FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2016, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Adriana Stoica 

Economic Indicators Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (16)-05 

CB 16-112 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

May 2016 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in May, down 

following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased 

$4.6 billion or 1.0 percent to $455.2 billion, the U.S. 

Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.8 

percent April increase. 

 Shipments, up three consecutive months, increased 

$0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $456.5 billion. 

This followed a 0.4 percent April increase. 

 Unfilled orders, up four of the last five months, 

increased $1.7 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,138.9 billion. 

This followed a 0.6 percent April increase. The unfilled 

orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.90, down from 6.94 in 

April. 

 Inventories, down twelve of the last thirteen months, 

decreased $0.8 billion or 0.1 percent to $619.7 billion. 

This followed a 0.1 percent April decrease. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.36, unchanged from 

April. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, 

down following two consecutive monthly increases, 

decreased $5.4 billion or 2.3 percent to $230.4 billion, 

down from the previously published 2.2 percent 

decrease. This followed a 3.2 percent April increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down following two 

consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $4.9 

billion or 5.7 percent to $81.8 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $224.9 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, 

down three of the last four months, decreased $0.6 

billion or 0.2 percent to $231.6 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 0.4 percent April increase. 

 Transportation equipment, also down three of the last 

four months, led the decrease, $0.4 billion or 0.4 percent 

to $80.0 billion. 

 

 

 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 

percent to $224.9 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent 

April increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up 

three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.7 billion 

or 2.1 percent to $34.7 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up four of the last five months, increased $1.7 

billion or 0.2 percent to $1,138.9 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published increase. This 

followed a 0.6 percent April increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up three consecutive 

months, drove the increase, $1.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $785.0 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, 

down ten of the last eleven months, decreased $1.1 

billion or 0.3 percent to $382.6 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 0.4 percent April decrease. 

 

 Machinery, down nine of the last ten months, led the 

decrease, $0.5 billion or 0.8 percent to $65.4 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

three consecutive months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 

percent to $237.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent 

April increase. Chemical products, up following four 

consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $0.6 

billion or 0.7 percent to $80.9 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, May materials and supplies 

decreased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 

0.1 percent in durable goods and increased 1.9 percent in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.8 percent 

in durable goods and decreased 0.7 percent in 

nondurable goods. 

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

data, call (301) 763-4673 or go to www.census.gov/m3. The Advance Report on durable goods for June is scheduled for release on July 27, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. 

EDT and the Full Report on August 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. EDT. See back page for survey description. To receive the latest updates on the Nation's key 

economic indicators, download the America's Economy app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. To learn more about this release and the 

other indicators the U.S. Census Bureau publishes, join us for the Investigating Economic Indicators Webinar Series. For more information, 

visit www.census.gov/econ/webinar. 

“Virtually unchanged” indicates that the change is less than 0.05 percent for a percent increase or decrease. 
 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 % Change

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 May Apr. Mar. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

 All manufacturing industries.................. 456,524 456,328 454,540 0.0 0.4 0.3 466,069 453,383 486,063 476,907 2,251,258 2,313,823 -2.7

 Excluding transportation................... 376,481 375,933 374,623 0.1 0.3 0.9 385,567 374,729 394,581 396,965 1,850,719 1,923,708 -3.8

 Excluding defense.............................. 444,477 444,944 442,021 -0.1 0.7 0.3 454,390 443,036 471,488 465,461 2,193,162 2,258,644 -2.9

 With unfilled orders............................ 165,072 163,915 163,193 0.7 0.4 -0.2 166,881 159,852 179,502 165,508 807,314 813,548 -0.8

 Durable goods industries......................... 231,637 232,208 231,225 -0.2 0.4 -0.7 233,793 229,053 253,239 233,361 1,145,831 1,146,881 -0.1

 Wood products....................................... 8,228 8,220 8,466 0.1 -2.9 2.8 8,970 8,715 8,443 8,224 40,463 37,828 7.0

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 9,878 9,894 9,927 -0.2 -0.3 -0.3 10,294 9,928 9,917 9,578 47,225 44,628 5.8

 Primary metals....................................... 17,524 17,631 17,674 -0.6 -0.2 0.2 17,987 17,860 18,839 19,652 89,309 101,496 -12.0

 Iron and steel mills............................ 7,957 8,020 7,876 -0.8 1.8 -0.8 8,170 8,081 8,244 9,153 40,134 47,782 -16.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 8,071 8,117 8,292 -0.6 -2.1 1.5 8,298 8,272 8,973 8,865 41,618 45,575 -8.7

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,496 1,494 1,506 0.1 -0.8 -1.9 1,519 1,507 1,622 1,634 7,557 8,139 -7.2

 Fabricated metal products....................... 30,057 29,997 29,512 0.2 1.6 -0.2 30,793 30,055 30,794 29,870 147,466 146,365 0.8

 Machinery............................................. 30,254 30,536 30,630 -0.9 -0.3 0.2 31,006 30,957 34,160 32,835 152,866 161,029 -5.1

 Farm machinery................................. 1,818 1,765 1,743 3.0 1.3 1.1 1,960 2,293 2,244 2,121 10,262 11,527 -11.0

 Construction machinery..................... 2,925 2,975 2,975 -1.7 0.0 -0.3 2,958 3,081 3,302 3,748 14,614 19,021 -23.2

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 899 954 1,205 -5.8 -20.8 3.7 863 874 1,310 1,676 5,261 9,555 -44.9

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,314 2,534 2,505 -8.7 1.2 2.8 2,220 2,325 2,810 2,416 11,643 10,747 8.3

 Photographic equipment...................... 448 443 450 1.1 -1.6 4.2 410 381 518 393 2,042 1,963 4.0

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,336 3,399 3,536 -1.9 -3.9 -1.0 3,603 3,333 3,774 3,820 16,530 16,632 -0.6

 Metalworking machinery..................... 3,129 3,075 2,976 1.8 3.3 -2.4 3,146 2,796 3,271 2,687 14,695 12,871 14.2

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 4,207 4,069 3,962 3.4 2.7 0.0 4,355 4,210 4,106 4,617 20,411 22,772 -10.4

 Material handling equipment............... 2,953 2,999 2,882 -1.5 4.1 -2.6 2,980 2,892 3,128 2,584 14,596 12,143 20.2

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 26,583 26,391 26,280 0.7 0.4 -0.2 25,335 24,321 28,942 24,356 125,429 120,778 3.9

 Computers........................................ 598 626 596 -4.5 5.0 2.1 565 564 620 768 2,788 3,559 -21.7

 Computer storage devices..................... 587 623 522 -5.8 19.3 -9.2 434 405 789 400 2,379 2,338 1.8

 Other peripheral equipment................ 672 665 660 1.1 0.8 -12.2 618 534 857 718 3,082 3,762 -18.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,036 2,996 3,075 1.3 -2.6 3.0 2,965 2,631 3,588 2,948 14,133 14,311 -1.2

 Defense communications equipment.... 284 271 278 4.8 -2.5 -13.7 282 270 295 272 1,394 1,638 -14.9

 Audio and video equipment.................... 356 364 337 -2.2 8.0 -6.1 343 298 327 203 1,561 867 80.0

 Electronic components......................... 4,776 4,708 4,612 1.4 2.1 0.2 4,835 4,468 4,837 4,266 22,380 19,297 16.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,329 1,365 1,371 -2.6 -0.4 0.1 1,347 1,154 1,648 1,253 6,640 5,900 12.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,549 2,528 2,502 0.8 1.0 1.1 2,474 2,239 2,716 2,443 11,850 11,774 0.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,069 9,005 8,858 0.7 1.7 0.2 8,739 8,237 10,060 8,042 42,705 39,899 7.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,430 9,458 9,319 -0.3 1.5 -0.4 9,505 9,203 9,919 10,161 46,033 50,279 -8.4

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,072 1,072 1,061 0.0 1.0 1.2 1,017 1,030 1,084 943 5,110 4,817 6.1

 Household appliances........................ 1,377 1,350 1,375 2.0 -1.8 -2.8 1,441 1,356 1,499 1,615 6,797 7,739 -12.2

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,911 2,947 2,940 -1.2 0.2 -0.1 2,951 2,788 3,305 3,196 14,460 15,997 -9.6

 Batteries........................................... 781 802 801 -2.6 0.1 -1.5 728 754 788 773 3,715 3,944 -5.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 80,043 80,395 79,917 -0.4 0.6 -2.5 80,502 78,654 91,482 79,942 400,539 390,115 2.7

 Automobiles..................................... 9,278 9,899 9,989 -6.3 -0.9 -5.3 9,308 9,641 11,107 11,341 50,217 53,260 -5.7

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 14,410 15,481 14,964 -6.9 3.5 -6.2 14,268 15,625 17,102 14,314 76,438 70,093 9.1

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,280 2,368 2,358 -3.7 0.4 -1.0 2,323 2,402 2,576 2,697 11,644 13,136 -11.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 27,650 27,802 27,067 -0.5 2.7 -1.3 28,710 28,484 30,121 25,766 140,062 127,193 10.1

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 14,534 13,615 13,087 6.7 4.0 0.0 14,030 11,873 16,038 13,410 63,866 66,380 -3.8

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,302 3,561 4,638 20.8 -23.2 4.5 4,115 3,088 5,687 4,507 20,052 21,198 -5.4

 Ships and boats................................. 2,971 3,031 3,081 -2.0 -1.6 -2.8 3,068 3,020 3,318 2,841 14,986 13,391 11.9

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,320 6,304 6,336 0.3 -0.5 1.9 6,278 6,206 6,477 6,007 30,955 29,049 6.6

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 13,320 13,382 13,164 -0.5 1.7 0.6 13,123 13,154 14,266 12,736 65,546 65,314 0.4

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 224,887 224,120 223,315 0.3 0.4 1.4 232,276 224,330 232,824 243,546 1,105,427 1,166,942 -5.3

 Food products....................................... 64,698 64,182 64,236 0.8 -0.1 0.2 63,773 62,461 65,947 63,220 317,698 317,153 0.2

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,067 8,023 8,031 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 7,574 7,531 8,278 7,544 39,152 38,615 1.4

 Dairy products.................................. 9,103 9,074 9,217 0.3 -1.6 0.4 9,085 8,815 9,386 9,132 44,804 45,165 -0.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 17,924 17,793 17,934 0.7 -0.8 1.7 18,094 17,645 18,006 18,840 88,122 93,615 -5.9

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,041 12,240 12,242 -1.6 0.0 3.1 12,715 12,223 12,515 12,903 59,190 59,573 -0.6

 Beverages......................................... 9,152 9,122 9,216 0.3 -1.0 1.5 9,826 9,105 9,489 9,657 44,725 43,768 2.2

 Tobacco............................................ 2,889 3,118 3,026 -7.3 3.0 8.1 2,889 3,118 3,026 3,246 14,465 15,805 -8.5

 Textile mills........................................... 2,493 2,513 2,520 -0.8 -0.3 0.9 2,545 2,598 2,652 2,653 12,615 12,917 -2.3

 Textile products................................... 1,978 1,973 1,959 0.3 0.7 1.1 2,044 2,061 2,047 2,096 9,923 10,266 -3.3

 Apparel................................................ 1,100 1,080 1,039 1.9 3.9 2.2 1,009 956 974 888 4,838 4,535 6.7

 Leather and allied products...................... 339 336 334 0.9 0.6 -1.2 340 342 353 401 1,700 2,056 -17.3

 Paper products...................................... 15,300 15,253 15,246 0.3 0.0 0.6 15,548 14,969 15,654 15,267 75,578 75,068 0.7

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,783 6,753 6,776 0.4 -0.3 0.2 6,804 6,620 6,953 6,778 33,665 33,947 -0.8

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,706 4,728 4,703 -0.5 0.5 0.3 4,763 4,662 4,843 4,603 23,175 22,589 2.6

 Printing................................................. 7,160 7,089 7,168 1.0 -1.1 -0.2 7,366 7,209 7,506 7,280 35,463 34,987 1.4

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 34,720 34,000 33,112 2.1 2.7 7.1 38,184 34,352 32,658 52,964 159,557 232,730 -31.4

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 31,084 30,341 29,650 2.4 2.3 7.8 34,300 30,734 29,237 49,487 143,245 217,031 -34.0

 Chemical products..................................... 65,994 66,337 66,387 -0.5 -0.1 0.3 68,892 67,664 72,318 66,290 333,763 322,424 3.5

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,013 3,965 4,148 1.2 -4.4 -1.1 5,227 5,551 6,161 4,713 24,562 22,807 7.7

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 21,637 21,792 21,697 -0.7 0.4 -0.6 21,848 21,216 22,882 18,680 107,334 89,064 20.5

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 3,674 3,696 3,650 -0.6 1.3 1.9 4,059 4,021 3,990 3,683 18,533 17,009 9.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 19,064 19,117 19,072 -0.3 0.2 0.6 19,860 19,495 20,200 19,584 95,102 95,233 -0.1

p

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

1

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

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

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

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 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 % Change

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 May Apr. Mar. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries2........................ 455,239 459,849 451,814 -1.0 1.8 1.7 459,573 452,578 482,868 460,683 2,234,936 2,278,599 -1.9

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 373,429 373,104 371,838 0.1 0.3 1.0 382,281 373,191 394,521 392,325 1,849,601 1,915,392 -3.4

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 443,967 445,214 436,750 -0.3 1.9 0.5 450,361 439,073 465,321 452,029 2,175,482 2,230,177 -2.5

 With unfilled orders2............................. 166,816 170,375 163,609 -2.1 4.1 3.7 162,839 162,299 179,224 151,968 806,046 794,271 1.5

 Durable goods industries2

......................... 230,352 235,729 228,499 -2.3 3.2 2.0 227,297 228,248 250,044 217,137 1,129,509 1,111,657 1.6

 Primary metals........................................ 17,699 18,016 18,162 -1.8 -0.8 1.9 17,821 18,404 19,269 19,184 91,997 101,868 -9.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 8,239 8,309 8,168 -0.8 1.7 1.0 8,294 8,526 8,549 8,818 42,710 48,580 -12.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 7,905 8,107 8,374 -2.5 -3.2 3.1 7,955 8,286 8,995 8,808 41,209 45,232 -8.9

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,555 1,600 1,620 -2.8 -1.2 -0.1 1,572 1,592 1,725 1,558 8,078 8,056 0.3

 Fabricated metal products........................ 30,006 30,091 29,150 -0.3 3.2 -1.6 31,100 30,512 31,757 29,921 151,629 147,787 2.6

 Machinery............................................. 29,337 29,255 29,991 0.3 -2.5 0.1 29,559 30,043 33,421 30,989 152,111 159,683 -4.7

 Construction machinery........................ 2,671 2,645 2,738 1.0 -3.4 -2.9 2,499 2,746 2,895 3,197 13,829 17,334 -20.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 167 69 966 142.0 -92.9 -1.1 190 -139 1,040 1,639 3,368 8,882 -62.1

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,358 2,306 2,411 2.3 -4.4 -0.8 2,084 2,305 2,731 1,939 11,626 10,600 9.7

 Photographic equipment....................... 437 378 418 15.6 -9.6 -1.6 419 366 487 351 2,043 2,276 -10.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,315 3,415 3,445 -2.9 -0.9 -0.5 3,555 3,409 3,766 3,747 16,717 17,348 -3.6

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,116 3,380 3,211 -7.8 5.3 7.5 3,063 3,297 3,326 2,493 15,375 13,057 17.8

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 4,104 4,125 3,921 -0.5 5.2 -0.4 4,121 4,285 3,986 4,193 20,268 21,185 -4.3

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,164 2,941 2,641 7.6 11.4 -13.4 3,214 2,837 3,050 2,789 15,178 13,117 15.7

 Computers and electronic products2

........... 24,391 24,379 23,703 0.0 2.9 0.3 23,214 22,295 27,470 22,044 115,345 110,400 4.5

 Computers........................................ 601 619 593 -2.9 4.4 1.5 568 557 617 700 2,749 3,645 -24.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,434 3,264 3,136 5.2 4.1 -4.2 3,074 3,091 3,829 3,076 16,070 16,550 -2.9

 Defense communications equipment....... 281 282 305 -0.4 -7.5 3.4 259 284 382 263 1,449 1,678 -13.6

 Electronic components......................... 4,772 4,699 4,697 1.6 0.0 3.7 4,807 4,523 4,799 4,252 22,630 19,767 14.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,389 1,323 1,405 5.0 -5.8 -2.2 1,360 1,384 1,651 1,402 7,065 7,198 -1.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,729 3,037 2,737 -10.1 11.0 3.2 2,460 2,859 3,145 2,190 13,239 11,603 14.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,272 9,202 8,984 0.8 2.4 1.7 9,012 8,091 10,786 8,481 43,658 41,506 5.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,373 9,434 9,467 -0.6 -0.3 -0.8 9,474 9,200 10,110 9,951 47,290 50,654 -6.6

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,087 1,082 1,050 0.5 3.0 -1.7 1,029 1,051 1,053 925 5,206 4,825 7.9

 Household appliances.......................... 1,309 1,340 1,368 -2.3 -2.0 -0.4 1,429 1,388 1,529 1,590 6,774 7,850 -13.7

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,855 2,924 2,987 -2.4 -2.1 1.2 2,874 2,813 3,326 3,210 14,622 16,440 -11.1

 Transportation equipment........................ 81,810 86,745 79,976 -5.7 8.5 5.3 77,292 79,387 88,347 68,358 385,335 363,207 6.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 27,872 27,660 27,104 0.8 2.1 -0.8 28,963 27,833 29,881 25,667 139,134 127,124 9.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 17,467 17,309 10,226 0.9 69.3 -2.0 13,386 10,650 10,399 5,139 50,658 47,447 6.8

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 3,644 5,628 6,193 -35.3 -9.1 63.1 2,501 5,187 6,740 3,136 21,597 16,740 29.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,537 3,196 3,614 -20.6 -11.6 169.7 2,698 2,986 3,834 1,803 13,365 11,421 17.0

 Furniture and related products................... 6,304 6,310 6,493 -0.1 -2.8 3.0 6,444 6,607 7,044 6,148 32,564 30,285 7.5

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 224,887 224,120 223,315 0.3 0.4 1.4 232,276 224,330 232,824 243,546 1,105,427 1,166,942 -5.3

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 % Change

Industry May

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 May Apr. Mar. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries2...................... 1,138,906 1,137,162 1,130,702 0.2 0.6 0.0 1,138,432 1,142,474 1,140,027 1,148,292 -0.9

 Excluding transportation2...................... 353,864 353,887 353,777 0.0 0.0 0.1 358,778 359,610 357,896 359,107 -0.1

 Excluding defense2

............................. 963,846 961,327 958,118 0.3 0.3 -0.2 963,857 965,432 966,143 971,921 -0.8

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,138,906 1,137,162 1,130,702 0.2 0.6 0.0 1,138,432 1,142,474 1,140,027 1,148,292 -0.9

 Primary metals........................................ 32,745 32,570 32,185 0.5 1.2 1.5 33,301 33,467 32,923 33,487 -0.6

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,351 18,069 17,780 1.6 1.6 1.7 18,936 18,812 18,367 18,027 5.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 10,502 10,668 10,678 -1.6 -0.1 0.8 10,407 10,750 10,736 11,822 -12.0

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 3,892 3,833 3,727 1.5 2.8 3.2 3,958 3,905 3,820 3,638 8.8

 Fabricated metal products......................... 73,832 73,883 73,789 -0.1 0.1 -0.5 75,610 75,303 74,846 75,536 0.1

 Machinery.............................................. 93,339 94,256 95,537 -1.0 -1.3 -0.7 94,201 95,648 96,562 102,371 -8.0

 Construction machinery......................... 4,553 4,807 5,137 -5.3 -6.4 -4.4 4,610 5,069 5,404 7,183 -35.8

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 6,320 7,052 7,937 -10.4 -11.2 -2.9 6,277 6,950 7,963 10,955 -42.7

 Industrial machinery............................. 7,828 7,784 8,012 0.6 -2.8 -1.2 7,900 8,036 8,056 8,899 -11.2

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,216 1,227 1,292 -0.9 -5.0 -2.4 1,276 1,267 1,282 1,459 -12.5

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 6,316 6,337 6,321 -0.3 0.3 -1.4 6,515 6,563 6,487 6,324 3.0

 Metalworking machinery........................ 7,179 7,192 6,887 -0.2 4.4 3.5 7,299 7,382 6,881 7,348 -0.7

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 25,623 25,726 25,670 -0.4 0.2 -0.2 25,549 25,783 25,708 26,041 -1.9

 Material handling equipment................... 11,928 11,717 11,775 1.8 -0.5 -2.0 12,215 11,981 12,036 10,850 12.6

 Computers and electronic products2............. 128,353 127,516 126,589 0.7 0.7 0.4 129,161 128,828 127,602 121,938 5.9

 Computers......................................... 2,408 2,405 2,412 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 2,408 2,405 2,412 2,366 1.8

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 32,177 31,779 31,511 1.3 0.9 0.2 32,462 32,353 31,893 28,953 12.1

 Defense communications equipment........ 2,291 2,294 2,283 -0.1 0.5 1.2 2,292 2,315 2,301 2,329 -1.6

 Electronic components.......................... 12,130 12,134 12,143 0.0 -0.1 0.7 12,204 12,232 12,177 11,867 2.8

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 17,545 17,485 17,527 0.3 -0.2 0.2 17,550 17,537 17,307 16,110 8.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 28,603 28,423 27,914 0.6 1.8 0.8 28,744 28,758 28,138 27,650 4.0

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 33,199 32,996 32,799 0.6 0.6 0.4 33,501 33,228 33,374 32,663 2.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 17,275 17,332 17,356 -0.3 -0.1 0.9 17,560 17,591 17,594 17,127 2.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,359 1,344 1,334 1.1 0.7 -0.8 1,364 1,352 1,331 1,281 6.5

 Household appliances........................... 1,043 1,111 1,121 -6.1 -0.9 -0.6 1,128 1,140 1,108 1,331 -15.3

 Electrical equipment............................. 7,973 8,029 8,052 -0.7 -0.3 0.6 8,025 8,102 8,077 7,860 2.1

 Transportation equipment......................... 785,042 783,275 776,925 0.2 0.8 0.0 779,654 782,864 782,131 789,185 -1.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 22,569 22,347 22,489 1.0 -0.6 0.2 22,631 22,378 23,029 23,926 -5.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 602,102 599,169 595,475 0.5 0.6 -0.5 597,428 598,072 599,295 596,966 0.1

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 70,570 71,228 69,161 -0.9 3.0 2.3 70,163 71,777 69,678 65,548 7.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 16,852 17,286 17,121 -2.5 1.0 3.2 16,969 17,339 17,373 26,420 -35.8

 Furniture and related products................... 8,078 8,094 8,088 -0.2 0.1 2.0 8,703 8,537 8,136 8,406 3.5

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 % Change

Industry May

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 May Apr. Mar. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

 All manufacturing industries...................... 619,676 620,455 621,311 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 624,359 623,259 619,533 644,489 -3.1

 Excluding transportation........................ 495,087 495,520 496,146 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 499,322 497,571 494,701 519,187 -3.8

 Excluding defense............................. 593,936 594,685 595,868 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 598,519 597,496 594,178 618,499 -3.2

 With unfilled orders............................. 311,507 312,288 313,531 -0.3 -0.4 0.0 314,057 314,180 312,134 323,436 -2.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 382,619 383,677 385,062 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2 385,418 385,702 384,017 395,588 -2.6

 Wood products........................................ 11,117 11,059 11,000 0.5 0.5 -1.3 11,003 11,014 11,246 11,254 -2.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 12,965 12,912 12,908 0.4 0.0 0.2 13,270 13,199 13,210 13,285 -0.1

 Primary metals......................................... 31,119 31,266 31,870 -0.5 -1.9 -0.5 30,992 31,116 31,787 36,358 -14.8

 Iron and steel mills............................... 16,910 16,915 17,026 0.0 -0.7 -1.2 16,694 16,653 16,954 20,815 -19.8

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 12,109 12,247 12,701 -1.1 -3.6 0.2 12,162 12,311 12,649 13,428 -9.4

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,100 2,104 2,143 -0.2 -1.8 1.7 2,136 2,152 2,184 2,115 1.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 48,615 48,590 48,722 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 49,021 49,049 49,150 50,005 -2.0

 Machinery.............................................. 65,385 65,906 66,637 -0.8 -1.1 -0.1 66,291 66,296 66,205 69,464 -4.6

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,996 2,956 3,059 1.4 -3.4 -5.2 3,093 2,953 3,192 3,706 -16.5

 Construction machinery......................... 5,380 5,624 5,641 -4.3 -0.3 1.1 5,372 5,719 5,682 6,197 -13.3

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 7,099 7,245 7,422 -2.0 -2.4 -3.1 7,292 7,355 7,436 8,457 -13.8

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,296 6,292 6,364 0.1 -1.1 0.7 6,354 6,256 6,443 6,367 -0.2

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,592 1,597 1,567 -0.3 1.9 0.6 1,599 1,553 1,483 1,535 4.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 4,427 4,449 4,527 -0.5 -1.7 -0.3 4,686 4,676 4,636 5,077 -7.7

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,647 5,640 5,703 0.1 -1.1 -0.2 5,706 5,625 5,607 5,864 -2.7

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 9,572 9,646 9,896 -0.8 -2.5 2.4 9,726 9,660 9,384 9,910 -1.9

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,701 4,627 4,551 1.6 1.7 1.1 4,693 4,577 4,475 4,251 10.4

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 42,737 42,786 42,741 -0.1 0.1 0.6 43,397 43,027 42,125 43,786 -0.9

 Computers......................................... 1,523 1,526 1,579 -0.2 -3.4 3.8 1,571 1,502 1,497 1,580 -0.6

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,015 1,030 1,036 -1.5 -0.6 0.4 1,027 1,000 948 1,202 -14.6

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,040 1,039 1,041 0.1 -0.2 -1.9 1,089 1,057 989 1,329 -18.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 4,106 4,082 4,024 0.6 1.4 -0.3 4,144 4,035 3,965 4,456 -7.0

 Defense communications equipment........ 595 598 602 -0.5 -0.7 -3.1 595 598 602 736 -19.2

 Audio and video equipment.................... 770 758 743 1.6 2.0 -0.4 701 698 650 608 15.3

 Electronic components.......................... 7,606 7,599 7,615 0.1 -0.2 1.4 7,678 7,842 7,647 7,584 1.2

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,076 3,059 3,047 0.6 0.4 -0.2 3,085 3,076 3,016 3,020 2.2

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 2,902 2,903 2,912 0.0 -0.3 1.8 3,044 2,960 2,910 2,899 5.0

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 14,072 14,144 14,219 -0.5 -0.5 1.0 14,425 14,206 13,974 15,049 -4.1

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 16,342 16,335 16,261 0.0 0.5 0.1 16,556 16,536 16,162 16,984 -2.5

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,999 1,990 1,976 0.5 0.7 0.2 2,019 2,012 1,952 1,912 5.6

 Household appliances........................... 2,262 2,259 2,248 0.1 0.5 -0.6 2,291 2,305 2,241 2,252 1.7

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,930 4,963 4,968 -0.7 -0.1 0.5 5,039 5,069 4,915 5,240 -3.8

 Batteries............................................ 1,358 1,341 1,337 1.3 0.3 -0.1 1,365 1,340 1,303 1,418 -3.7

 Transportation equipment......................... 124,589 124,935 125,165 -0.3 -0.2 -0.3 125,037 125,688 124,832 125,302 -0.2

 Automobiles....................................... 4,137 4,280 4,347 -3.3 -1.5 -2.4 4,035 4,293 4,382 4,910 -17.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 3,942 4,102 4,341 -3.9 -5.5 -0.3 3,880 4,094 4,479 3,841 1.0

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 2,157 2,160 2,251 -0.1 -4.0 3.3 2,217 2,167 2,223 2,199 0.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 23,262 23,257 23,545 0.0 -1.2 -0.6 23,274 23,354 23,725 24,124 -3.5

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 64,416 64,399 64,292 0.0 0.2 0.3 65,051 65,184 63,851 63,326 2.7

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,154 11,458 11,118 -2.7 3.1 -6.0 11,214 11,510 11,093 12,364 -9.3

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,935 2,868 2,826 2.3 1.5 4.2 2,890 2,863 2,874 2,905 -0.5

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,162 7,185 7,228 -0.3 -0.6 -0.5 7,232 7,116 7,024 6,998 3.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 22,588 22,703 22,530 -0.5 0.8 -0.7 22,619 22,661 22,276 22,152 2.1

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 237,057 236,778 236,249 0.1 0.2 0.1 238,941 237,557 235,516 248,901 -4.0

 Food products........................................ 53,501 53,878 53,634 -0.7 0.5 0.9 51,999 52,675 52,221 51,653 0.7

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,860 5,902 5,867 -0.7 0.6 -0.8 5,454 5,822 5,721 5,416 0.7

 Dairy products.................................... 7,351 7,390 7,492 -0.5 -1.4 0.2 7,599 7,575 7,478 7,505 1.3

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 9,170 9,186 9,069 -0.2 1.3 0.1 9,103 9,122 9,027 9,848 -7.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 20,735 20,591 20,460 0.7 0.6 0.3 20,616 20,656 20,568 20,322 1.4

 Beverages......................................... 16,891 16,762 16,609 0.8 0.9 0.6 16,864 16,866 16,668 16,448 2.5

 Tobacco............................................ 3,844 3,829 3,851 0.4 -0.6 -0.7 3,752 3,790 3,900 3,874 -3.1

 Textile mills............................................ 3,136 3,138 3,132 -0.1 0.2 0.1 3,164 3,158 3,129 3,132 1.0

 Textile products...................................... 3,075 3,081 3,096 -0.2 -0.5 -0.5 3,093 3,095 3,105 3,046 1.5

 Apparel................................................. 2,578 2,575 2,554 0.1 0.8 0.3 2,532 2,485 2,430 2,225 13.8

 Leather and allied products....................... 805 816 802 -1.3 1.7 -0.1 815 797 770 854 -4.6

 Paper products....................................... 16,285 16,336 16,394 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2 16,303 16,386 16,471 16,517 -1.3

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 6,626 6,679 6,710 -0.8 -0.5 -0.1 6,684 6,735 6,781 6,799 -1.7

 Paperboard containers......................... 5,241 5,235 5,214 0.1 0.4 -0.4 5,233 5,243 5,233 5,246 -0.2

 Printing.................................................. 5,964 6,001 6,041 -0.6 -0.7 -0.3 5,912 6,049 5,972 5,763 2.6

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 24,753 24,893 24,506 -0.6 1.6 -0.1 26,659 25,200 23,468 38,052 -29.9

 Petroleum refineries............................. 20,149 20,276 19,911 -0.6 1.8 -0.2 21,963 20,610 18,909 33,200 -33.8

 Chemical products..................................... 80,891 80,291 80,474 0.7 -0.2 -0.3 82,076 81,397 81,728 81,475 0.7

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,138 4,132 4,222 0.1 -2.1 -4.5 3,990 4,235 4,553 4,436 -10.1

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 32,524 32,146 32,161 1.2 0.0 0.6 33,339 32,740 32,737 31,111 7.2

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,680 3,622 3,584 1.6 1.1 -0.4 3,774 3,771 3,728 3,673 2.7

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 25,334 25,178 25,156 0.6 0.1 -0.3 25,772 25,659 25,654 25,862 -0.3

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 aggregate totals. 

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

Industry % Change6

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 May Apr. Mar. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 456,524 456,328 454,540 0.0 0.4 0.3 466,069 453,383 486,063 476,907 2,251,258 2,313,823 -2.7

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,656 46,811 46,823 -0.3 0.0 0.5 49,015 47,569 47,642 46,817 227,007 219,773 3.3

 Information technology......................... 22,515 22,474 22,118 0.2 1.6 -0.2 21,824 20,257 24,949 21,433 105,988 105,279 0.7

 Computers and related products........... 1,857 1,914 1,778 -3.0 7.6 -7.0 1,617 1,503 2,266 1,886 8,249 9,659 -14.6

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 53,618 55,550 54,378 -3.5 2.2 -3.4 54,609 56,152 60,906 54,118 278,361 263,682 5.6

 Capital goods...................................... 82,583 81,520 81,188 1.3 0.4 0.0 81,852 77,408 91,449 83,109 396,596 410,948 -3.5

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 72,710 71,914 71,191 1.1 1.0 0.1 72,175 68,566 79,895 73,936 348,974 367,013 -4.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 63,022 63,367 63,001 -0.5 0.6 0.0 62,810 61,303 69,768 65,058 309,570 323,157 -4.2

 Defense capital goods4........................ 9,873 9,606 9,997 2.8 -3.9 -0.4 9,677 8,842 11,554 9,173 47,622 43,935 8.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 182,354 183,062 181,536 -0.4 0.8 0.6 185,957 181,165 189,431 198,810 898,796 948,983 -5.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,827 38,542 37,905 -4.4 1.7 -3.8 36,972 38,707 42,554 38,685 192,536 187,873 2.5

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 145,527 144,520 143,631 0.7 0.6 1.9 148,985 142,458 146,877 160,125 706,260 761,110 -7.2

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 455,239 459,849 451,814 -1.0 1.8 1.7 459,573 452,578 482,868 460,683 2,234,936 2,278,599 -1.9

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,611 46,955 46,869 -0.7 0.2 0.4 49,546 48,022 48,424 47,147 229,969 221,901 3.6

 Information technology......................... 23,397 23,344 22,685 0.2 2.9 -0.8 22,240 21,332 26,572 21,596 111,731 110,504 1.1

 Computers and related products........... 1,860 1,907 1,775 -2.5 7.4 -7.1 1,620 1,496 2,263 1,818 8,210 9,745 -15.8

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 53,840 55,408 54,415 -2.8 1.8 -3.2 54,862 55,501 60,666 54,019 277,433 263,613 5.2

 Capital goods...................................... 83,136 87,303 81,189 -4.8 7.5 7.8 78,316 80,775 91,035 72,198 393,286 393,856 -0.1

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 73,709 74,184 68,490 -0.6 8.3 0.3 70,375 68,497 75,788 65,577 341,916 354,477 -3.5

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,267 62,546 63,109 -0.4 -0.9 0.3 61,383 61,384 71,317 63,208 314,909 326,909 -3.7

 Defense capital goods4........................ 9,427 13,119 12,699 -28.1 3.3 80.7 7,941 12,278 15,247 6,621 51,370 39,379 30.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 182,327 183,011 181,543 -0.4 0.8 0.6 185,899 181,141 189,504 198,690 899,093 949,185 -5.3

 Consumer durable goods..................... 36,800 38,491 37,912 -4.4 1.5 -3.8 36,914 38,683 42,627 38,565 192,833 188,075 2.5

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 145,527 144,520 143,631 0.7 0.6 1.9 148,985 142,458 146,877 160,125 706,260 761,110 -7.2

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 1,138,906 1,137,162 1,130,702 0.2 0.6 0.0 1,138,432 1,142,474 1,140,027 1,148,292 (X) (X) -0.9

 Construction materials and supplies....... 46,141 46,186 46,042 -0.1 0.3 0.1 47,269 46,738 46,285 46,236 (X) (X) 2.2

 Information technology......................... 124,339 123,457 122,587 0.7 0.7 0.5 125,276 124,860 123,785 118,185 (X) (X) 6.0

 Computers and related products........... 2,408 2,405 2,412 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 2,408 2,405 2,412 2,366 (X) (X) 1.8

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 22,569 22,347 22,489 1.0 -0.6 0.2 22,631 22,378 23,029 23,926 (X) (X) -5.4

 Capital goods...................................... 848,487 847,934 842,151 0.1 0.7 0.0 847,566 851,102 847,735 865,518 (X) (X) -2.1

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 708,274 707,275 705,005 0.1 0.3 -0.4 707,414 709,214 709,283 724,113 (X) (X) -2.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 220,456 221,211 222,032 -0.3 -0.4 0.0 223,025 224,452 224,371 229,531 (X) (X) -2.8

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 140,213 140,659 137,146 -0.3 2.6 2.0 140,152 141,888 138,452 141,405 (X) (X) -0.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 4,300 4,327 4,378 -0.6 -1.2 0.2 4,489 4,547 4,571 4,530 (X) (X) -0.9

 Consumer durable goods..................... 4,300 4,327 4,378 -0.6 -1.2 0.2 4,489 4,547 4,571 4,530 (X) (X) -0.9

 All manufacturing industries................... 619,676 620,455 621,311 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 624,359 623,259 619,533 644,489 (X) (X) -3.1

 Construction materials and supplies....... 64,752 64,614 64,645 0.2 0.0 -0.3 65,632 65,539 65,680 67,051 (X) (X) -2.1

 Information technology......................... 36,664 36,703 36,688 -0.1 0.0 0.6 37,301 36,680 35,965 38,786 (X) (X) -3.8

 Computers and related products........... 3,578 3,595 3,656 -0.5 -1.7 1.2 3,687 3,559 3,434 4,111 (X) (X) -10.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 33,498 33,799 34,484 -0.9 -2.0 -0.5 33,406 33,908 34,809 35,074 (X) (X) -4.8

 Capital goods...................................... 192,070 192,714 193,177 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 194,171 193,736 191,277 197,484 (X) (X) -1.7

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 171,239 171,839 172,615 -0.3 -0.4 0.2 173,300 172,920 170,778 176,418 (X) (X) -1.8

 Excluding aircraft............................. 118,003 118,561 119,245 -0.5 -0.6 0.1 119,523 118,847 117,772 123,883 (X) (X) -3.5

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 20,831 20,875 20,562 -0.2 1.5 -1.6 20,871 20,816 20,499 21,066 (X) (X) -0.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 175,870 176,326 175,827 -0.3 0.3 0.3 176,571 175,780 173,715 184,751 (X) (X) -4.4

 Consumer durable goods..................... 28,993 29,364 29,551 -1.3 -0.6 -0.7 28,730 29,197 29,357 28,727 (X) (X) 0.0

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 146,877 146,962 146,276 -0.1 0.5 0.5 147,841 146,583 144,358 156,024 (X) (X) -5.2

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 % Change

Industry May

May Apr. Mar. Apr. - Mar. - Feb. - May Apr. Mar. May 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 May Apr. Mar. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 206,569 206,725 207,325 -0.1 -0.3 0.3 206,602 206,641 206,974 213,009 -3.0

 Durable goods industries.......................... 127,906 128,212 128,802 -0.2 -0.5 0.1 127,686 127,897 128,370 132,255 -3.5

 Wood products................................... 4,572 4,572 4,501 0.0 1.6 -0.4 4,323 4,340 4,452 4,513 -4.2

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,275 5,297 5,249 -0.4 0.9 0.4 5,305 5,323 5,271 5,377 -1.3

 Primary metals.................................... 12,170 12,305 12,663 -1.1 -2.8 -0.5 11,872 11,999 12,481 13,529 -12.2

 Fabricated metal products........................ 17,712 17,677 17,778 0.2 -0.6 0.3 17,643 17,667 17,843 18,269 -3.4

 Machinery.......................................... 24,025 24,445 24,791 -1.7 -1.4 0.0 24,360 24,627 24,522 26,620 -8.5

 Computers and electronic products........ 17,468 17,316 17,084 0.9 1.4 0.6 17,650 17,378 17,033 17,136 3.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,568 6,579 6,548 -0.2 0.5 0.4 6,613 6,619 6,496 7,011 -5.7

 Transportation equipment..................... 29,160 29,081 29,329 0.3 -0.8 0.0 28,906 29,039 29,523 28,850 0.2

 Furniture and related products............... 3,596 3,604 3,610 -0.2 -0.2 -0.8 3,608 3,593 3,560 3,553 1.5

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,360 7,336 7,249 0.3 1.2 -0.1 7,406 7,312 7,189 7,397 0.1

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 78,663 78,513 78,523 0.2 0.0 0.7 78,916 78,744 78,604 80,754 -2.3

 Food products.................................... 18,650 18,310 18,348 1.9 -0.2 2.0 18,129 17,968 18,053 17,531 3.4

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 4,991 4,960 4,967 0.6 -0.1 0.4 4,969 5,060 5,099 5,010 -0.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,151 1,159 1,165 -0.7 -0.5 -0.8 1,166 1,160 1,169 1,167 -0.1

 Textile products................................... 1,071 1,068 1,073 0.3 -0.5 0.0 1,076 1,068 1,076 1,061 1.4

 Apparel............................................. 706 717 715 -1.5 0.3 -0.7 700 704 692 702 -0.3

 Leather and allied products.................... 240 243 239 -1.2 1.7 -1.2 241 238 232 246 -2.0

 Paper products.................................... 8,342 8,348 8,332 -0.1 0.2 -0.3 8,310 8,358 8,420 8,385 -0.9

 Printing ............................................. 2,767 2,793 2,778 -0.9 0.5 -1.2 2,756 2,797 2,760 2,886 -4.5

 Petroleum and coal products................. 5,650 5,676 5,806 -0.5 -2.2 3.1 6,195 5,821 5,627 8,795 -29.6

 Chemical products................................ 25,044 25,218 25,121 -0.7 0.4 0.2 25,289 25,481 25,372 24,690 2.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 10,051 10,021 9,979 0.3 0.4 0.0 10,085 10,089 10,104 10,281 -1.9

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 194,441 193,441 192,987 0.5 0.2 -0.1 196,095 194,440 192,408 201,609 -2.7

 Durable goods industries.......................... 146,518 146,394 147,088 0.1 -0.5 0.0 147,893 147,263 146,194 150,961 -2.0

 Wood products................................... 2,191 2,192 2,216 0.0 -1.1 -0.8 2,222 2,222 2,260 2,203 0.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,462 1,451 1,469 0.8 -1.2 -0.5 1,505 1,494 1,529 1,476 2.0

 Primary metals.................................... 9,319 9,263 9,394 0.6 -1.4 0.4 9,353 9,278 9,354 11,173 -16.3

 Fabricated metal products........................ 12,775 12,752 12,853 0.2 -0.8 -0.4 12,829 12,744 12,852 13,050 -1.7

 Machinery.......................................... 18,598 18,501 18,686 0.5 -1.0 -0.4 18,801 18,412 18,477 18,915 -0.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 13,504 13,625 13,794 -0.9 -1.2 -0.1 13,864 13,869 13,641 14,823 -6.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,450 3,448 3,464 0.1 -0.5 0.3 3,522 3,496 3,433 3,676 -4.2

 Transportation equipment..................... 80,328 80,201 80,282 0.2 -0.1 0.3 80,872 80,778 79,771 80,904 0.0

 Furniture and related products............... 1,093 1,091 1,094 0.2 -0.3 -2.2 1,097 1,088 1,079 1,055 4.0

 Miscellaneous products......................... 3,798 3,870 3,836 -1.9 0.9 -1.2 3,828 3,882 3,798 3,686 3.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 47,923 47,047 45,899 1.9 2.5 -0.6 48,202 47,177 46,214 50,648 -4.8

 Food products.................................... 5,916 6,113 5,940 -3.2 2.9 -1.0 5,369 5,776 5,746 5,466 -1.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,624 7,608 7,572 0.2 0.5 0.7 7,392 7,542 7,626 7,266 1.7

 Textiles.............................................. 690 691 687 -0.1 0.6 0.9 694 696 680 692 0.3

 Textile products................................... 445 446 445 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 447 455 447 416 7.5

 Apparel............................................. 329 328 326 0.3 0.6 -1.8 332 322 305 341 -2.6

 Leather and allied products.................... 107 103 99 3.9 4.0 0.0 107 104 99 101 5.9

 Paper products.................................... 1,260 1,271 1,270 -0.9 0.1 -0.5 1,263 1,270 1,276 1,292 -2.2

 Printing ............................................. 1,601 1,598 1,640 0.2 -2.6 0.7 1,528 1,602 1,617 1,332 14.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. 7,886 7,648 7,312 3.1 4.6 -2.3 8,500 7,903 7,207 12,397 -31.4

 Chemical products................................ 19,045 18,239 17,607 4.4 3.6 -0.6 19,504 18,437 18,142 18,313 6.5

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 3,020 3,002 3,001 0.6 0.0 -0.4 3,066 3,070 3,069 3,032 1.1

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 218,666 220,289 220,999 -0.7 -0.3 -0.3 221,662 222,178 220,151 229,871 -3.6

 Durable goods industries.......................... 108,195 109,071 109,172 -0.8 -0.1 -0.6 109,839 110,542 109,453 112,372 -2.3

 Wood products................................... 4,354 4,295 4,283 1.4 0.3 -2.4 4,458 4,452 4,534 4,538 -1.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,228 6,164 6,190 1.0 -0.4 0.3 6,460 6,382 6,410 6,432 0.4

 Primary metals.................................... 9,630 9,698 9,813 -0.7 -1.2 -1.3 9,767 9,839 9,952 11,656 -16.2

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,128 18,161 18,091 -0.2 0.4 -0.3 18,549 18,638 18,455 18,686 -0.7

 Machinery.......................................... 22,762 22,960 23,160 -0.9 -0.9 0.2 23,130 23,257 23,206 23,929 -3.3

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,765 11,845 11,863 -0.7 -0.2 1.4 11,883 11,780 11,451 11,827 0.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,324 6,308 6,249 0.3 0.9 -0.2 6,421 6,421 6,233 6,297 2.0

 Transportation equipment..................... 15,101 15,653 15,554 -3.5 0.6 -3.4 15,259 15,871 15,538 15,548 -1.9

 Furniture and related products............... 2,473 2,490 2,524 -0.7 -1.3 0.7 2,527 2,435 2,385 2,390 5.7

 Miscellaneous products......................... 11,430 11,497 11,445 -0.6 0.5 -0.8 11,385 11,467 11,289 11,069 2.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 110,471 111,218 111,827 -0.7 -0.5 -0.1 111,823 111,636 110,698 117,499 -4.8

 Food products.................................... 28,935 29,455 29,346 -1.8 0.4 0.6 28,501 28,931 28,422 28,656 -0.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 8,120 8,023 7,921 1.2 1.3 0.0 8,255 8,054 7,843 8,046 2.6

 Textiles.............................................. 1,295 1,288 1,280 0.5 0.6 0.4 1,304 1,302 1,280 1,273 2.4

 Textile products................................... 1,559 1,567 1,578 -0.5 -0.7 -0.8 1,570 1,572 1,582 1,569 0.1

 Apparel............................................. 1,543 1,530 1,513 0.8 1.1 1.3 1,500 1,459 1,433 1,182 26.9

 Leather and allied products.................... 458 470 464 -2.6 1.3 0.4 467 455 439 507 -7.9

 Paper products.................................... 6,683 6,717 6,792 -0.5 -1.1 0.0 6,730 6,758 6,775 6,840 -1.6

 Printing ............................................. 1,596 1,610 1,623 -0.9 -0.8 0.4 1,628 1,650 1,595 1,545 5.4

 Petroleum and coal products................. 11,217 11,569 11,388 -3.0 1.6 -0.2 11,964 11,476 10,634 16,860 -29.0

 Chemical products................................ 36,802 36,834 37,746 -0.1 -2.4 -0.5 37,283 37,479 38,214 38,472 -3.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 12,263 12,155 12,176 0.9 -0.2 -0.4 12,621 12,500 12,481 12,549 0.6

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 Group 1

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio2

Industry May Apr Mar Feb May Apr Mar Feb

2016p 2016r 2016 2016 2016p 2016r 2016 2016

All manufacturing industries3............................ 1.36 1.36 1.37 1.37 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Durable goods industries3.................................. 1.65 1.65 1.67 1.66 6.90 6.94 6.93 6.91

 Wood products.............................................. 1.35 1.35 1.30 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.31 1.31 1.30 1.29 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.78 1.77 1.80 1.81 1.87 1.85 1.82 1.80

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.62 1.62 1.65 1.65 2.53 2.53 2.57 2.58

 Machinery..................................................... 2.16 2.16 2.18 2.18 3.37 3.37 3.40 3.43

 Computers and electronic products3

................ 1.61 1.62 1.63 1.61 5.93 5.93 5.95 5.95

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.73 1.73 1.74 1.74 2.00 2.00 2.04 2.01

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.56 1.55 1.57 1.53 14.52 14.88 14.77 14.64

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.17 1.52 1.53 1.51 1.51

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.70 1.70 1.71 1.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

 Food products.............................................. 0.83 0.84 0.83 0.83 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.72 1.68 1.67 1.72 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.26 1.25 1.24 1.25 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.55 1.56 1.58 1.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.34 2.38 2.46 2.50 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.37 2.43 2.40 2.38 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.08 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.83 0.85 0.84 0.84 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.71 0.73 0.74 0.79 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.23 1.21 1.21 1.22 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.33 1.32 1.32 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

2

 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.

3 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

May

3 May3 May3 May3

Industry 2015- 2015- 2015- 2015-

May2 Apr May2 Apr May2 Apr May2 Apr

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

 

All manufacturing industries.................. (X) 0.2 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.0 (X) 0.1

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

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

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

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.5 -0.4 0.8 -0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.5

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

 Machinery.......................................... -0.1 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. -0.1 0.4 -0.5 1.0 -0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.2

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.1 0.3 -0.1 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.4

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.6 (X) 0.6 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.3

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

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

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

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

 Textile products.................................. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 2.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.2

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

 Plastics and rubber products................. (X) 0.3 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

X Not Applicable NA Not Available

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

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

 publication.

3

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

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

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

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes 1

[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, which is a voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

This survey provides statistics on a calendar-month basis for 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). Data published from the M3 survey are based on a panel of approximately 

4,800 reporting units that represent approximately 3,000 companies and provide an indication of monthto-month change for the Manufacturing Sector. These reporting units may be divisions of diversified 

large companies, large homogenous companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 92 industry categories, 

which are combined into 65 publication levels due to the small monthly panel size. The survey 

methodology assumes that the month-to-month changes of the total operations of the reporting units in the 

M3 panel effectively represent the month-to-month movements of all establishments that make up the 

category. 

The companies for which shipments data are currently reported or imputed in the M3 survey represent 

approximately 61 percent of the total value of shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 

Economic Census, and these companies include almost two-thirds of the manufacturing companies with 

$500 million or more in shipments in the 2012 Economic Census. The companies for which shipments 

data are currently reported in the M3 survey represent approximately 54 percent of the total value of 

shipments for manufacturing establishments in the 2012 Economic Census. Statistics based on the M3 

panel differ from the results that would be obtained from a complete enumeration of all manufacturing 

companies. The M3 panel is not based on 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.