7,259 7,359 -0.4 -1.4 -1.1 6,934 8,371 7,077 7,183 72,653 69,794 4.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,180 10,275 10,305 -0.9 -0.3 3.9 10,170 11,089 10,784 9,869 101,260 95,327 6.2

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 987 998 1,023 -1.1 -2.4 0.3 999 1,053 1,056 1,026 10,000 9,739 2.7

 Household appliances........................ 1,543 1,520 1,499 1.5 1.4 -1.6 1,517 1,591 1,552 1,537 15,508 15,796 -1.8

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,797 3,857 3,947 -1.6 -2.3 8.2 3,592 4,296 4,090 3,416 37,429 34,507 8.5

 Batteries........................................... 878 883 873 -0.6 1.1 8.9 1,054 1,000 938 1,020 8,526 8,228 3.6

 Transportation equipment........................ 48,362 46,056 46,943 5.0 -1.9 -4.9 49,454 50,488 49,682 46,308 465,888 447,676 4.1

 Automobiles..................................... 5,629 5,102 5,033 10.3 1.4 -5.5 6,184 5,549 5,728 5,272 52,365 49,845 5.1

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 8,111 7,252 7,681 11.8 -5.6 -19.2 9,089 8,265 8,427 8,238 79,311 67,963 16.7

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,053 2,018 2,003 1.7 0.7 3.4 2,148 2,214 2,145 1,605 18,447 15,456 19.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 14,322 13,990 14,153 2.4 -1.2 -5.6 15,104 14,923 15,596 14,474 144,314 135,452 6.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 8,770 8,049 7,804 9.0 3.1 3.4 7,681 8,693 7,747 6,031 71,010 64,414 10.2

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,725 3,792 4,053 -1.8 -6.4 6.1 3,600 4,335 3,879 4,400 40,131 49,047 -18.2

 Ships and boats................................. 2,233 2,322 2,334 -3.8 -0.5 1.1 2,206 2,382 2,283 2,226 22,999 24,022 -4.3

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,422 5,499 5,577 -1.4 -1.4 2.9 5,367 5,649 6,008 5,140 55,336 51,638 7.2

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,780 13,676 13,573 0.8 0.8 -0.1 13,767 14,017 13,677 12,762 133,473 124,094 7.6

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 251,491 252,174 249,906 -0.3 0.9 0.0 251,965 253,985 262,046 224,723 2,488,594 2,165,536 14.9

 Food products....................................... 62,766 62,538 62,314 0.4 0.4 1.2 65,503 64,096 63,497 58,922 608,497 547,491 11.1

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,631 8,382 8,434 3.0 -0.6 2.0 9,163 8,465 8,892 7,546 82,341 69,978 17.7

 Dairy products.................................. 9,311 9,436 9,498 -1.3 -0.7 0.1 9,399 9,651 9,790 8,742 91,670 81,059 13.1

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,547 17,617 17,544 -0.4 0.4 2.2 17,931 17,508 17,883 16,802 171,850 160,361 7.2

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,186 12,390 12,257 -1.6 1.1 2.1 12,191 12,449 12,911 11,629 120,455 108,967 10.5

 Beverages......................................... 9,575 9,689 9,343 -1.2 3.7 -1.3 9,580 9,748 9,997 9,026 94,352 83,069 13.6

 Tobacco............................................ 2,611 2,701 2,914 -3.3 -7.3 15.0 2,611 2,701 2,914 2,603 26,103 25,898 0.8

 Textile mills........................................... 2,557 2,596 2,587 -1.5 0.3 -0.9 2,618 2,661 2,700 2,546 26,379 25,007 5.5

 Textile products................................... 1,865 1,865 1,841 0.0 1.3 0.8 1,898 1,865 1,921 1,820 18,712 18,281 2.4

 Apparel................................................ 1,436 1,402 1,375 2.4 2.0 6.5 1,644 1,500 1,507 1,402 13,139 12,200 7.7

 Leather and allied products...................... 306 307 311 -0.3 -1.3 -2.2 312 348 331 320 3,178 3,141 1.2

 Paper products...................................... 14,272 14,215 14,309 0.4 -0.7 -0.6 14,410 14,523 15,034 14,727 144,444 143,290 0.8

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,730 6,724 6,746 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 6,802 6,866 7,102 6,798 67,655 66,598 1.6

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,232 4,212 4,209 0.5 0.1 -2.5 4,323 4,284 4,444 4,551 43,444 42,963 1.1

 Printing................................................. 6,894 6,979 7,072 -1.2 -1.3 2.6 7,226 7,381 7,262 7,352 69,606 69,647 -0.1

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 71,228 71,806 69,525 -0.8 3.3 -1.9 70,328 70,924 75,251 54,907 704,941 518,419 36.0

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 67,088 67,694 65,139 -0.9 3.9 -2.1 65,807 66,106 69,783 51,304 663,012 485,248 36.6

 Chemical products..................................... 61,584 61,753 62,092 -0.3 -0.5 0.4 59,335 61,491 64,141 55,764 616,820 565,806 9.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,699 5,536 5,440 2.9 1.8 2.7 4,063 4,639 4,855 3,254 53,284 41,793 27.5

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 15,011 15,304 15,368 -1.9 -0.4 1.3 15,230 15,425 15,923 15,986 154,011 157,203 -2.0

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,617 2,576 2,519 1.6 2.3 1.5 2,649 2,712 2,790 2,444 25,807 25,667 0.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 16,397 16,323 16,223 0.5 0.6 0.1 16,500 16,747 17,491 15,334 162,423 153,287 6.0

p

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

1

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

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

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

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

2 Estimates and percent changes of shipments for the semiconductor industry are no longer shown separately, but are included in computers and electronic products, and all other applicable

 aggregate totals. 

Year to date
 3

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

All manufacturing industries2...................... 450,031 451,636 452,121 -0.4 -0.1 0.1 448,326 464,693 469,793 407,224 4,447,313 3,958,708 12.3

 Excluding transportation2...................... 402,850 401,940 398,424 0.2 0.9 -0.1 402,920 411,431 413,708 358,842 3,966,746 3,517,365 12.8

 Excluding defense2.............................. 441,223 440,931 441,626 0.1 -0.2 0.0 441,362 453,367 460,836 399,076 4,344,654 3,843,742 13.0

 With unfilled orders2

............................. 147,874 150,847 152,469 -2.0 -1.1 0.8 143,752 158,522 154,912 134,774 1,469,914 1,337,328 9.9

 Durable goods industries2........................ 198,540 199,462 202,215 -0.5 -1.4 0.1 196,361 210,708 207,747 182,501 1,958,719 1,793,172 9.2

 Primary metals........................................ 25,629 24,889 24,432 3.0 1.9 0.0 24,765 25,096 26,004 17,820 238,549 189,202 26.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 11,227 11,202 10,890 0.2 2.9 -1.9 10,165 11,095 11,520 8,237 110,861 98,371 12.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 12,637 12,015 11,760 5.2 2.2 1.3 12,865 12,252 12,589 8,064 110,491 76,724 44.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,765 1,672 1,782 5.6 -6.2 3.4 1,735 1,749 1,895 1,519 17,197 14,107 21.9

 Fabricated metal products........................ 25,712 25,818 25,477 -0.4 1.3 -0.7 25,879 27,046 27,176 23,097 257,025 238,109 7.9

 Machinery............................................. 32,302 31,398 32,007 2.9 -1.9 -1.9 32,071 31,753 31,685 28,334 316,156 275,364 14.8

 Construction machinery....................... 4,771 4,621 3,795 3.2 21.8 -17.0 4,999 4,708 3,672 3,535 40,819 28,604 42.7

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,455 1,934 1,546 -24.8 25.1 -42.3 1,545 1,712 1,653 1,380 20,635 17,124 20.5

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,020 3,214 3,468 -6.0 -7.3 25.2 3,051 3,326 2,791 3,936 32,009 29,535 8.4

 Photographic equipment...................... 622 630 644 -1.3 -2.2 2.5 604 751 671 679 6,608 6,708 -1.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 2,616 1,728 2,155 51.4 -19.8 -26.4 2,312 1,571 2,405 2,873 28,855 30,851 -6.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,179 2,015 2,001 8.1 0.7 -4.2 2,286 2,126 2,117 1,713 20,389 18,392 10.9

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 5,241 5,295 4,755 -1.0 11.4 1.4 5,250 5,158 4,678 3,714 44,895 34,272 31.0

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,689 2,690 2,844 0.0 -5.4 8.8 2,474 2,986 2,891 2,101 26,091 22,329 16.8

 Computers and electronic products2......... 24,797 24,602 24,075 0.8 2.2 1.4 24,527 28,711 22,541 23,167 238,783 239,293 -0.2

 Computers........................................ 4,543 4,367 4,071 4.0 7.3 2.5 5,503 4,521 3,856 4,728 41,561 37,342 11.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,829 2,701 2,433 4.7 11.0 7.4 2,789 3,436 2,493 2,538 25,278 30,302 -16.6

 Defense communications equipment...... 396 400 496 -1.0 -19.4 5.5 305 603 370 417 4,274 5,629 -24.1

 Electronic components......................... 3,350 3,342 3,295 0.2 1.4 1.6 3,216 3,540 3,540 3,357 33,299 35,000 -4.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,147 1,318 1,223 -13.0 7.8 5.7 1,068 1,503 1,194 993 12,154 10,360 17.3

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,677 2,664 2,770 0.5 -3.8 -0.4 2,407 2,976 2,354 2,016 26,157 29,738 -12.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 7,357 7,322 7,329 0.5 -0.1 -4.4 6,915 8,952 6,521 7,054 73,882 70,467 4.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,126 10,694 10,550 -5.3 1.4 3.8 10,131 11,152 10,674 9,924 104,387 99,157 5.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,009 1,009 993 0.0 1.6 -2.6 994 1,048 1,021 976 10,077 9,847 2.3

 Household appliances.......................... 1,543 1,520 1,517 1.5 0.2 1.7 1,510 1,602 1,534 1,522 15,589 15,835 -1.6

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,881 3,760 3,895 3.2 -3.5 2.0 3,747 3,921 3,910 3,536 38,937 36,292 7.3

 Transportation equipment........................ 47,181 49,696 53,697 -5.1 -7.5 0.8 45,406 53,262 56,085 48,382 480,567 441,343 8.9

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 14,343 14,014 14,314 2.3 -2.1 -5.4 15,311 15,003 15,400 14,767 144,156 134,523 7.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 8,428 10,127 13,814 -16.8 -26.7 26.2 5,394 10,456 14,558 10,285 85,405 70,656 20.9

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 3,749 3,331 5,086 12.5 -34.5 24.3 3,273 3,535 4,416 4,061 41,906 48,888 -14.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,870 3,025 1,829 -38.2 65.4 -6.1 1,399 2,739 1,392 1,503 23,808 18,174 31.0

 Furniture and related products................. 5,491 5,446 5,270 0.8 3.3 -3.1 5,621 5,544 5,249 5,347 55,956 52,448 6.7

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 251,491 252,174 249,906 -0.3 0.9 0.0 251,965 253,985 262,046 224,723 2,488,594 2,165,536 14.9

p

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

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

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

Year to date
 4 

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. Oct.

2011p 2011r 2011 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

All manufacturing industries2...................... 885,934 884,132 878,731 0.2 0.6 0.9 875,094 877,634 874,132 817,558 7.0

 Excluding transportation2...................... 375,168 372,185 370,424 0.8 0.5 0.2 371,155 369,647 368,919 329,977 12.5

 Excluding defense2............................. 714,441 712,340 707,905 0.3 0.6 1.0 707,466 708,142 705,287 657,924 7.5

 Durable goods industries2

........................ 885,934 884,132 878,731 0.2 0.6 0.9 875,094 877,634 874,132 817,558 7.0

 Primary metals........................................ 32,406 32,129 31,815 0.9 1.0 0.7 30,878 31,592 31,803 27,803 11.1

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 17,818 17,802 17,530 0.1 1.6 -0.2 16,737 17,595 17,669 16,335 2.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 11,081 10,865 10,803 2.0 0.6 1.4 10,724 10,613 10,672 8,649 24.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 3,507 3,462 3,482 1.3 -0.6 3.2 3,417 3,384 3,462 2,819 21.2

 Fabricated metal products......................... 65,811 65,308 64,800 0.8 0.8 0.7 64,923 65,103 64,930 59,525 9.1

 Machinery.............................................. 117,320 115,767 115,509 1.3 0.2 0.5 116,691 114,912 115,385 90,799 28.5

 Construction machinery....................... 10,672 10,124 9,772 5.4 3.6 -4.9 10,315 9,808 9,514 7,076 45.8

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 12,965 13,129 12,875 -1.2 2.0 -2.1 12,991 13,062 13,016 8,539 52.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 13,919 14,606 14,964 -4.7 -2.4 0.5 13,897 14,223 14,828 13,685 1.5

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,977 1,995 2,005 -0.9 -0.5 0.1 2,009 2,052 2,002 2,170 -7.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 19,917 19,765 20,512 0.8 -3.6 -2.1 19,844 19,763 20,876 16,760 18.4

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,679 5,566 5,467 2.0 1.8 0.9 5,626 5,501 5,431 3,982 41.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 22,209 20,583 19,907 7.9 3.4 4.4 21,943 20,412 19,822 12,930 69.7

 Material handling equipment.................. 8,571 8,602 8,537 -0.4 0.8 2.6 8,458 8,654 8,358 7,235 16.9

 Computers and electronic products2......... 124,601 124,075 123,755 0.4 0.3 -0.2 123,854 123,555 122,269 121,243 2.2

 Computers......................................... 3,387 3,417 3,298 -0.9 3.6 -0.6 3,387 3,417 3,298 3,485 -2.8

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 22,675 22,357 22,228 1.4 0.6 -0.6 22,973 22,364 22,053 23,056 -0.4

 Defense communications equipment...... 5,737 5,808 6,001 -1.2 -3.2 0.0 5,629 5,776 5,845 6,258 -10.1

 Electronic components.......................... 11,705 11,614 11,503 0.8 1.0 -0.4 11,723 11,690 11,625 11,431 2.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 9,028 9,026 8,831 0.0 2.2 0.4 9,011 9,025 8,790 8,665 4.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 43,999 43,912 44,016 0.2 -0.2 0.0 43,262 43,395 43,351 42,254 2.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 28,070 27,941 27,878 0.5 0.2 -0.1 27,869 27,888 27,307 26,094 6.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 26,650 26,704 26,285 -0.2 1.6 0.9 26,379 26,418 26,355 22,461 17.4

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,089 1,067 1,056 2.1 1.0 -2.8 1,094 1,099 1,104 1,074 1.9

 Household appliances.......................... 823 823 823 0.0 0.0 2.2 785 792 781 583 34.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 14,608 14,524 14,621 0.6 -0.7 -0.4 14,545 14,390 14,765 12,499 16.4

 Transportation equipment........................ 510,766 511,947 508,307 -0.2 0.7 1.3 503,939 507,987 505,213 487,581 3.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 13,931 13,910 13,886 0.2 0.2 1.2 13,638 13,431 13,351 12,971 5.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 355,396 355,738 353,660 -0.1 0.6 1.7 351,811 354,098 352,335 337,321 4.3

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 55,223 55,199 55,660 0.0 -0.8 1.9 53,880 54,207 55,007 50,912 5.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 18,841 19,204 18,501 -1.9 3.8 -2.7 17,745 18,552 18,195 17,083 3.9

 Furniture and related products................. 6,800 6,731 6,784 1.0 -0.8 -4.3 6,850 6,596 6,701 6,573 4.2

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. Oct.

2011p 2011r 2011 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

 All manufacturing industries..................... 607,147 601,587 600,709 0.9 0.1 0.3 609,776 600,538 606,466 547,063 11.5

 Excluding transportation...................... 493,528 488,857 488,340 1.0 0.1 0.1 496,091 488,246 493,046 449,921 10.3

 Excluding defense............................. 581,456 575,981 574,671 1.0 0.2 0.3 584,064 575,013 580,496 522,377 11.8

 With unfilled orders............................. 300,525 299,420 299,976 0.4 -0.2 0.9 300,886 298,563 302,809 268,430 12.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 366,935 365,314 365,291 0.4 0.0 0.9 367,115 364,040 368,589 328,857 11.6

 Wood products........................................ 8,558 8,499 8,503 0.7 0.0 0.6 8,670 8,568 8,505 8,493 2.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,076 11,035 10,947 0.4 0.8 0.9 10,796 10,864 10,867 10,087 7.0

 Primary metals......................................... 34,176 34,331 34,512 -0.5 -0.5 0.7 34,175 34,560 34,929 29,796 14.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 21,259 21,419 21,535 -0.7 -0.5 1.1 21,332 21,691 21,864 18,195 17.2

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,860 10,865 10,954 0.0 -0.8 -0.2 10,793 10,874 11,068 9,783 10.3

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,057 2,047 2,023 0.5 1.2 1.0 2,050 1,995 1,997 1,818 12.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 46,190 45,941 45,982 0.5 -0.1 0.6 45,888 45,823 46,228 41,245 11.3

 Machinery.............................................. 59,810 59,619 59,467 0.3 0.3 1.5 59,713 59,107 59,720 52,495 13.7

 Farm machinery.................................. 3,368 3,393 3,463 -0.7 -2.0 3.8 3,071 3,152 3,314 2,568 19.6

 Construction machinery........................ 5,640 5,697 5,764 -1.0 -1.2 4.8 5,643 5,707 5,706 4,570 23.5

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,342 7,357 7,278 -0.2 1.1 1.3 7,278 7,354 7,401 6,253 16.4

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,921 6,940 6,806 -0.3 2.0 1.8 6,893 7,028 6,854 6,331 8.9

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,671 1,642 1,610 1.8 2.0 1.8 1,698 1,623 1,635 1,464 16.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,125 4,102 4,185 0.6 -2.0 -1.3 4,070 3,988 4,248 3,959 2.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 5,078 5,006 4,869 1.4 2.8 3.1 5,155 5,128 4,946 4,132 24.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 7,569 7,433 7,501 1.8 -0.9 0.5 7,837 7,320 7,706 6,485 20.8

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,682 3,691 3,678 -0.2 0.4 1.2 3,701 3,676 3,685 3,289 12.5

 Computers and electronic products2......... 48,132 48,128 48,447 0.0 -0.7 -0.2 48,522 47,876 49,317 46,427 4.5

 Computers......................................... 3,215 3,200 3,131 0.5 2.2 -3.6 3,219 3,404 3,335 3,012 6.9

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,401 1,396 1,381 0.4 1.1 0.0 1,443 1,364 1,435 1,326 8.8

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,497 1,487 1,458 0.7 2.0 1.8 1,516 1,450 1,527 1,422 6.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 7,220 7,263 7,292 -0.6 -0.4 1.0 7,299 7,086 7,347 6,991 4.4

 Defense communications equipment...... 2,499 2,471 2,747 1.1 -10.0 1.6 2,499 2,471 2,747 2,484 0.6

 Audio and video equipment.................. 511 520 535 -1.7 -2.8 1.3 579 588 584 590 -1.9

 Electronic components.......................... 7,107 7,178 7,128 -1.0 0.7 -0.6 7,237 7,098 7,115 7,260 -0.3

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,304 3,235 3,262 2.1 -0.8 1.9 3,386 3,270 3,312 3,188 6.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,726 2,649 2,694 2.9 -1.7 -2.8 2,735 2,604 2,721 2,835 -3.5

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 12,734 12,839 12,887 -0.8 -0.4 -0.4 12,736 12,676 13,145 11,918 6.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,536 15,389 15,570 1.0 -1.2 0.3 15,525 15,246 15,825 14,971 3.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,796 1,787 1,766 0.5 1.2 0.3 1,787 1,767 1,809 1,698 5.2

 Household appliances.......................... 2,116 2,124 2,214 -0.4 -4.1 0.7 2,173 2,159 2,307 2,284 -4.9

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,840 4,757 4,946 1.7 -3.8 -1.3 4,857 4,607 4,963 4,960 -2.1

 Batteries............................................ 1,070 1,045 1,019 2.4 2.6 1.7 1,062 1,056 1,063 1,026 3.5

 Transportation equipment......................... 113,619 112,730 112,369 0.8 0.3 1.4 113,685 112,292 113,420 97,142 17.0

 Automobiles....................................... 3,397 3,352 3,183 1.3 5.3 2.4 3,354 3,257 3,227 2,663 25.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 3,409 3,275 3,155 4.1 3.8 2.0 3,444 3,391 3,352 2,490 38.3

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,451 1,472 1,458 -1.4 1.0 -1.2 1,497 1,462 1,486 1,473 1.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 18,368 18,159 17,978 1.2 1.0 0.9 18,269 18,061 17,961 16,492 10.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 61,939 61,199 61,412 1.2 -0.3 1.8 61,960 60,880 62,091 49,601 24.9

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 14,295 14,565 14,414 -1.9 1.0 0.3 14,365 14,661 14,475 13,804 4.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,585 3,411 3,434 5.1 -0.7 2.5 3,557 3,329 3,362 3,053 16.5

 Furniture and related products................. 6,756 6,785 6,847 -0.4 -0.9 0.3 6,742 6,774 6,920 6,614 1.9

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 23,082 22,857 22,647 1.0 0.9 0.7 23,399 22,930 22,858 21,587 8.4

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 240,212 236,273 235,418 1.7 0.4 -0.5 242,661 236,498 237,877 218,206 11.2

 Food products........................................ 44,861 44,612 45,059 0.6 -1.0 0.1 47,704 45,320 45,324 45,560 4.7

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,199 5,083 5,361 2.3 -5.2 -1.5 5,530 4,901 5,232 5,659 -2.3

 Dairy products.................................... 6,058 6,073 6,099 -0.2 -0.4 1.4 6,061 6,132 6,297 5,674 6.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 8,508 8,413 8,513 1.1 -1.2 -0.4 8,777 8,480 8,522 8,741 0.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 16,596 16,526 16,474 0.4 0.3 -0.2 17,238 16,455 15,914 16,721 3.1

 Beverages......................................... 13,154 13,105 13,028 0.4 0.6 0.0 13,756 13,140 12,664 13,096 5.0

 Tobacco............................................ 3,442 3,421 3,446 0.6 -0.7 -0.9 3,482 3,315 3,250 3,625 -3.9

 Textile mills............................................ 3,654 3,648 3,656 0.2 -0.2 0.7 3,634 3,649 3,635 3,128 16.2

 Textile products...................................... 3,057 3,056 3,058 0.0 -0.1 0.9 3,055 3,077 3,089 2,794 9.3

 Apparel................................................. 2,736 2,627 2,569 4.1 2.3 1.9 2,794 2,744 2,712 2,308 21.1

 Leather and allied products...................... 908 904 903 0.4 0.1 0.7 896 908 925 794 12.8

 Paper products....................................... 14,062 14,052 14,018 0.1 0.2 0.2 14,015 14,014 14,013 13,856 1.1

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,053 6,047 6,003 0.1 0.7 0.3 6,003 6,000 5,977 5,776 3.9

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,040 4,027 4,030 0.3 -0.1 0.6 3,990 4,001 4,021 4,055 -1.6

 Printing.................................................. 5,455 5,474 5,512 -0.3 -0.7 -0.7 5,621 5,566 5,609 5,561 1.1

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 53,810 50,710 49,752 6.1 1.9 -3.2 53,408 50,610 51,793 40,722 31.2

 Petroleum refineries............................. 50,070 47,091 46,288 6.3 1.7 -3.5 49,697 46,981 48,182 37,857 31.3

 Chemical products..................................... 74,163 73,805 73,458 0.5 0.5 0.3 73,601 73,288 73,871 67,525 9.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,105 4,076 3,890 0.7 4.8 4.4 3,753 3,608 3,466 3,095 21.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 25,101 24,935 24,977 0.7 -0.2 -0.9 25,161 24,872 25,349 25,122 0.2

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 3,070 3,054 3,086 0.5 -1.0 -0.2 2,943 2,991 3,103 2,864 2.8

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 20,910 20,859 20,959 0.2 -0.5 0.4 20,695 20,867 20,992 19,237 7.6

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

1

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

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

where appropriate, as well as seasonal variation, based on the results of the latest annual review of the model parameters. Estimates are not adjusted for price changes. 2 Estimates of inventories for the semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and all other applicable agregates totals, but are not shown separately. 

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. 2011/

2011p 2011r 2011 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 2011p 2010 2010

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 455,440 452,874 451,411 0.6 0.3 0.1 460,504 466,684 472,254 414,825 4,469,424 4,001,089 11.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 37,488 37,154 37,475 0.9 -0.9 0.8 39,138 40,069 41,875 37,057 375,703 361,954 3.8

 Information technology......................... 24,627 24,708 24,548 -0.3 0.7 0.4 24,700 27,800 23,953 24,650 242,068 238,344 1.6

 Computers and related products........... 6,361 6,026 5,794 5.6 4.0 -0.5 6,994 6,817 5,359 6,050 57,371 51,298 11.8

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 30,115 28,362 28,870 6.2 -1.8 -9.1 32,525 30,951 31,896 29,589 294,437 268,716 9.6

 Capital goods...................................... 78,882 78,679 79,029 0.3 -0.4 3.0 77,547 84,290 78,925 71,556 755,108 714,006 5.8

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 71,872 71,087 71,470 1.1 -0.5 3.0 70,800 76,086 71,434 63,152 678,216 617,920 9.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 66,289 66,350 66,689 -0.1 -0.5 3.1 65,982 71,145 66,593 59,638 637,237 579,955 9.9

 Defense capital goods4....................... 7,010 7,592 7,559 -7.7 0.4 3.3 6,747 8,204 7,491 8,404 76,892 96,086 -20.0

 Consumer goods.................................. 198,634 198,033 195,501 0.3 1.3 -1.1 202,022 200,425 205,002 178,289 1,954,317 1,682,171 16.2

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,359 24,963 25,271 5.6 -1.2 -7.4 27,812 26,776 26,875 25,430 256,874 236,752 8.5

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 172,275 173,070 170,230 -0.5 1.7 -0.1 174,210 173,649 178,127 152,859 1,697,443 1,445,419 17.4

 All manufacturing industries5.................. 450,031 451,636 452,121 -0.4 -0.1 0.1 448,326 464,693 469,793 407,224 4,447,313 3,958,708 12.3

 Construction materials and supplies...... 37,498 36,417 37,041 3.0 -1.7 -1.7 38,741 38,844 41,066 36,395 379,815 365,268 4.0

 Information technology......................... 24,884 25,412 24,696 -2.1 2.9 2.2 24,741 29,503 22,943 23,359 243,350 239,956 1.4

 Computers and related products........... 6,331 6,145 5,773 3.0 6.4 5.0 6,964 6,936 5,338 5,952 57,104 51,239 11.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 30,136 28,386 29,031 6.2 -2.2 -9.0 32,732 31,031 31,700 29,882 294,279 267,787 9.9

 Capital goods...................................... 79,157 83,750 86,199 -5.5 -2.8 4.7 74,951 88,815 84,434 74,517 793,582 727,693 9.1

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 72,561 75,387 78,159 -3.7 -3.5 5.4 70,079 80,200 77,396 68,377 712,538 636,509 11.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 67,889 68,451 67,495 -0.8 1.4 0.9 68,078 73,152 65,788 60,978 659,479 592,641 11.3

 Defense capital goods4....................... 6,596 8,363 8,040 -21.1 4.0 -2.0 4,872 8,615 7,038 6,140 81,044 91,184 -11.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 198,772 197,996 195,290 0.4 1.4 -1.2 202,206 200,362 204,643 178,359 1,954,268 1,682,639 16.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 26,497 24,926 25,060 6.3 -0.5 -8.2 27,996 26,713 26,516 25,500 256,825 237,220 8.3

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 172,275 173,070 170,230 -0.5 1.7 -0.1 174,210 173,649 178,127 152,859 1,697,443 1,445,419 17.4

 All manufacturing industries5

.................. 885,934 884,132 878,731 0.2 0.6 0.9 875,094 877,634 874,132 817,558 (X) (X) 7.0

 Construction materials and supplies...... 57,142 57,132 57,869 0.0 -1.3 -0.7 56,544 56,941 58,166 52,186 (X) (X) 8.4

 Information technology......................... 125,003 124,746 124,042 0.2 0.6 0.1 124,095 124,054 122,351 120,287 (X) (X) 3.2

 Computers and related products........... 3,387 3,417 3,298 -0.9 3.6 -0.6 3,387 3,417 3,298 3,485 (X) (X) -2.8

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 13,931 13,910 13,886 0.2 0.2 1.2 13,638 13,431 13,351 12,971 (X) (X) 5.1

 Capital goods...................................... 674,075 673,800 668,729 0.0 0.8 1.1 666,686 669,282 664,757 623,888 (X) (X) 6.9

 Nondefense capital goods3.................. 521,903 521,214 516,914 0.1 0.8 1.3 517,862 518,583 514,469 481,429 (X) (X) 7.6

 Excluding aircraft............................. 209,197 207,597 205,496 0.8 1.0 0.4 208,336 206,240 204,233 182,307 (X) (X) 14.3

 Defense capital goods4....................... 152,172 152,586 151,815 -0.3 0.5 0.3 148,824 150,699 150,288 142,459 (X) (X) 4.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,662 4,524 4,561 3.1 -0.8 -4.4 4,561 4,377 4,440 4,445 (X) (X) 2.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,662 4,524 4,561 3.1 -0.8 -4.4 4,561 4,377 4,440 4,445 (X) (X) 2.6

 All manufacturing industries................... 607,147 601,587 600,709 0.9 0.1 0.3 609,776 600,538 606,466 547,063 (X) (X) 11.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 57,695 57,445 57,287 0.4 0.3 0.5 57,353 57,378 57,671 53,318 (X) (X) 7.6

 Information technology......................... 42,851 42,747 43,001 0.2 -0.6 0.1 43,126 42,582 43,864 40,605 (X) (X) 6.2

 Computers and related products........... 6,113 6,083 5,970 0.5 1.9 -1.5 6,178 6,218 6,297 5,760 (X) (X) 7.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 26,625 26,258 25,774 1.4 1.9 1.1 26,564 26,171 26,026 23,118 (X) (X) 14.9

 Capital goods...................................... 188,504 187,245 187,564 0.7 -0.2 1.1 188,774 186,102 189,343 165,559 (X) (X) 14.0

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 168,268 167,207 167,042 0.6 0.1 1.2 168,587 166,241 168,950 146,099 (X) (X) 15.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 115,038 114,624 114,294 0.4 0.3 1.0 115,474 113,922 115,654 104,489 (X) (X) 10.5

 Defense capital goods4

....................... 20,236 20,038 20,522 1.0 -2.4 0.5 20,187 19,861 20,393 19,460 (X) (X) 3.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 182,635 178,793 178,012 2.1 0.4 -0.8 186,113 179,503 180,700 167,721 (X) (X) 11.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,679 27,481 27,221 0.7 1.0 1.0 27,931 27,593 27,689 25,553 (X) (X) 9.3

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 154,956 151,312 150,791 2.4 0.3 -1.2 158,182 151,910 153,011 142,168 (X) (X) 11.3

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

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

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

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

3

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

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

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

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

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

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 
 7

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. - Aug. - July - Oct. Sept. Aug. Oct. Oct.

2011p 2011r 2011 Oct. Sept. Aug. 2011p 2011r 2011 2010 11/10

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 199,719 196,726 196,938 1.5 -0.1 0.8 199,533 196,470 198,107 180,147 10.8

 Durable goods industries........................ 117,069 116,869 116,558 0.2 0.3 0.7 117,222 117,071 117,214 107,820 8.7

 Wood products................................... 3,196 3,159 3,128 1.2 1.0 0.7 3,369 3,285 3,141 3,228 4.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,428 4,425 4,371 0.1 1.2 0.8 4,408 4,423 4,381 3,954 11.5

 Primary metals.................................... 13,853 13,949 13,989 -0.7 -0.3 0.6 14,048 14,212 14,094 12,526 12.2

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,408 16,347 16,430 0.4 -0.5 0.2 16,273 16,406 16,546 14,657 11.0

 Machinery.......................................... 22,353 22,495 22,183 -0.6 1.4 1.3 22,417 22,498 22,323 19,514 14.9

 Computers and electronic products...... 18,132 18,118 18,419 0.1 -1.6 -0.1 18,312 18,114 18,577 17,256 6.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 6,645 6,541 6,548 1.6 -0.1 -0.1 6,558 6,464 6,649 6,241 5.1

 Transportation equipment.................. 21,447 21,225 20,939 1.0 1.4 1.7 21,236 21,057 20,887 20,649 2.8

 Furniture and related products............ 3,307 3,315 3,352 -0.2 -1.1 -0.8 3,278 3,301 3,359 3,153 4.0

 Miscellaneous products........................ 7,300 7,295 7,199 0.1 1.3 0.7 7,323 7,311 7,257 6,642 10.3

 Nondurable goods industries................. 82,650 79,857 80,380 3.5 -0.7 0.8 82,311 79,399 80,893 72,327 13.8

 Food products................................... 14,561 14,499 15,011 0.4 -3.4 1.5 15,144 14,239 14,653 14,926 1.5

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,353 4,383 4,417 -0.7 -0.8 1.7 4,401 4,264 4,203 4,424 -0.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,311 1,316 1,297 -0.4 1.5 -0.5 1,293 1,317 1,302 1,124 15.0

 Textile products.................................. 1,426 1,426 1,415 0.0 0.8 1.1 1,438 1,451 1,432 1,276 12.7

 Apparel............................................. 943 919 894 2.6 2.8 3.2 944 934 908 678 39.2

 Leather and allied products................ 298 297 309 0.3 -3.9 -0.3 298 305 316 282 5.7

 Paper products................................... 6,746 6,721 6,721 0.4 0.0 0.9 6,733 6,754 6,751 6,645 1.3

 Printing ............................................ 2,625 2,624 2,650 0.0 -1.0 -1.0 2,673 2,679 2,686 2,660 0.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... 17,934 15,515 15,631 15.6 -0.7 -0.2 17,510 15,286 16,381 12,470 40.4

 Chemical products............................. 23,538 23,346 23,284 0.8 0.3 1.1 23,130 23,283 23,413 20,344 13.7

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,915 8,811 8,751 1.2 0.7 0.6 8,747 8,887 8,848 7,498 16.7

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 188,749 186,910 186,897 1.0 0.0 -0.2 190,446 185,169 187,995 167,516 13.7

 Durable goods industries........................ 142,740 141,654 142,336 0.8 -0.5 0.7 143,030 140,907 143,822 124,238 15.1

 Wood products................................... 1,503 1,498 1,516 0.3 -1.2 -0.1 1,499 1,495 1,513 1,504 -0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,206 1,194 1,202 1.0 -0.7 -0.2 1,163 1,179 1,192 1,140 2.0

 Primary metals.................................... 9,927 9,950 10,026 -0.2 -0.8 0.7 9,861 9,987 10,339 8,615 14.5

 Fabricated metal products.................. 12,864 12,742 12,795 1.0 -0.4 1.2 12,980 12,819 12,911 11,317 14.7

 Machinery.......................................... 15,199 14,913 14,930 1.9 -0.1 -1.5 15,476 14,860 15,204 14,263 8.5

 Computers and electronic products...... 18,339 18,245 18,306 0.5 -0.3 -0.3 18,370 17,941 18,637 17,780 3.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,743 3,702 3,759 1.1 -1.5 2.1 3,710 3,629 3,852 3,316 11.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 75,550 74,956 75,371 0.8 -0.6 1.1 75,516 74,539 75,701 61,967 21.9

 Furniture and related products............ 1,063 1,081 1,084 -1.7 -0.3 1.6 1,054 1,076 1,086 973 8.3

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,346 3,373 3,347 -0.8 0.8 2.2 3,401 3,382 3,387 3,363 1.1

 Nondurable goods industries................. 46,009 45,256 44,561 1.7 1.6 -2.8 47,416 44,262 44,173 43,278 9.6

 Food products................................... 3,408 3,488 3,549 -2.3 -1.7 -2.2 4,365 3,174 3,055 4,374 -0.2

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,544 5,509 5,507 0.6 0.0 -0.6 5,926 5,328 4,980 5,805 2.1

 Textiles.............................................. 843 834 838 1.1 -0.5 0.2 842 842 848 728 15.7

 Textile products.................................. 478 467 473 2.4 -1.3 0.9 473 468 475 427 10.8

 Apparel............................................. 356 353 380 0.8 -7.1 3.3 354 363 402 352 0.6

 Leather and allied products................ 105 102 100 2.9 2.0 5.3 105 100 98 78 34.6

 Paper products................................... 1,296 1,275 1,261 1.6 1.1 -2.1 1,271 1,275 1,282 1,217 4.4

 Printing ............................................ 1,216 1,223 1,247 -0.6 -1.9 0.3 1,299 1,260 1,297 1,295 0.3

 Petroleum and coal products............... 15,901 15,607 14,875 1.9 4.9 -6.1 15,856 15,258 15,288 12,109 30.9

 Chemical products............................. 14,888 14,430 14,351 3.2 0.6 -1.4 14,978 14,221 14,473 14,807 1.2

 Plastics and rubber products............... 1,974 1,968 1,980 0.3 -0.6 -1.5 1,947 1,973 1,975 2,086 -6.7

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 218,679 217,951 216,874 0.3 0.5 0.4 219,797 218,899 220,364 199,400 10.2

 Durable goods industries........................ 107,126 106,791 106,397 0.3 0.4 1.4 106,863 106,062 107,553 96,799 10.4

 Wood products................................... 3,859 3,842 3,859 0.4 -0.4 0.8 3,802 3,788 3,851 3,761 1.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,442 5,416 5,374 0.5 0.8 1.3 5,225 5,262 5,294 4,993 4.6

 Primary metals.................................... 10,396 10,432 10,497 -0.3 -0.6 0.7 10,266 10,361 10,496 8,655 18.6

 Fabricated metal products.................. 16,918 16,852 16,757 0.4 0.6 0.6 16,635 16,598 16,771 15,271 8.9

 Machinery.......................................... 22,258 22,211 22,354 0.2 -0.6 3.9 21,820 21,749 22,193 18,718 16.6

 Computers and electronic products...... 11,661 11,765 11,722 -0.9 0.4 -0.5 11,840 11,821 12,103 11,391 3.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,148 5,146 5,263 0.0 -2.2 -0.5 5,257 5,153 5,324 5,414 -2.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 16,622 16,549 16,059 0.4 3.1 2.2 16,933 16,696 16,832 14,526 16.6

 Furniture and related products............ 2,386 2,389 2,411 -0.1 -0.9 1.1 2,410 2,397 2,475 2,488 -3.1

 Miscellaneous products........................ 12,436 12,189 12,101 2.0 0.7 0.3 12,675 12,237 12,214 11,582 9.4

 Nondurable goods industries................. 111,553 111,160 110,477 0.4 0.6 -0.5 112,934 112,837 112,811 102,601 10.1

 Food products................................... 26,892 26,625 26,499 1.0 0.5 -0.4 28,195 27,907 27,616 26,260 7.4

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 6,699 6,634 6,550 1.0 1.3 -1.0 6,911 6,863 6,731 6,492 6.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,500 1,498 1,521 0.1 -1.5 1.9 1,499 1,490 1,485 1,276 17.5

 Textile products.................................. 1,153 1,163 1,170 -0.9 -0.6 0.8 1,144 1,158 1,182 1,091 4.9

 Apparel............................................. 1,437 1,355 1,295 6.1 4.6 0.6 1,496 1,447 1,402 1,278 17.1

 Leather and allied products................ 505 505 494 0.0 2.2 0.4 493 503 511 434 13.6

 Paper products................................... 6,020 6,056 6,036 -0.6 0.3 -0.1 6,011 5,985 5,980 5,994 0.3

 Printing ............................................ 1,614 1,627 1,615 -0.8 0.7 -1.0 1,649 1,627 1,626 1,606 2.7

 Petroleum and coal products............... 19,975 19,588 19,246 2.0 1.8 -3.2 20,042 20,066 20,124 16,143 24.2

 Chemical products............................. 35,737 36,029 35,823 -0.8 0.6 0.4 35,493 35,784 35,985 32,374 9.6

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,021 10,080 10,228 -0.6 -1.4 0.6 10,001 10,007 10,169 9,653 3.6

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Oct Sep Aug Jul Oct Sep Aug Jul

2011p 2011r 2011 2011 2011p 2011r 2011 2011

All manufacturing industries2............................ 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.80 1.82 1.81 1.80 6.07 6.08 6.07 6.06

 Wood products.............................................. 1.58 1.60 1.61 1.58 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.38 1.39 1.39 1.38 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.35 1.40 1.43 1.41 1.28 1.31 1.31 1.30

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.83 1.82 1.84 1.84 2.69 2.66 2.67 2.68

 Machinery..................................................... 1.95 1.91 1.89 1.97 4.34 4.16 4.25 4.40

 Computers and electronic products2

................ 1.53 1.56 1.55 1.57 5.72 5.69 5.67 5.66

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.53 1.50 1.51 1.57 2.86 2.84 2.79 2.86

 Transportation equipment.............................. 2.35 2.45 2.39 2.25 15.68 16.16 15.77 15.39

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.25 1.23 1.23 1.26 1.45 1.41 1.40 1.51

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.68 1.67 1.67 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.96 0.94 0.94 0.95 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.71 0.71 0.72 0.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.36 1.33 1.34 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.43 1.41 1.41 1.39 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.64 1.64 1.66 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 1.91 1.87 1.87 1.95 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.97 2.94 2.90 2.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.97 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.79 0.78 0.78 0.81 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.76 0.71 0.72 0.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.20 1.20 1.18 1.18 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

X Not Applicable p

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

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Oct2 Oct2 Oct2 Oct2

Industry 2010- 2010- 2010- 2010-

Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep Oct1 Sep

2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011

 

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

Durable goods industries....................... 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... 0.2 0.9 0.0 2.1 -0.1 1.0 -0.5 0.6

 Fabricated metal products.................... -0.2 0.3 -0.1 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3

 Machinery.......................................... 1.5 0.9 1.3 2.3 -0.2 0.6 -0.3 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.6 0.4 0.9 0.7 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.2 0.8 -0.1 1.0 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.3

 Transportation equipment.................... -0.2 0.7 -0.3 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.5 (X) 1.2 (X) 0.7 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.3 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.1

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

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

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

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.9

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

1

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

 publication.

2

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

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

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

3

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

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

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

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

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
9 

Survey Description 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 2012 Release Dates for the M3 Survey 

Survey month Advance Report 

(8:30 a.m. release time) 

Full Report 

(10:00 a.m. release time) 

October 2011 November 23, 2011 December 5, 2011 

November 2011 December 23, 2011 January 4, 2012 

December 2011 January 26, 2012 February 3, 2012 

January 2012 February 28, 2012 March 5, 2012 

February 2012 March 28, 2012 April 3, 2012 

March 2012 April 25, 2012 May 2, 2012 

April 2012 May 24, 2012 June 4, 2012 

May 2012 June 27, 2012 July 3, 2012 

June 2012 July 26, 2012 August 2, 2012 

July 2012 August 24, 2012 August 31, 2012 

August 2012 September 27, 2012 October 4, 2012 

September 2012 October 25, 2012 November 2, 2012 

October 2012 November 27, 2012 December 5, 2012 

November 2012 December 24, 2012 Not available at this time