Manufacturers' Shipments,

 Inventories, and Orders: March 2004 Issued May 2004

 M3-1(04)-03

 For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. E.D.T., May 4, 2004 Current 

 Industrial

 Reports

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Chris Savage or Patrick Kent, Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders Branch, Manufacturing and 

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

The advance report on durable goods for April is scheduled for May 26, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on June 3, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. 

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

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

Total Manufacturing Shipments

and Three Month Moving Average

300

320

340

360

380

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

Nov-03

Jan-04

Mar-04

300

320

340

360

380

 Shipments Average

Billions Of Dollars

Total Manufacturing Inventories

and Three Month Moving Average

420

440

460

480

500

Mar-02

May-02

Jul-02

Sep-02

Nov-02

Jan-03

Mar-03

May-03

Jul-03

Sep-03

Nov-03

Jan-04

Mar-04

420

440

460

480

500

 Inventories Average

Billions Of Dollars
 2

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

for semiconductor manufacturing.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in March

increased $14.9 billion or 4.3 percent to $360.7 billion,

the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau reported

today. This followed a 1.1 percent February increase and

is the third increase in the last four months.

Shipments increased $13.1 billion or 3.8 percent to

$361.3 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent February

decrease. This was the largest percent increase in

shipments since the current series began in 1992. 

Unfilled orders, up seven of the last eight months,

increased $6.3 billion or 1.2 percent to $516.8 billion. 

This followed a 0.9 percent February increase. The

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 3.91, down from

4.00 in February.

Inventories, up five of the last six months, increased

$1.5 billion or 0.3 percent to $444.3 billion. This

followed a 0.6 percent February increase. The

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.23, down from 1.27

in February.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March

increased $9.4 billion or 5.0 percent to $195.8 billion,

revised from the previously published $6.3 billion

increase.

Transportation equipment, up three of the last four

months, had the largest increase, $2.3 billion or 4.1

percent to $57.3 billion. Fabricated metal products

increased $1.9 billion or 8.6 percent to $23.8 billion. This

was the largest percent increase in fabricated metal

products since December 1993.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods

increased $5.6 billion or 3.5 percent to $165.0 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March,

up six of the last seven months, increased $7.6 billion or

4.0 percent to $196.4 billion, revised from the previously

published $6.0 billion increase.

Fabricated metal products had the largest increase,

$2.1 billion or 10.3 percent to $22.7 billion. This was

the largest percent increase in fabricated metal products

since the current series began in 1992. Primary metals,

up seven consecutive months, increased $1.2 billion or

9.9 percent to $13.2 billion.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up six

of the last seven months, increased $5.6 billion or 3.5

percent to $165.0 billion. Petroleum and coal products,

up four of the last five months, had the largest increase,

$1.5 billion or 6.2 percent to $25.9 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods in

March, up seven of the last eight months, increased $6.3

billion or 1.2 percent to $516.8 billion, revised from the

previously published $4.3 billion increase.

Computers and electronic products had the largest

increase, $1.9 billion or 1.4 percent to $132.4 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March,

up five of the last six months, increased $0.9 billion or

0.3 percent to $265.4 billion, revised from the

previously published $0.3 billion increase.

Primary metals, up five consecutive months, had the

largest increase, $0.3 billion or 1.8 percent to $18.1

billion.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up

four of the last five months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.3

percent to $178.8 billion. Basic chemicals, up five of

the last six months, had the largest increase, $0.5 billion

or 1.0 percent to $54.8 billion.

By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies

increased 1.0 percent in durable goods and decreased

0.3 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process

decreased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased

1.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods

increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and 0.5 percent

in nondurable goods.

SEE BACK PAGE FOR SURVEY DESCRIPTION

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

For data, call 301-763-4673. For inquiries, contact Chris Savage or Patrick Kent, Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch,

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

The advance report on durable goods for April is scheduled for May 26, 2004 at 8:30 A.M. EDT and the full report on June 3, 2004 at 10:00

A.M. EDT. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
 3 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

 All manufacturing industries .................. 361,302 348,157 348,477 3.8 -0.1 0.0 388,973 339,222 318,434 347,472 1,046,629 961,764 8.8

 Excluding transportation ................... 305,068 292,726 296,962 4.2 -1.4 0.5 324,556 282,947 271,936 291,084 879,439 806,693 9.0

 Excluding defense .............................. 351,423 337,313 339,071 4.2 -0.5 0.0 378,164 328,638 310,668 337,880 1,017,470 937,014 8.6

 With unfilled orders ........................... 132,115 127,525 127,015 3.6 0.4 0.3 145,838 124,287 113,001 129,456 383,126 351,021 9.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 196,351 188,798 186,115 4.0 1.4 -1.0 217,352 184,081 166,170 189,651 567,603 516,545 9.9

 Wood products................................. ...... 8,960 8,431 8,182 6.3 3.0 -1.6 9,058 7,743 6,982 7,187 23,783 19,863 19.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 7,828 7,055 7,137 11.0 -1.1 -2.4 7,686 6,409 6,358 6,924 20,453 19,929 2.6

 Primary metals............................ .......... 13,244 12,051 11,809 9.9 2.0 2.1 14,272 12,276 11,548 11,532 38,096 33,592 13.4

 Iron and steel mills............................ 5,876 5,264 5,247 11.6 0.3 0.9 6,377 5,406 5,110 5,389 16,893 15,489 9.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,807 5,422 5,227 7.1 3.7 4.1 6,200 5,475 5,182 4,803 16,857 14,228 18.5

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,561 1,365 1,335 14.4 2.2 -0.6 1,695 1,395 1,256 1,340 4,346 3,875 12.2

 Fabricated metal products...................... 22,674 20,553 20,930 10.3 -1.8 -0.6 23,704 20,299 19,226 20,911 63,229 59,981 5.4

 Machinery............................................. 23,680 22,530 22,654 5.1 -0.5 -0.5 27,092 21,326 19,872 23,220 68,290 61,223 11.5

 Farm machinery................................. 1,623 1,530 1,508 6.1 1.5 -1.6 2,119 1,664 1,361 1,789 5,144 4,598 11.9

 Construction machinery..................... 2,147 2,121 2,121 1.2 0.0 7.8 2,663 2,116 1,833 1,860 6,612 4,835 36.8

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery......................... 797 740 778 7.7 -4.9 0.3 889 739 740 788 2,368 2,054 15.3

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,446 3,022 2,918 14.0 3.6 1.4 3,986 2,703 2,651 3,279 9,340 8,409 11.1

 Photographic equipment...................... 908 889 899 2.1 -1.1 -2.9 954 784 736 812 2,474 2,160 14.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,737 2,622 2,581 4.4 1.6 -18.1 3,006 2,292 2,162 2,629 7,460 6,911 7.9

 Metalworking machinery..................... 2,014 1,927 2,105 4.5 -8.5 4.9 2,129 1,658 1,673 1,865 5,460 5,033 8.5

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,084 2,929 3,001 5.3 -2.4 10.5 3,409 2,879 2,642 2,926 8,930 7,831 14.0

 Material handling equipment............... 1,453 1,387 1,404 4.8 -1.2 -3.0 1,667 1,344 1,374 1,452 4,385 4,032 8.8

 Computers and electronic products ......... 37,483 37,192 37,908 0.8 -1.9 1.2 42,711 34,872 32,428 37,467 110,011 95,123 15.7

 Computers........................................ 5,228 5,291 5,689 -1.2 -7.0 11.5 5,620 4,441 5,435 4,590 15,496 12,422 24.7

 Computer storage devices................... 1,517 1,294 1,174 17.2 10.2 -35.8 2,339 902 801 1,721 4,042 3,299 22.5

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,589 1,582 1,533 0.4 3.2 -1.3 1,994 1,337 1,108 1,614 4,439 4,072 9.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 6,077 6,199 6,499 -2.0 -4.6 3.1 7,387 5,648 5,199 6,846 18,234 16,210 12.5

 Defense communications equipment... 485 498 587 -2.6 -15.2 29.0 529 479 533 437 1,541 1,140 35.2

 Audio and video equipment.................. 663 610 662 8.7 -7.9 -8.8 663 562 566 648 1,791 1,880 -4.7

 Semiconductors ................................. 6,836 6,730 6,495 1.6 3.6 7.4 7,260 6,885 5,961 6,056 20,106 16,831 19.5

 Electronic components........................ 4,275 4,371 4,555 -2.2 -4.0 2.1 4,371 4,335 3,965 4,273 12,671 11,829 7.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 920 867 885 6.1 -2.0 -5.8 992 842 749 837 2,583 2,318 11.4

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,478 2,556 2,489 -3.1 2.7 -2.2 2,766 2,560 2,044 2,625 7,370 6,663 10.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 6,873 6,676 6,801 3.0 -1.8 -2.0 8,212 6,391 5,574 7,278 20,177 17,075 18.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,612 8,457 8,543 1.8 -1.0 -1.0 9,436 8,023 7,353 8,978 24,812 24,251 2.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,106 1,050 1,026 5.3 2.3 -1.8 1,223 1,040 892 1,121 3,155 3,105 1.6

 Household appliances........................ 1,952 1,955 1,973 -0.2 -0.9 -7.2 2,132 1,847 1,604 2,031 5,583 5,355 4.3

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,558 2,534 2,517 0.9 0.7 1.2 2,942 2,343 2,128 2,803 7,413 7,219 2.7

 Batteries........................................... 488 488 525 0.0 -7.0 11.7 487 411 430 469 1,328 1,236 7.4

 Transportation equipment...................... 56,234 55,431 51,515 1.4 7.6 -2.9 64,417 56,275 46,498 56,388 167,190 155,071 7.8

 Automobiles..................................... 8,001 7,762 7,171 3.1 8.2 -4.8 9,369 7,989 6,830 7,873 24,188 22,442 7.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 12,358 11,996 10,659 3.0 12.5 -7.4 14,721 12,395 10,106 11,807 37,222 33,128 12.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,162 1,130 1,165 2.8 -3.0 -2.4 1,222 1,075 1,047 1,073 3,344 2,964 12.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 18,980 17,990 17,949 5.5 0.2 -1.4 21,098 18,715 16,979 18,895 56,792 55,040 3.2

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 5,898 5,637 5,200 4.6 8.4 -2.3 7,219 5,610 3,921 7,044 16,750 16,509 1.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 3,950 4,868 3,528 -18.9 38.0 1.2 4,234 4,467 2,910 3,649 11,611 9,016 28.8

 Ships and boats................................. 2,309 2,216 2,197 4.2 0.9 -0.3 2,538 2,357 1,738 2,242 6,633 6,016 10.3

 Furniture and related products................. 6,005 5,929 6,176 1.3 -4.0 4.0 6,198 6,110 5,881 5,710 18,189 16,861 7.9

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 11,631 11,169 11,261 4.1 -0.8 -5.2 12,778 10,748 10,024 11,334 33,550 30,651 9.5

 Nondurable goods industries................... 164,951 159,359 162,362 3.5 -1.8 1.2 171,621 155,141 152,264 157,821 479,026 445,219 7.6

 Food products....................................... 38,718 38,103 38,629 1.6 -1.4 0.2 39,768 37,536 36,740 38,205 114,044 110,425 3.3

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,469 3,276 3,462 5.9 -5.4 -0.1 3,550 3,431 3,416 4,017 10,397 12,058 -13.8

 Dairy products.................................. 6,143 5,788 5,759 6.1 0.5 -0.3 6,511 5,450 5,562 5,352 17,523 15,162 15.6

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 10,803 11,051 11,270 -2.2 -1.9 -0.1 10,550 11,201 10,706 10,779 32,457 32,258 0.6

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 9,165 8,485 8,526 8.0 -0.5 -2.3 9,253 8,000 7,828 9,127 25,081 24,945 0.5

 Beverages......................................... 5,833 5,724 5,962 1.9 -4.0 3.6 5,921 5,239 5,264 5,728 16,424 15,845 3.7

 Tobacco............................................ 3,332 2,761 2,564 20.7 7.7 -13.9 3,332 2,761 2,564 3,399 8,657 9,100 -4.9

 Textile mills........................................... 3,386 3,378 3,413 0.2 -1.0 3.0 3,645 3,440 3,078 3,613 10,163 10,153 0.1

 Textile products................................... 3,182 3,192 3,297 -0.3 -3.2 0.2 3,277 3,159 2,842 2,985 9,278 8,101 14.5

 Apparel................................................ 4,715 4,601 4,570 2.5 0.7 -1.3 4,913 4,663 4,163 4,462 13,739 13,045 5.3

 Leather and allied products..................... 907 879 861 3.2 2.1 -3.4 924 917 740 937 2,581 2,683 -3.8

 Paper products...................................... 13,782 13,462 14,097 2.4 -4.5 3.3 14,182 13,408 13,645 13,526 41,235 38,953 5.9

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 5,784 5,710 5,775 1.3 -1.1 2.4 6,001 5,705 5,664 6,032 17,370 17,393 -0.1

 Paperboard containers........................ 3,619 3,548 3,704 2.0 -4.2 0.7 3,712 3,475 3,546 3,693 10,733 10,777 -0.4

 Printing................................................. 7,837 7,794 7,814 0.6 -0.3 -1.0 8,052 7,382 7,267 8,257 22,701 23,387 -2.9

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 25,919 24,416 25,048 6.2 -2.5 5.3 25,274 22,738 22,722 20,613 70,734 57,643 22.7

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 23,916 22,506 23,044 6.3 -2.3 5.6 23,370 21,167 21,274 19,054 65,811 53,606 22.8

 Basic chemicals...................................... 40,810 39,338 39,931 3.7 -1.5 0.9 44,516 38,491 38,115 40,119 121,122 110,979 9.1

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals..................... 1,646 1,623 1,591 1.4 2.0 -4.0 2,405 1,521 1,387 2,015 5,313 4,770 11.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 9,328 9,266 9,459 0.7 -2.0 5.2 9,918 8,944 9,403 10,517 28,265 29,252 -3.4

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,882 2,348 2,298 22.7 2.2 -2.1 2,940 2,273 2,063 2,374 7,276 6,709 8.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 16,530 15,711 16,176 5.2 -2.9 -0.1 17,817 15,407 15,124 15,977 48,348 44,905 7.7

p Preliminary r

 Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Year to date
 4

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 1

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

All manufacturing industries 2................... 360,722 345,778 341,868 4.3 1.1 -0.9 390,741 339,213 319,858 344,256 1,049,812 956,662 9.7

 Excluding transportation 2

................... 303,463 290,789 292,309 4.4 -0.5 0.9 323,352 283,575 271,739 285,339 878,666 797,158 10.2

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 349,909 334,481 332,141 4.6 0.7 -0.6 376,397 327,972 309,392 330,198 1,013,761 924,208 9.7

 With unfilled orders 2

.......................... 138,371 131,876 126,901 4.9 3.9 -1.6 154,866 131,163 120,386 132,296 406,415 362,750 12.0

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 195,771 186,419 179,506 5.0 3.9 -2.6 219,120 184,072 167,594 186,435 570,786 511,443 11.6

 Primary metals............................ ............ 13,929 12,753 12,173 9.2 4.8 4.4 15,143 13,514 12,487 11,006 41,144 33,850 21.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 6,326 5,560 5,314 13.8 4.6 2.1 6,915 6,081 5,412 4,958 18,408 15,423 19.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,004 5,756 5,478 4.3 5.1 6.8 6,499 5,924 5,686 4,744 18,109 14,439 25.4

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,599 1,437 1,381 11.3 4.1 4.4 1,729 1,509 1,389 1,304 4,627 3,988 16.0

 Fabricated metal products...................... 23,813 21,925 22,050 8.6 -0.6 0.9 25,269 21,985 21,065 20,854 68,319 59,974 13.9

 Machinery............................................. 24,877 23,903 22,935 4.1 4.2 -4.5 28,485 23,155 21,383 23,418 73,023 62,528 16.8

 Construction machinery....................... 2,385 3,136 2,239 -23.9 40.1 8.6 3,006 3,171 2,156 1,838 8,333 4,886 70.5

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 902 861 793 4.8 8.6 10.0 994 860 755 785 2,609 1,981 31.7

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,570 3,098 3,191 15.2 -2.9 4.8 3,961 2,894 3,368 3,609 10,223 9,376 9.0

 Photographic equipment...................... 936 931 912 0.5 2.1 -5.9 1,005 836 754 867 2,595 2,318 11.9

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,791 2,751 2,443 1.5 12.6 -20.4 3,095 2,471 2,197 2,670 7,763 7,137 8.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 2,125 1,978 2,196 7.4 -9.9 4.3 2,258 1,745 1,853 1,831 5,856 5,080 15.3

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 3,666 2,863 2,956 28.0 -3.1 -18.9 3,909 2,781 2,728 2,230 9,418 6,804 38.4

 Material handling equipment............... 1,350 1,350 1,383 0.0 -2.4 -9.5 1,659 1,415 1,326 1,721 4,400 4,229 4.0

 Computers and electronic products 2...... 32,499 31,702 31,199 2.5 1.6 4.2 37,353 30,433 27,349 32,304 95,135 83,172 14.4

 Computers........................................ 5,066 5,228 5,220 -3.1 0.2 -1.5 5,370 4,594 4,759 4,764 14,723 12,329 19.4

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 5,719 6,565 6,171 -12.9 6.4 70.6 7,252 6,624 5,328 7,943 19,204 20,228 -5.1

 Defense communications equipment... 525 571 684 -8.1 -16.5 26.2 569 552 630 478 1,751 1,349 29.8

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

 Electronic components........................ 4,604 4,791 4,584 -3.9 4.5 1.2 4,433 4,786 4,325 3,314 13,544 10,839 25.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 939 773 831 21.5 -7.0 4.0 1,070 787 779 955 2,636 2,465 6.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,808 3,168 3,242 -11.4 -2.3 23.9 3,529 3,374 2,948 3,005 9,851 7,675 28.4

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 8,527 6,602 6,559 29.2 0.7 -16.7 9,556 6,425 5,612 7,320 21,593 17,652 22.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 8,880 8,826 8,563 0.6 3.1 3.8 9,624 8,662 7,527 9,059 25,813 24,573 5.0

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,181 1,113 974 6.1 14.3 7.3 1,292 1,107 853 1,119 3,252 3,183 2.2

 Household appliances.......................... 2,030 1,952 1,868 4.0 4.5 -5.2 2,187 1,854 1,569 1,988 5,610 5,419 3.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,575 2,552 2,605 0.9 -2.0 9.8 2,924 2,515 2,252 2,935 7,691 7,416 3.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 57,259 54,989 49,559 4.1 11.0 -10.3 67,389 55,638 48,119 58,917 171,146 159,504 7.3

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 19,185 18,298 17,945 4.8 2.0 -2.4 21,267 19,188 17,404 18,680 57,859 55,566 4.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 6,196 5,501 4,114 12.6 33.7 -32.5 7,374 5,125 3,770 4,340 16,269 12,815 27.0

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 2,618 3,622 2,417 -27.7 49.9 -36.0 4,194 3,388 2,991 6,360 10,573 12,092 -12.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,001 2,642 2,496 -24.3 5.8 1.3 2,053 2,771 2,910 2,075 7,734 5,491 40.8

 Furniture and related products................. 6,078 6,025 6,271 0.9 -3.9 5.6 6,318 6,144 6,124 5,696 18,586 16,889 10.0

 Nondurable goods industries.................. 164,951 159,359 162,362 3.5 -1.8 1.2 171,621 155,141 152,264 157,821 479,026 445,219 7.6

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

 New orders are the totals for the period and are adjusted for trading-day and calendar-month variations. 2

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

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

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

calculated. Further details on survey design, methodology, and data limitations are contained in our most recent annual benchmark publication,

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

Year to date
 5 

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

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2004p 2004r 2004 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

All manufacturing industries 1................... 516,791 510,535 506,184 1.2 0.9 0.0 525,705 516,677 509,801 492,408 6.8

 Excluding transportation 1................... 266,264 261,033 256,240 2.0 1.9 0.7 270,468 264,412 256,899 243,559 11.0

 Excluding defense 1

............................. 356,313 350,991 347,093 1.5 1.1 -0.1 360,856 355,363 349,144 340,159 6.1

 Durable goods industries 1

........................ 516,791 510,535 506,184 1.2 0.9 0.0 525,705 516,677 509,801 492,408 6.8

 Primary metals........................................ 18,226 17,541 16,839 3.9 4.2 2.2 19,050 18,179 16,941 14,717 29.4

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,339 9,889 9,593 4.6 3.1 0.7 10,782 10,244 9,569 7,734 39.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 5,386 5,189 4,855 3.8 6.9 5.5 5,670 5,371 4,922 4,692 20.8

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 2,501 2,463 2,391 1.5 3.0 2.0 2,598 2,564 2,450 2,291 13.4

 Fabricated metal products...................... 42,585 41,446 40,074 2.7 3.4 2.9 43,111 41,546 39,860 36,893 16.9

 Machinery.............................................. 46,758 45,561 44,188 2.6 3.1 0.6 47,615 46,222 44,393 43,725 8.9

 Construction machinery....................... 4,106 3,868 2,853 6.2 35.6 4.3 4,427 4,084 3,029 2,060 114.9

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery......................... 1,303 1,198 1,077 8.8 11.2 1.4 1,303 1,198 1,077 825 57.9

 Industrial machinery............................ 8,215 8,091 8,015 1.5 0.9 3.5 8,221 8,246 8,055 8,439 -2.6

 Photographic equipment...................... 937 909 867 3.1 4.8 1.5 948 897 845 712 33.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,501 4,447 4,318 1.2 3.0 -3.1 4,550 4,461 4,282 4,222 7.8

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,272 4,161 4,110 2.7 1.2 2.3 4,356 4,227 4,140 3,690 18.0

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 9,814 9,232 9,298 6.3 -0.7 -0.5 9,826 9,326 9,424 9,703 1.3

 Material handling equipment............... 4,684 4,787 4,824 -2.2 -0.8 -0.4 4,876 4,884 4,813 5,086 -4.1

 Computers and electronic products 1...... 132,411 130,559 129,319 1.4 1.0 -0.2 134,386 132,484 130,038 123,697 8.6

 Computers......................................... 8,158 8,320 8,383 -1.9 -0.8 -5.3 8,032 8,282 8,129 8,031 0.0

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 46,553 46,911 46,545 -0.8 0.8 -0.7 47,350 47,485 46,509 45,823 3.3

 Defense communications equipment... 3,599 3,559 3,486 1.1 2.1 2.9 3,599 3,559 3,486 3,151 14.2

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

 Electronic components.......................... 14,777 14,448 14,028 2.3 3.0 0.2 14,802 14,740 14,289 14,494 2.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 4,546 4,527 4,621 0.4 -2.0 -1.2 4,634 4,556 4,611 4,636 0.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 37,400 37,070 36,458 0.9 1.7 2.1 38,555 37,792 36,978 34,646 11.3

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 17,378 15,724 15,798 10.5 -0.5 -1.5 17,414 16,070 16,036 12,916 34.8

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 14,278 14,010 13,641 1.9 2.7 0.1 14,416 14,228 13,589 14,114 2.1

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,357 1,282 1,219 5.9 5.2 -4.1 1,354 1,285 1,218 1,533 -11.7

 Household appliances.......................... 743 665 668 11.7 -0.4 -13.6 794 739 732 963 -17.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 8,533 8,516 8,498 0.2 0.2 1.0 8,551 8,569 8,397 8,268 3.4

 Transportation equipment........................ 250,527 249,502 249,944 0.4 -0.2 -0.8 255,237 252,265 252,902 248,849 2.6

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 13,995 13,790 13,482 1.5 2.3 0.0 14,687 14,518 14,045 12,659 16.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 103,751 103,453 103,589 0.3 -0.1 -1.0 104,590 104,435 104,920 107,800 -3.0

 Defense aircraft and parts................... 58,443 59,775 61,021 -2.2 -2.0 -1.8 59,732 59,772 60,851 59,040 1.2

 Ships and boats.................................. 20,960 21,268 20,842 -1.4 2.0 1.5 21,562 22,047 21,633 20,123 7.2

 Furniture and related products................. 5,869 5,796 5,700 1.3 1.7 1.7 5,753 5,633 5,599 5,282 8.9

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

1

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

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

Table 4. Value of Manufacturers' Inventories for Industry Groups

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2004p 2004r 2004 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

 All manufacturing industries..................... 444,264 442,798 440,029 0.3 0.6 0.3 443,131 445,854 437,679 442,829 0.1

 Excluding transportation...................... 376,256 374,665 372,134 0.4 0.7 0.3 375,857 377,333 370,319 375,677 0.0

 Excluding defense............................. 419,892 418,595 415,968 0.3 0.6 0.4 419,134 421,491 413,901 420,606 -0.3

 With unfilled orders............................. 206,814 206,213 205,408 0.3 0.4 -0.1 205,975 207,911 204,529 210,814 -2.3

 Durable goods industries........................ 265,429 264,550 263,276 0.3 0.5 0.1 264,970 267,403 262,344 267,955 -1.1

 Wood products........................................ 9,994 9,840 9,696 1.6 1.5 1.0 10,326 10,182 9,795 9,923 4.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 9,232 9,292 9,245 -0.6 0.5 0.1 9,432 9,453 9,262 9,930 -5.0

 Primary metals........................................ 18,057 17,746 17,507 1.8 1.4 1.2 17,961 17,766 17,632 18,999 -5.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,448 9,259 9,179 2.0 0.9 1.2 9,309 9,224 9,271 10,765 -13.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,918 6,781 6,642 2.0 2.1 1.0 6,905 6,787 6,666 6,436 7.3

 Ferrous metal foundries...................... 1,691 1,706 1,686 -0.9 1.2 1.8 1,747 1,755 1,695 1,798 -2.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 31,356 31,377 30,955 -0.1 1.4 -0.2 31,845 31,758 30,940 32,088 -0.8

 Machinery.............................................. 42,440 42,180 41,857 0.6 0.8 0.7 42,774 42,973 41,863 42,633 0.3

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,334 2,327 2,236 0.3 4.1 4.0 2,463 2,490 2,336 2,320 6.2

 Construction machinery........................ 3,773 3,760 3,695 0.3 1.8 6.3 3,875 3,867 3,717 3,607 7.4

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................. 2,296 2,272 2,240 1.1 1.4 0.0 2,286 2,252 2,205 2,242 2.0

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,811 6,791 6,688 0.3 1.5 0.8 6,798 6,922 6,634 6,915 -1.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,392 1,396 1,429 -0.3 -2.3 1.6 1,385 1,402 1,392 1,415 -2.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 4,253 4,218 4,184 0.8 0.8 0.3 4,314 4,288 4,098 4,097 5.3

 Metalworking machinery....................... 4,462 4,348 4,344 2.6 0.1 -2.0 4,390 4,327 4,279 4,425 -0.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,286 4,265 4,302 0.5 -0.9 -0.8 4,214 4,266 4,267 4,206 0.2

 Material handling equipment............... 2,257 2,259 2,284 -0.1 -1.1 -0.8 2,287 2,280 2,268 2,337 -2.1

 Computers and electronic products......... 47,083 46,833 46,936 0.5 -0.2 -1.8 46,180 47,316 46,577 48,162 -4.1

 Computers......................................... 2,462 2,415 2,435 1.9 -0.8 -5.5 2,389 2,430 2,286 2,520 -5.2

 Computer storage devices................... 1,199 1,204 1,231 -0.4 -2.2 2.1 1,107 1,248 1,176 1,102 0.5

 Other peripheral equipment................ 2,221 2,327 2,362 -4.6 -1.5 0.0 2,131 2,366 2,357 2,458 -13.3

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 9,224 9,241 9,350 -0.2 -1.2 -3.9 9,044 9,324 9,283 10,512 -14.0

 Defense communications equipment...... 1,349 1,283 1,189 5.1 7.9 -10.4 1,349 1,283 1,189 1,288 4.7

 Audio and video equipment.................. 904 899 926 0.6 -2.9 -2.0 769 866 933 908 -15.3

 Semiconductors1

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

 Electronic components.......................... 7,620 7,572 7,586 0.6 -0.2 1.0 7,522 7,723 7,616 7,716 -2.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,487 2,473 2,543 0.6 -2.8 0.7 2,450 2,463 2,531 2,682 -8.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,829 2,837 2,992 -0.3 -5.2 1.1 2,771 2,830 2,954 2,868 -3.4

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 10,114 10,091 9,896 0.2 2.0 -3.2 9,999 10,224 9,898 10,267 -2.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 12,344 12,275 12,483 0.6 -1.7 0.8 12,534 12,612 12,461 12,777 -1.9

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,403 1,394 1,387 0.6 0.5 -0.1 1,404 1,409 1,377 1,527 -8.1

 Household appliances.......................... 2,137 2,143 2,144 -0.3 0.0 2.2 2,199 2,233 2,127 2,104 4.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 4,308 4,246 4,184 1.5 1.5 0.6 4,351 4,389 4,261 4,075 6.8

 Batteries............................................ 596 576 564 3.5 2.1 2.4 592 565 527 537 10.2

 Transportation equipment...................... 68,008 68,133 67,895 -0.2 0.4 0.6 67,274 68,521 67,360 67,152 0.2

 Automobiles....................................... 1,946 1,969 1,969 -1.2 0.0 2.8 1,943 2,030 1,969 1,834 5.9

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............ 2,452 2,402 2,443 2.1 -1.7 9.0 2,402 2,398 2,377 2,129 12.8

 Heavy duty trucks .............................. 773 750 751 3.1 -0.1 -1.7 766 757 749 721 6.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 15,909 15,826 15,665 0.5 1.0 2.3 15,935 15,919 15,743 15,700 1.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts.............. 23,583 23,915 23,965 -1.4 -0.2 -0.2 23,225 23,940 23,666 25,341 -8.4

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,655 11,498 11,509 1.4 -0.1 -1.1 11,403 11,756 11,362 10,218 11.6

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,159 3,194 3,064 -1.1 4.2 1.6 3,176 3,190 3,058 2,752 15.4

 Furniture and related products................. 7,572 7,589 7,596 -0.2 -0.1 0.4 7,449 7,479 7,537 7,722 -3.5

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 19,343 19,285 19,106 0.3 0.9 0.5 19,195 19,343 18,917 18,569 3.4

 Nondurable goods industries................... 178,835 178,248 176,753 0.3 0.8 0.6 178,161 178,451 175,335 174,874 1.9

 Food products........................................ 33,389 33,109 32,896 0.8 0.6 -0.3 32,705 33,095 32,931 32,626 0.2

 Grain and oilseed milling..................... 3,427 3,409 3,259 0.5 4.6 1.6 3,435 3,561 3,511 3,619 -5.1

 Dairy products.................................... 3,700 3,639 3,603 1.7 1.0 0.3 3,729 3,624 3,511 3,647 2.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 6,192 6,103 6,097 1.5 0.1 -0.1 6,243 6,087 5,946 5,962 4.7

 Beverage and tobacco products............... 14,702 14,770 14,624 -0.5 1.0 0.7 14,719 14,998 14,887 14,477 1.7

 Beverages......................................... 10,155 10,132 9,938 0.2 2.0 1.2 10,155 10,113 9,941 9,522 6.6

 Tobacco........................................... 4,547 4,638 4,686 -2.0 -1.0 -0.4 4,564 4,885 4,946 4,955 -7.9

 Textile mills........................................... 4,924 4,930 4,944 -0.1 -0.3 -1.1 4,913 4,950 4,923 5,036 -2.4

 Textile products...................................... 5,105 5,094 5,088 0.2 0.1 -1.6 5,083 5,081 5,071 4,991 1.8

 Apparel................................................. 6,917 6,892 7,051 0.4 -2.3 -1.6 6,758 6,761 7,018 7,051 -4.2

 Leather and allied products..................... 1,707 1,717 1,722 -0.6 -0.3 -1.1 1,655 1,695 1,711 1,613 2.6

 Paper products....................................... 14,218 14,371 14,444 -1.1 -0.5 -0.1 14,305 14,503 14,525 14,982 -4.5

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 6,213 6,335 6,391 -1.9 -0.9 -1.9 6,258 6,425 6,441 6,626 -5.6

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,022 4,066 4,109 -1.1 -1.0 2.0 4,024 4,109 4,159 4,250 -5.3

 Printing.................................................. 6,122 6,190 6,018 -1.1 2.9 -2.2 5,993 6,011 5,748 6,218 -3.6

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 16,187 16,279 16,098 -0.6 1.1 5.9 15,954 15,939 15,332 15,638 2.0

 Petroleum refineries............................. 14,581 14,677 14,540 -0.7 0.9 6.7 14,354 14,372 13,837 14,123 1.6

 Basic chemicals...................................... 54,781 54,245 53,265 1.0 1.8 1.1 54,942 54,525 52,641 51,949 5.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 2,328 2,387 2,356 -2.5 1.3 3.0 2,709 2,814 2,618 2,775 -2.4

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............ 22,807 22,279 21,413 2.4 4.0 1.3 22,588 21,963 20,580 19,762 14.3

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 2,751 2,785 2,788 -1.2 -0.1 1.4 2,821 2,835 2,787 2,841 -0.7

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 20,783 20,651 20,603 0.6 0.2 0.2 21,134 20,893 20,548 20,293 4.1

p

 Preliminary r Revised NA Not available.

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

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

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

 Topical Series 1

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted2

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2004/

2004p 2004r 2004 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2003 2003

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 361,302 348,157 348,477 3.8 -0.1 0.0 388,973 339,222 318,434 347,472 1,046,629 961,764 8.8

 Construction materials and supplies...... 39,538 35,743 35,685 10.6 0.2 -2.6 40,303 33,617 31,421 34,395 105,341 97,186 8.4

 Information technology......................... 29,788 29,410 30,259 1.3 -2.8 -0.4 34,686 26,818 25,537 30,504 87,041 75,959 14.6

 Computers and related products .......... 8,334 8,167 8,396 2.0 -2.7 -1.0 9,953 6,680 7,344 7,925 23,977 19,793 21.1

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 40,501 38,878 36,944 4.2 5.2 -3.9 46,410 40,174 34,962 39,648 121,546 113,574 7.0

 Capital goods...................................... 69,759 69,289 68,244 0.7 1.5 -0.1 79,800 65,233 58,482 70,333 203,515 180,775 12.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 61,525 59,993 60,170 2.6 -0.3 -0.4 70,743 56,075 51,704 62,204 178,522 159,638 11.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 58,828 57,283 58,251 2.7 -1.7 0.5 67,278 53,578 50,426 58,804 171,282 152,316 12.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 8,234 9,296 8,074 -11.4 15.1 2.0 9,057 9,158 6,778 8,129 24,993 21,137 18.2

 Consumer goods.................................. 137,155 132,855 133,162 3.2 -0.2 0.3 144,384 130,572 124,648 131,659 399,604 371,506 7.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,236 35,152 33,600 3.1 4.6 -4.4 41,660 35,536 30,822 35,966 108,018 99,615 8.4

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 100,919 97,703 99,562 3.3 -1.9 2.0 102,724 95,036 93,826 95,693 291,586 271,891 7.2

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 360,722 345,778 341,868 4.3 1.1 -0.9 390,741 339,213 319,858 344,256 1,049,812 956,662 9.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 40,506 36,829 36,444 10.0 1.1 -1.8 41,603 34,906 32,860 34,374 109,369 97,233 12.5

 Information technology......................... 31,437 30,563 30,118 2.9 1.5 4.1 36,659 29,258 26,201 32,405 92,118 81,970 12.4

 Computers and related products .......... 8,172 8,104 7,927 0.8 2.2 -8.7 9,703 6,833 6,668 8,099 23,204 19,700 17.8

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 40,706 39,186 36,940 3.9 6.1 -4.3 46,579 40,647 35,387 39,433 122,613 114,100 7.5

 Capital goods...................................... 73,166 71,319 67,409 2.6 5.8 -3.5 85,576 68,518 62,064 74,826 216,158 191,484 12.9

 Nondefense capital goods 3.................. 63,548 60,967 58,564 4.2 4.1 -2.7 72,781 58,391 52,771 62,393 183,943 163,175 12.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 61,406 58,778 57,441 4.5 2.3 -0.4 70,014 56,764 51,354 61,368 178,132 159,131 11.9

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 9,618 10,352 8,845 -7.1 17.0 -8.1 12,795 10,127 9,293 12,433 32,215 28,309 13.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 137,190 132,671 133,240 3.4 -0.4 0.5 144,409 130,376 124,998 131,110 399,783 371,731 7.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,271 34,968 33,678 3.7 3.8 -3.8 41,685 35,340 31,172 35,417 108,197 99,840 8.4

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 100,919 97,703 99,562 3.3 -1.9 2.0 102,724 95,036 93,826 95,693 291,586 271,891 7.2

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 516,791 510,535 506,184 1.2 0.9 0.0 525,705 516,677 509,801 492,408 (X) (X) 6.8

 Construction materials and supplies...... 35,592 34,624 33,538 2.8 3.2 2.3 35,897 34,597 33,308 31,180 (X) (X) 15.1

 Information technology......................... 122,216 120,567 119,414 1.4 1.0 -0.1 124,249 122,276 119,836 113,265 (X) (X) 9.7

 Computers and related products .......... 8,158 8,320 8,383 -1.9 -0.8 -5.3 8,032 8,282 8,129 8,031 (X) (X) 0.0

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 13,995 13,790 13,482 1.5 2.3 0.0 14,687 14,518 14,045 12,659 (X) (X) 16.0

 Capital goods...................................... 364,092 360,685 358,655 0.9 0.6 -0.2 370,440 364,664 361,379 349,420 (X) (X) 6.0

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................222,478 220,455 219,481 0.9 0.4 -0.7 224,968 222,930 220,614 216,939 (X) (X) 3.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 144,483 141,905 140,410 1.8 1.1 -0.6 146,134 143,398 140,212 135,086 (X) (X) 8.2

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 141,614 140,230 139,174 1.0 0.8 0.6 145,472 141,734 140,765 132,481 (X) (X) 9.8

 Consumer goods.................................. 12,695 12,660 12,844 0.3 -1.4 0.6 12,790 12,765 12,961 12,092 (X) (X) 5.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 12,695 12,660 12,844 0.3 -1.4 0.6 12,790 12,765 12,961 12,092 (X) (X) 5.8 

 All manufacturing industries .................. 444,264 442,798 440,029 0.3 0.6 0.3 443,131 445,854 437,679 442,829 (X) (X) 0.1

 Construction materials and supplies...... 46,989 46,799 46,344 0.4 1.0 0.2 48,037 47,725 46,431 48,384 (X) (X) -0.7

 Information technology......................... 38,570 38,569 39,035 0.0 -1.2 -2.2 37,853 38,940 38,649 41,020 (X) (X) -7.7

 Computers and related products .......... 5,882 5,946 6,028 -1.1 -1.4 -1.9 5,627 6,044 5,819 6,080 (X) (X) -7.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 21,080 20,947 20,828 0.6 0.6 3.0 21,046 21,104 20,838 20,384 (X) (X) 3.2

 Capital goods...................................... 125,162 124,942 124,514 0.2 0.3 -0.5 124,162 125,987 123,624 127,020 (X) (X) -2.3

 Nondefense capital goods 3

..................105,351 105,241 105,061 0.1 0.2 -0.5 104,618 106,303 104,344 109,098 (X) (X) -4.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 88,385 88,090 87,957 0.3 0.2 -0.7 87,887 89,068 87,394 90,371 (X) (X) -2.7

 Defense capital goods 4

....................... 19,811 19,701 19,453 0.6 1.3 -0.5 19,544 19,684 19,280 17,922 (X) (X) 9.1

 Consumer goods.................................. 137,741 137,184 136,010 0.4 0.9 0.9 136,346 137,091 134,732 132,943 (X) (X) 2.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 27,568 27,537 27,546 0.1 0.0 1.5 27,476 27,950 27,555 26,918 (X) (X) 2.1

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 110,173 109,647 108,464 0.5 1.1 0.8 108,870 109,141 107,177 106,025 (X) (X) 2.7

p

 Preliminary r Revised X Not Applicable.

1

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories. 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

and supplies.

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 6

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

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

NEW ORDERS

UNFILLED ORDERS

TOTAL INVENTORIES
 8

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

 

[Millions of Dollars]

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

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

2004p 2004r 2004 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2004p 2004r 2004 2003 04/03

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 145,232 144,567 143,089 0.5 1.0 0.7 144,854 145,353 143,461 147,394 -1.7

 Durable goods industries ........................ 85,666 84,796 84,039 1.0 0.9 0.3 85,263 85,452 84,432 87,089 -2.1

 Wood products................................... 3,817 3,700 3,713 3.2 -0.4 -0.3 3,723 3,780 3,950 3,469 7.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 3,299 3,292 3,240 0.2 1.6 -0.1 3,282 3,273 3,245 3,366 -2.5

 Primary metals.................................... 6,392 6,242 5,806 2.4 7.5 0.6 6,218 6,146 5,900 6,331 -1.8

 Fabricated metal products..................... 11,450 11,335 11,114 1.0 2.0 0.6 11,524 11,389 11,158 11,392 1.2

 Machinery.......................................... 12,483 12,408 12,384 0.6 0.2 0.0 12,460 12,484 12,481 13,164 -5.3

 Computers and electronic products ...... 16,688 16,614 16,551 0.4 0.4 -0.1 16,639 16,890 16,395 18,019 -7.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,591 4,525 4,721 1.5 -4.2 0.6 4,607 4,642 4,738 4,817 -4.4

 Transportation equipment.................. 17,591 17,278 17,021 1.8 1.5 0.3 17,502 17,450 17,093 17,167 2.0

 Furniture and related products............ 3,107 3,133 3,197 -0.8 -2.0 0.2 3,106 3,120 3,195 3,252 -4.5

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,248 6,269 6,292 -0.3 -0.4 1.9 6,202 6,278 6,277 6,112 1.5

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 59,566 59,771 59,050 -0.3 1.2 1.1 59,591 59,901 59,029 60,305 -1.2

 Food products.................................... 10,279 10,355 10,264 -0.7 0.9 -0.5 10,266 10,420 10,415 10,665 -3.7

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 5,324 5,396 5,267 -1.3 2.4 0.7 5,415 5,539 5,512 5,632 -3.9

 Textiles.............................................. 1,358 1,365 1,350 -0.5 1.1 0.7 1,365 1,372 1,345 1,526 -10.6

 Textile products.................................. 1,804 1,796 1,779 0.4 1.0 -1.1 1,791 1,789 1,758 1,719 4.2

 Apparel............................................. 1,598 1,634 1,653 -2.2 -1.1 1.0 1,600 1,614 1,632 1,739 -8.0

 Leather and allied products................... 440 448 448 -1.8 0.0 -2.4 425 439 437 419 1.4

 Paper products................................... 6,468 6,531 6,615 -1.0 -1.3 -1.1 6,502 6,591 6,670 7,010 -7.2

 Printing ............................................. 2,674 2,711 2,615 -1.4 3.7 -3.0 2,662 2,660 2,574 2,726 -2.3

 Petroleum and coal products............... 5,155 5,109 4,923 0.9 3.8 5.1 5,139 5,045 4,662 4,131 24.4

 Basic chemicals................................... 16,972 17,018 16,696 -0.3 1.9 3.2 16,963 16,971 16,596 17,393 -2.5

 Plastics and rubber products............... 7,494 7,408 7,440 1.2 -0.4 0.9 7,463 7,461 7,428 7,345 1.6

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 129,571 129,458 128,941 0.1 0.4 0.8 128,774 129,880 127,863 127,430 1.1

 Durable goods industries ........................ 97,554 97,768 97,424 -0.2 0.4 0.6 97,122 98,316 96,576 96,363 0.8

 Wood products................................... 2,008 2,045 1,967 -1.8 4.0 3.1 2,013 2,046 1,957 2,054 -2.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,237 1,224 1,225 1.1 -0.1 0.9 1,309 1,275 1,223 1,327 -1.4

 Primary metals.................................... 6,234 5,944 6,092 4.9 -2.4 4.1 6,199 5,920 6,081 6,326 -2.0

 Fabricated metal products..................... 9,571 9,576 9,483 -0.1 1.0 0.4 9,583 9,577 9,390 9,238 3.7

 Machinery.......................................... 14,923 14,976 14,806 -0.4 1.1 1.4 14,774 15,025 14,416 13,923 6.1

 Computers and electronic products ...... 18,283 18,194 18,235 0.5 -0.2 -1.8 18,003 18,291 18,163 17,825 1.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 2,911 2,921 2,917 -0.3 0.1 1.4 2,950 2,983 2,901 2,995 -1.5

 Transportation equipment.................. 37,562 38,069 38,098 -1.3 -0.1 0.8 37,488 38,429 37,936 37,629 -0.4

 Furniture and related products............ 1,555 1,538 1,533 1.1 0.3 2.9 1,555 1,532 1,532 1,614 -3.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,270 3,281 3,068 -0.3 6.9 -1.5 3,248 3,238 2,977 3,432 -5.4

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 32,017 31,690 31,517 1.0 0.5 1.5 31,652 31,564 31,287 31,067 1.9

 Food products.................................... 3,043 2,995 2,999 1.6 -0.1 -0.3 2,976 3,015 3,097 2,846 4.6

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,702 4,727 4,787 -0.5 -1.3 0.4 4,692 4,866 4,996 4,405 6.5

 Textiles.............................................. 1,296 1,286 1,289 0.8 -0.2 -0.4 1,297 1,297 1,301 1,229 5.5

 Textile products.................................. 694 693 712 0.1 -2.7 3.2 694 693 706 741 -6.3

 Apparel............................................. 1,184 1,193 1,175 -0.8 1.5 -1.6 1,159 1,184 1,190 1,285 -9.8

 Leather and allied products................... 181 190 199 -4.7 -4.5 4.7 182 190 202 177 2.8

 Paper products................................... 1,153 1,137 1,142 1.4 -0.4 3.3 1,140 1,131 1,174 1,186 -3.9

 Printing ............................................. 1,719 1,749 1,678 -1.7 4.2 -5.4 1,654 1,679 1,569 1,809 -8.6

 Petroleum and coal products............... 4,509 4,600 4,540 -2.0 1.3 7.5 4,518 4,488 4,303 4,781 -5.5

 Basic chemicals................................... 11,033 10,650 10,522 3.6 1.2 1.9 10,794 10,510 10,253 10,077 7.1

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,503 2,470 2,474 1.3 -0.2 -0.2 2,546 2,511 2,496 2,531 0.6

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries ..................... 169,461 168,773 167,999 0.4 0.5 -0.3 169,503 170,621 166,355 168,005 0.9

 Durable goods industries ........................ 82,209 81,986 81,813 0.3 0.2 -0.6 82,585 83,635 81,336 84,503 -2.3

 Wood products................................... 4,169 4,095 4,016 1.8 2.0 1.1 4,590 4,356 3,888 4,400 4.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,696 4,776 4,780 -1.7 -0.1 0.0 4,841 4,905 4,794 5,237 -7.6

 Primary metals.................................... 5,431 5,560 5,609 -2.3 -0.9 -1.2 5,544 5,700 5,651 6,342 -12.6

 Fabricated metal products..................... 10,335 10,466 10,358 -1.3 1.0 -1.6 10,738 10,792 10,392 11,458 -6.3

 Machinery.......................................... 15,034 14,796 14,667 1.6 0.9 0.5 15,540 15,464 14,966 15,546 0.0

 Computers and electronic products ...... 12,112 12,025 12,150 0.7 -1.0 -3.9 11,538 12,135 12,019 12,318 -6.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 4,842 4,829 4,845 0.3 -0.3 0.7 4,977 4,987 4,822 4,965 0.2

 Transportation equipment.................. 12,855 12,786 12,776 0.5 0.1 0.6 12,284 12,642 12,331 12,356 -0.6

 Furniture and related products............ 2,910 2,918 2,866 -0.3 1.8 -0.7 2,788 2,827 2,810 2,856 -2.4

 Miscellaneous products........................ 9,825 9,735 9,746 0.9 -0.1 0.2 9,745 9,827 9,663 9,025 8.0

 Nondurable goods industries.................... 87,252 86,787 86,186 0.5 0.7 0.0 86,918 86,986 85,019 83,502 4.1

 Food products.................................... 20,067 19,759 19,633 1.6 0.6 -0.2 19,463 19,660 19,419 19,115 1.8

 Beverage and tobacco products............ 4,676 4,647 4,570 0.6 1.7 1.1 4,612 4,593 4,379 4,440 3.9

 Textiles.............................................. 2,270 2,279 2,305 -0.4 -1.1 -2.5 2,251 2,281 2,277 2,281 -1.3

 Textile products.................................. 2,607 2,605 2,597 0.1 0.3 -3.2 2,598 2,599 2,607 2,531 2.6

 Apparel............................................. 4,135 4,065 4,223 1.7 -3.7 -2.6 3,999 3,963 4,196 4,027 -0.7

 Leather and allied products................... 1,086 1,079 1,075 0.6 0.4 -1.6 1,048 1,066 1,072 1,017 3.0

 Paper products................................... 6,597 6,703 6,687 -1.6 0.2 0.4 6,663 6,781 6,681 6,786 -1.8

 Printing ............................................. 1,729 1,730 1,725 -0.1 0.3 2.3 1,677 1,672 1,605 1,683 -0.4

 Petroleum and coal products............... 6,523 6,570 6,635 -0.7 -1.0 5.5 6,297 6,406 6,367 6,726 -6.4

 Basic chemicals................................... 26,776 26,577 26,047 0.7 2.0 -0.5 27,185 27,044 25,792 24,479 11.1

 Plastics and rubber products............... 10,786 10,773 10,689 0.1 0.8 -0.1 11,125 10,921 10,624 10,417 6.8

p

 Preliminary r Revised

See note at end of Table 2 relating to survey error and revisions.
Table 7. Ratios of Manufacturers' Inventories to Shipments and Unfilled Orders 

 to Shipments, by Industry Group

[Based on Seasonally Adjusted data]

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio 1

Industry Mar Feb Jan Dec Mar Feb Jan Dec

2004p 2004r 2004 2003 2004p 2004r 2004 2003

 All manufacturing industries

2

...... 1.23 1.27 1.26 1.26 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries

2

................... 1.35 1.40 1.41 1.40 3.91 4.00 3.99 4.00

 Wood products................................ 1.12 1.17 1.19 1.15 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products........... 1.18 1.32 1.30 1.26 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals................................. 1.36 1.47 1.48 1.50 1.38 1.46 1.43 1.42

 Fabricated metal products............... 1.38 1.53 1.48 1.47 1.95 2.10 2.01 1.94

 Machinery....................................... 1.79 1.87 1.85 1.83 2.19 2.24 2.15 2.13

 Computers and electronic products

2

.. 1.26 1.26 1.24 1.28 5.03 4.93 4.70 4.84

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 1.43 1.45 1.46 1.44 1.76 1.76 1.70 1.67

 Transportation equipment................. 1.21 1.23 1.32 1.27 7.22 7.22 7.69 7.68

 Furniture and related products........... 1.26 1.28 1.23 1.27 1.12 1.12 1.05 1.07

 Miscellaneous products.................... 1.66 1.73 1.70 1.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries.............. 1.08 1.12 1.09 1.09 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products................................... 0.86 0.87 0.85 0.86 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products......... 1.60 1.74 1.72 1.66 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles.......................................... 1.45 1.46 1.45 1.51 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................... 1.60 1.60 1.54 1.57 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel.......................................... 1.47 1.50 1.54 1.55 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............... 1.88 1.95 2.00 1.96 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products................................ 1.03 1.07 1.02 1.06 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing.......................................... 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.78 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products............ 0.62 0.67 0.64 0.64 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Basic chemicals............................... 1.34 1.38 1.33 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products.............. 1.26 1.31 1.27 1.27 (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; manufacturin

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 2003- 2003- 2003- 2003-

Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb Mar1 Feb

2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004

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

Durable goods industries...................... 0.8 0.4 1.6 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products............. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

 Primary metals................................... 0.6 0.7 2.0 1.4 1.6 0.9 0.4 0.4

 Fabricated metal products.................. 3.0 0.6 3.4 1.6 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.3

 Machinery.......................................... 0.8 0.7 1.0 1.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3

 Computers and electronic products..... -0.7 0.7 2.3 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.6 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances

 and components............................. 0.2 0.4 -0.2 0.8 -0.2 0.4 0.4 0.2

 Transportation equipment.................. 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.2

 Furniture and related products............ (X) 0.8 (X) 1.4 (X) 1.0 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.5 (X) 1.1 (X) 1.3 (X) 0.4

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Textiles............................................. (X) 1.5 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Leather and allied products.................. (X) 2.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Petroleum and coal products............... (X) 1.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.2

 Basic chemicals.................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Plastics and rubber products............... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

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 publ

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. T

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 3,500 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-to-month

changes of the total operations of those companies in

the monthly survey effectively represent the monthto-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 3,500 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 3,500 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.