FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Chris Savage or Jessica Young 

Manufacturing and Construction Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (10)-09 

CB10-168 

 Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

September 2010 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in September, up 

three consecutive months, increased $8.8 billion or 2.1 

percent to $420.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a slight August increase. 

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4 

percent. 

 Shipments, up two of the last three months, increased 

$1.7 billion or 0.4 percent to $418.2 billion. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, up six consecutive months, increased 

$8.0 billion or 1.0 percent to $813.5 billion. This 

followed a 0.2 percent August increase. The unfilled 

orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.64, up from 5.61 in 

August. 

 Inventories, up eight of the last nine months, increased 

$3.5 billion or 0.7 percent to $531.2 billion. This 

followed a 0.4 percent August increase. The 

inventories-to-shipments ratio was unchanged at 1.27. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, up two of the last three months, increased 

$6.8 billion or 3.5 percent to $200.0 billion, revised from 

the previously published 3.3 percent increase. This 

followed a 0.8 percent August decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three 

months, had the largest increase, $7.5 billion or 15.8 

percent to $54.8 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $1.9 billion or 0.9 percent to $220.0 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in 

September, down two consecutive months, decreased 

$0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $198.2 billion, revised from 

the previously published 0.4 percent decrease. This 

followed a 1.3 percent August decrease. 

 

 Computer and electronic products, down four of the 

last five months, had the largest decrease, $0.4 billion or 

1.3 percent to $33.8 billion. 

 Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up two 

consecutive months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.9 percent 

to $220.0 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent August 

increase. Chemical products, up three consecutive 

months, led the increase, up $0.8 billion or 1.4 percent to $60.8 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

September, up six consecutive months, increased $8.0 

billion or 1.0 percent to $813.5 billion, unchanged from 

the previously published increase. This followed a 0.2 

percent August increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, up following four 

consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, 

$5.8 billion or 1.2 percent to $480.0 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in 

September, up nine consecutive months, increased $1.5 

billion or 0.5 percent to $314.7 billion, unchanged from 

the previously published increase. This followed a 0.7 

percent August increase. 

 

 Transportation equipment, also up nine consecutive 

months, had the largest increase, $1.2 billion or 1.4 

percent to $82.7 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up two 

of the last three months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.9 

percent to $216.4 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent 

August decrease. Petroleum and coal products, up two 

of the last three months, led the increase, up $1.7 billion 

or 4.3 percent to $41.8 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, September materials and 

supplies increased slightly in durable goods and 1.6 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 

1.1 percent in durable goods and decreased slightly in 

nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent 

in durable goods and 0.8 percent in nondurable goods. 

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

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

The advance report on durable goods for October is scheduled for release on November 24, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. EST and the full report on 

December 3, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. EST. See back page for survey description and 2011 release schedule.
 2 

Table 1. Value of Manufacturers' Shipments for Industry Groups1

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2010/

2010p 2010r 2010 Sept. Aug. July 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 2010p 2009 2009

 All manufacturing industries.................. 418,168 416,480 417,504 0.4 -0.2 1.2 436,595 431,794 407,832 408,300 3,741,763 3,409,513 9.7

 Excluding transportation ................... 369,173 367,334 364,881 0.5 0.7 0.4 382,784 380,879 365,546 352,281 3,305,233 2,987,126 10.6

 Excluding defense.............................. 405,943 404,687 405,327 0.3 -0.2 1.2 423,189 420,393 396,717 392,897 3,627,855 3,291,593 10.2

 With unfilled orders ............................ 144,267 143,694 145,407 0.4 -1.2 1.1 155,377 147,428 135,594 146,380 1,283,408 1,185,634 8.2

 Durable goods industries ......................... 198,164 198,420 201,103 -0.1 -1.3 2.5 211,709 203,624 188,091 198,742 1,761,118 1,628,672 8.1

 Wood products................................. ...... 6,222 6,328 6,570 -1.7 -3.7 -1.9 6,686 6,861 6,821 7,237 61,120 59,279 3.1

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 8,142 8,213 8,232 -0.9 -0.2 -1.1 8,767 9,172 8,701 8,622 74,358 72,609 2.4

 Primary metals............................ ........... 20,126 19,912 19,789 1.1 0.6 -0.2 21,215 21,181 19,417 16,363 180,488 133,319 35.4

 Iron and steel mills............................ 9,560 9,486 9,341 0.8 1.6 -2.9 10,191 10,151 9,226 7,304 86,391 58,395 47.9

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,320 9,188 9,216 1.4 -0.3 2.3 9,658 9,731 9,014 7,883 83,117 65,368 27.2

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,246 1,238 1,232 0.6 0.5 2.6 1,366 1,299 1,177 1,176 10,980 9,556 14.9

 Fabricated metal products....................... 27,272 27,308 27,034 -0.1 1.0 -1.4 29,113 29,553 26,768 27,688 246,668 234,785 5.1

 Machinery............................................. 25,653 25,169 24,346 1.9 3.4 -3.2 26,807 24,512 23,228 23,109 221,474 208,294 6.3

 Farm machinery................................. 2,198 2,355 2,115 -6.7 11.3 5.4 2,137 2,184 1,998 1,729 19,430 18,185 6.8

 Construction machinery..................... 2,506 2,543 2,551 -1.5 -0.3 7.8 2,552 2,475 2,450 1,681 20,561 16,355 25.7

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,318 1,349 1,364 -2.3 -1.1 -5.9 1,345 1,279 1,235 1,547 12,601 14,668 -14.1

 Industrial machinery.......................... 2,768 2,842 2,508 -2.6 13.3 -4.9 3,144 2,556 2,409 2,302 24,448 20,248 20.7

 Photographic equipment...................... 743 743 717 0.0 3.6 -5.5 823 763 672 868 6,589 6,510 1.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 2,497 2,430 2,472 2.8 -1.7 -4.8 2,765 2,551 2,642 2,858 23,124 24,899 -7.1

 Metalworking machinery..................... 1,951 1,924 1,898 1.4 1.4 0.9 2,154 1,893 1,766 1,677 16,304 14,762 10.4

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 3,838 3,084 2,948 24.4 4.6 -20.7 3,823 3,027 2,670 2,886 27,607 25,613 7.8

 Material handling equipment............... 1,663 1,682 1,613 -1.1 4.3 3.7 1,702 1,736 1,536 1,517 14,465 13,725 5.4

 Computers and electronic products 2

.......... 33,834 34,268 34,383 -1.3 -0.3 8.6 36,299 32,643 33,627 32,191 291,233 259,069 12.4

 Computers........................................ 4,811 4,716 4,436 2.0 6.3 3.5 4,850 4,410 4,814 3,310 37,834 32,334 17.0

 Computer storage devices..................... 672 719 752 -6.5 -4.4 15.5 937 546 569 853 5,926 4,803 23.4

 Other peripheral equipment................ 1,123 1,121 1,164 0.2 -3.7 3.6 1,389 999 919 1,266 9,312 8,901 4.6

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 2,920 2,958 2,964 -1.3 -0.2 1.1 3,563 2,859 2,546 3,972 26,919 27,498 -2.1

 Defense communications equipment.... 579 511 596 13.3 -14.3 12.0 624 505 579 565 4,903 5,040 -2.7

 Audio and video equipment.................... 418 421 411 -0.7 2.4 -9.5 426 366 344 410 3,291 3,126 5.3

 Electronic components......................... 3,927 4,089 4,050 -4.0 1.0 5.2 4,328 4,136 3,806 3,872 34,968 30,214 15.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,181 998 976 18.3 2.3 -8.3 1,343 1,004 855 1,154 9,498 9,338 1.7

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,903 2,865 2,846 1.3 0.7 -3.3 3,054 2,823 2,527 3,298 26,635 27,220 -2.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 8,687 8,794 8,981 -1.2 -2.1 3.1 10,231 8,460 7,977 9,250 76,723 64,899 18.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,523 9,642 9,598 -1.2 0.5 0.9 10,143 10,048 9,312 9,430 85,405 80,698 5.8

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,169 1,177 1,197 -0.7 -1.7 1.9 1,237 1,184 1,134 1,184 10,432 9,927 5.1

 Household appliances........................ 1,581 1,626 1,620 -2.8 0.4 -1.2 1,699 1,687 1,528 1,683 14,961 14,595 2.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,221 3,247 3,189 -0.8 1.8 0.9 3,429 3,301 3,077 2,940 27,996 25,544 9.6

 Batteries........................................... 738 752 747 -1.9 0.7 1.5 782 797 715 773 6,410 6,059 5.8

 Transportation equipment........................ 48,995 49,146 52,623 -0.3 -6.6 6.8 53,811 50,915 42,286 56,019 436,530 422,387 3.3

 Automobiles..................................... 6,082 6,104 6,458 -0.4 -5.5 5.6 6,691 6,624 4,966 5,874 52,960 43,627 21.4

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 5,947 5,826 6,275 2.1 -7.2 10.2 6,941 6,373 4,040 6,409 49,544 51,294 -3.4

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 1,650 1,612 1,636 2.4 -1.5 -0.3 1,721 1,594 1,395 1,462 14,372 11,590 24.0

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 16,820 17,095 18,260 -1.6 -6.4 2.9 17,945 18,393 14,763 17,590 152,582 133,797 14.0

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 7,026 7,454 8,616 -5.7 -13.5 29.7 7,549 7,320 7,074 9,777 61,658 70,594 -12.7

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 5,084 4,978 5,010 2.1 -0.6 -4.0 5,872 4,727 4,487 7,089 47,259 47,871 -1.3

 Ships and boats................................. 2,403 2,239 2,416 7.3 -7.3 12.2 2,472 2,193 2,233 2,160 20,445 19,453 5.1

 Furniture and related products.................. 5,569 5,550 5,585 0.3 -0.6 -1.2 5,734 5,943 5,700 5,503 50,083 49,432 1.3

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 12,828 12,884 12,943 -0.4 -0.5 2.8 13,134 12,796 12,231 12,580 113,759 108,800 4.6

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 220,004 218,060 216,401 0.9 0.8 -0.1 224,886 228,170 219,741 209,558 1,980,645 1,780,841 11.2

 Food products....................................... 55,519 55,076 54,965 0.8 0.2 0.0 57,530 55,859 53,792 54,805 491,194 470,723 4.3

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 7,626 7,804 7,441 -2.3 4.9 1.1 8,095 8,042 7,470 8,290 69,402 69,228 0.3

 Dairy products.................................. 7,896 7,688 7,595 2.7 1.2 2.1 8,038 7,832 7,545 6,866 67,066 61,962 8.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 15,954 15,687 15,860 1.7 -1.1 1.3 15,745 15,882 16,086 14,027 140,457 127,625 10.1

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 10,807 10,806 10,509 0.0 2.8 -3.4 10,753 11,316 10,523 9,903 94,371 90,153 4.7

 Beverages......................................... 7,661 7,624 7,496 0.5 1.7 -1.1 7,607 8,134 7,510 6,893 67,443 63,449 6.3

 Tobacco............................................ 3,146 3,182 3,013 -1.1 5.6 -8.7 3,146 3,182 3,013 3,010 26,928 26,704 0.8

 Textile mills........................................... 2,386 2,405 2,402 -0.8 0.1 -0.1 2,462 2,477 2,311 2,222 21,437 18,929 13.2

 Textile products................................... 1,824 1,826 1,833 -0.1 -0.4 -1.7 1,838 1,945 1,903 1,814 17,068 16,527 3.3

 Apparel................................................ 1,234 1,291 1,285 -4.4 0.5 -0.8 1,325 1,430 1,319 1,284 11,519 11,409 1.0

 Leather and allied products...................... 389 393 399 -1.0 -1.5 -1.0 451 427 391 479 3,644 3,777 -3.5

 Paper products...................................... 14,482 14,393 14,381 0.6 0.1 1.8 14,792 14,838 14,360 13,572 127,342 120,637 5.6

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 6,842 6,777 6,731 1.0 0.7 1.1 6,943 7,020 6,770 6,244 59,655 55,658 7.2

 Paperboard containers........................ 4,121 4,033 4,046 2.2 -0.3 1.1 4,199 4,171 4,078 3,724 35,807 33,889 5.7

 Printing................................................. 7,249 7,233 7,211 0.2 0.3 -0.7 7,579 7,298 6,889 7,331 64,068 64,121 -0.1

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 50,130 49,393 49,208 1.5 0.4 -0.3 51,499 55,283 54,377 46,590 473,486 359,782 31.6

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 47,081 46,354 46,195 1.6 0.3 0.0 47,919 51,566 50,899 43,336 444,714 333,633 33.3

 Chemical products..................................... 60,760 59,939 58,831 1.4 1.9 0.3 60,853 60,956 58,340 56,385 536,317 492,924 8.8

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,238 4,030 3,710 5.2 8.6 0.3 3,512 3,479 3,185 2,313 36,540 25,644 42.5

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 15,961 15,726 15,431 1.5 1.9 -0.7 16,092 16,055 15,067 15,397 138,551 141,537 -2.1

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 2,585 2,650 2,600 -2.5 1.9 -3.2 2,676 2,861 2,783 2,643 24,223 23,490 3.1

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 15,224 15,305 15,377 -0.5 -0.5 0.2 15,804 16,341 15,536 15,173 140,199 131,859 6.3

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.

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

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

 aggregate totals. 

Year to date
 3

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted 

Monthly Percent Change Monthly

Industry Percent

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2010/

2010p 2010r 2010 Sept. Aug. July 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 2010p 2009 2009

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 420,024 411,259 411,101 2.1 0.0 0.5 438,172 423,790 398,090 397,714 3,706,390 3,279,658 13.0

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 365,231 363,927 359,206 0.4 1.3 -0.9 379,756 376,364 358,182 350,196 3,277,605 2,915,410 12.4

 Excluding defense 2

.............................. 406,927 399,270 398,864 1.9 0.1 0.5 424,556 413,354 388,901 384,213 3,594,222 3,172,205 13.3

 With unfilled orders 2

............................. 152,249 145,045 145,683 5.0 -0.4 0.7 161,968 145,470 134,060 139,526 1,299,224 1,097,244 18.4

 Durable goods industries 2........................ 200,020 193,199 194,700 3.5 -0.8 1.2 213,286 195,620 178,349 188,156 1,725,745 1,498,817 15.1

 Primary metals............................ ............ 19,869 19,927 20,249 -0.3 -1.6 5.0 20,381 21,463 20,352 16,087 182,677 130,062 40.5

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 9,336 9,411 9,880 -0.8 -4.7 9.2 9,463 10,418 10,206 7,090 88,256 57,068 54.7

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 9,295 9,226 9,150 0.7 0.8 1.4 9,587 9,702 8,983 7,834 83,277 64,048 30.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,238 1,290 1,219 -4.0 5.8 0.3 1,331 1,343 1,163 1,163 11,144 8,946 24.6

 Fabricated metal products........................ 27,159 27,529 27,107 -1.3 1.6 -1.4 28,491 29,271 26,597 27,139 248,142 225,536 10.0

 Machinery............................................. 27,538 26,948 25,566 2.2 5.4 -9.8 29,229 25,931 24,659 24,500 236,103 195,677 20.7

 Construction machinery....................... 2,608 2,798 2,875 -6.8 -2.7 23.6 2,767 2,653 2,807 2,178 21,771 11,325 92.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,380 1,442 1,099 -4.3 31.2 -67.6 1,361 1,530 994 1,372 14,142 12,070 17.2

 Industrial machinery............................ 3,084 3,040 2,797 1.4 8.7 -7.5 3,210 2,489 2,990 1,997 25,809 16,387 57.5

 Photographic equipment...................... 588 722 717 -18.6 0.7 -9.4 690 764 652 934 6,550 6,523 0.4

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 2,745 2,746 2,413 0.0 13.8 -16.6 3,487 2,828 2,601 3,754 27,046 28,462 -5.0

 Metalworking machinery....................... 1,965 1,953 1,804 0.6 8.3 -1.5 2,186 1,917 1,637 1,683 16,117 13,491 19.5

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 4,929 3,857 3,288 27.8 17.3 -15.0 4,841 3,788 3,010 3,230 31,066 24,736 25.6

 Material handling equipment.................. 1,785 1,654 2,053 7.9 -19.4 27.0 2,021 1,573 1,863 1,660 15,511 12,653 22.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 27,689 28,468 27,398 -2.7 3.9 -0.3 31,981 26,927 24,463 30,019 240,372 214,974 11.8

 Computers........................................ 4,951 4,770 4,030 3.8 18.4 -12.0 4,990 4,464 4,408 4,212 37,935 31,593 20.1

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 2,726 3,450 3,072 -21.0 12.3 7.4 3,490 3,669 2,518 4,284 26,160 28,272 -7.5

 Defense communications equipment...... 549 522 538 5.2 -3.0 46.6 706 355 366 706 4,962 5,114 -3.0

 Electronic components......................... 3,882 3,961 4,010 -2.0 -1.2 2.8 4,203 4,200 3,806 4,089 35,872 30,754 16.6

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 954 977 1,039 -2.4 -6.0 -2.8 1,152 990 968 979 9,251 8,042 15.0

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,045 3,283 3,030 -7.2 8.3 -1.7 3,414 2,830 2,297 3,116 26,562 26,812 -0.9

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 8,882 8,740 8,824 1.6 -1.0 -0.8 10,734 8,019 7,785 9,595 77,066 63,326 21.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 10,018 10,037 9,625 -0.2 4.3 -4.5 10,224 10,206 9,501 9,055 89,449 78,962 13.3

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,291 1,217 1,187 6.1 2.5 5.2 1,314 1,211 1,084 1,205 10,862 9,878 10.0

 Household appliances.......................... 1,608 1,547 1,627 3.9 -4.9 0.7 1,722 1,601 1,573 1,736 15,041 14,767 1.9

 Electrical equipment............................ 3,219 3,487 3,257 -7.7 7.1 -7.4 3,187 3,465 3,308 2,638 30,073 24,063 25.0

 Transportation equipment........................ 54,793 47,332 51,895 15.8 -8.8 11.6 58,416 47,426 39,908 47,518 428,785 364,248 17.7

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 16,917 17,138 17,949 -1.3 -4.5 2.8 18,000 18,099 14,610 17,285 151,263 131,851 14.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 12,853 6,268 8,949 105.1 -30.0 69.1 13,195 5,343 6,913 4,126 63,655 31,920 99.4

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 6,282 4,831 4,795 30.0 0.8 -9.4 6,634 3,786 4,067 5,343 47,281 45,077 4.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 1,704 1,430 1,833 19.2 -22.0 5.4 1,628 1,480 1,235 1,739 16,343 14,475 12.9

 Furniture and related products................. 5,693 5,630 5,118 1.1 10.0 -8.3 5,908 5,664 5,119 5,393 50,658 49,495 2.3

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 220,004 218,060 216,401 0.9 0.8 -0.1 224,886 228,170 219,741 209,558 1,980,645 1,780,841 11.2

p

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

1

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

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

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

adjusted for price changes.

2

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

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

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

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

Year to date
 4 

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. Sept.

2010p 2010r 2010 Sept. Aug. July 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 10/09

All manufacturing industries 2...................... 813,506 805,524 804,173 1.0 0.2 0.0 808,502 801,911 803,869 804,260 0.5

 Excluding transportation 2

...................... 333,496 331,312 328,147 0.7 1.0 0.3 333,290 331,304 329,773 312,440 6.7

 Excluding defense 2

............................. 658,965 651,855 650,700 1.1 0.2 0.0 656,690 650,309 651,302 646,413 1.6

 Durable goods industries 2

........................ 813,506 805,524 804,173 1.0 0.2 0.0 808,502 801,911 803,869 804,260 0.5

 Primary metals........................................ 18,258 18,515 18,500 -1.4 0.1 2.5 18,560 19,394 19,112 16,679 11.3

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 10,166 10,390 10,465 -2.2 -0.7 5.4 10,634 11,362 11,095 9,462 12.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 6,044 6,069 6,031 -0.4 0.6 -1.1 5,919 5,990 6,019 5,404 9.5

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 2,048 2,056 2,004 -0.4 2.6 -0.6 2,007 2,042 1,998 1,813 10.7

 Fabricated metal products......................... 53,987 54,100 53,879 -0.2 0.4 0.1 53,548 54,170 54,452 52,864 1.3

 Machinery.............................................. 101,553 99,668 97,889 1.9 1.8 1.3 101,795 99,373 97,954 87,841 15.9

 Construction machinery....................... 10,708 10,606 10,351 1.0 2.5 3.2 10,626 10,411 10,233 10,189 4.3

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 7,581 7,519 7,426 0.8 1.3 -3.4 7,605 7,589 7,338 6,246 21.8

 Industrial machinery............................ 12,703 12,387 12,189 2.6 1.6 2.4 12,352 12,286 12,353 10,753 14.9

 Photographic equipment...................... 2,382 2,537 2,558 -6.1 -0.8 0.0 2,396 2,529 2,528 2,473 -3.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 21,463 21,215 20,899 1.2 1.5 -0.3 22,230 21,508 21,231 18,004 23.5

 Metalworking machinery....................... 6,202 6,188 6,159 0.2 0.5 -1.5 6,176 6,144 6,120 6,462 -4.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment.......... 16,372 15,281 14,508 7.1 5.3 2.4 16,272 15,254 14,493 12,581 29.3

 Material handling equipment.................. 7,927 7,805 7,833 1.6 -0.4 6.0 7,945 7,626 7,789 7,234 9.8

 Computers and electronic products 2......... 122,063 122,082 121,310 0.0 0.6 -0.3 121,837 121,141 120,811 122,215 -0.3

 Computers......................................... 5,472 5,332 5,278 2.6 1.0 -7.1 5,472 5,332 5,278 4,777 14.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 21,893 22,087 21,595 -0.9 2.3 0.5 22,020 22,093 21,283 23,021 -4.3

 Defense communications equipment...... 6,098 6,128 6,117 -0.5 0.2 -0.9 6,054 5,972 6,122 6,339 -4.5

 Electronic components.......................... 11,511 11,556 11,684 -0.4 -1.1 -0.3 11,597 11,722 11,658 10,386 11.7

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 8,123 8,350 8,371 -2.7 -0.3 0.8 8,127 8,318 8,332 8,560 -5.1

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 39,860 39,718 39,300 0.4 1.1 0.5 39,513 39,153 39,146 40,766 -3.1

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments.................... 29,106 28,911 28,965 0.7 -0.2 -0.5 29,054 28,551 28,992 28,366 2.4

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 25,265 24,770 24,375 2.0 1.6 0.1 25,145 25,064 24,906 21,553 16.7

 Electric lighting equipment................... 2,462 2,340 2,300 5.2 1.7 -0.4 2,555 2,478 2,451 2,259 13.1

 Household appliances.......................... 485 458 537 5.9 -14.7 1.3 470 447 533 498 -5.6

 Electrical equipment............................. 15,685 15,687 15,447 0.0 1.6 0.4 15,637 15,879 15,715 13,825 13.1

 Transportation equipment........................ 480,010 474,212 476,026 1.2 -0.4 -0.2 475,212 470,607 474,096 491,820 -3.4

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 13,617 13,520 13,477 0.7 0.3 -2.3 13,329 13,274 13,568 14,282 -6.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 327,822 321,995 323,181 1.8 -0.4 0.1 325,562 319,916 321,893 327,344 -0.5

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 48,764 47,566 47,713 2.5 -0.3 -0.4 47,770 47,008 47,949 48,239 -1.0

 Ships and boats.................................. 14,753 15,452 16,261 -4.5 -5.0 -3.5 14,276 15,120 15,833 20,381 -30.0

 Furniture and related products................. 6,430 6,306 6,226 2.0 1.3 -7.0 6,465 6,291 6,570 6,185 4.5

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 Percent

Industry Change

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. Sept.

2010p 2010r 2010 Sept. Aug. July 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 10/09

 All manufacturing industries..................... 531,179 527,696 525,722 0.7 0.4 0.9 532,447 532,464 530,257 506,049 5.2

 Excluding transportation...................... 448,484 446,173 445,345 0.5 0.2 1.0 449,966 450,333 448,930 430,862 4.4

 Excluding defense............................. 508,525 504,764 502,495 0.7 0.5 1.0 509,833 509,600 507,057 483,268 5.5

 With unfilled orders............................. 255,941 254,514 252,753 0.6 0.7 0.6 255,257 256,228 254,550 238,241 7.1

 Durable goods industries........................ 314,734 313,187 311,100 0.5 0.7 0.6 313,696 315,208 313,045 295,754 6.1

 Wood products........................................ 8,869 8,851 8,868 0.2 -0.2 -1.2 8,955 8,838 8,779 8,756 2.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products................... 11,319 11,248 11,233 0.6 0.1 0.4 11,110 11,138 11,287 11,505 -3.4

 Primary metals......................................... 30,443 30,580 30,826 -0.4 -0.8 -0.2 30,853 30,918 31,225 27,144 13.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 17,989 18,242 18,566 -1.4 -1.7 -0.6 18,380 18,482 18,903 15,575 18.0

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals......... 10,649 10,524 10,455 1.2 0.7 0.5 10,709 10,640 10,553 9,828 9.0

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,805 1,814 1,805 -0.5 0.5 0.1 1,764 1,796 1,769 1,741 1.3

 Fabricated metal products......................... 41,773 42,049 41,972 -0.7 0.2 0.6 41,676 42,092 42,277 39,694 5.0

 Machinery.............................................. 52,041 51,738 51,300 0.6 0.9 1.6 51,543 51,785 51,083 50,351 2.4

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,505 2,520 2,551 -0.6 -1.2 1.6 2,342 2,406 2,489 2,319 1.0

 Construction machinery........................ 5,286 5,146 5,024 2.7 2.4 1.5 5,254 5,076 4,959 4,812 9.2

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 5,955 5,897 5,857 1.0 0.7 4.0 5,920 5,969 5,923 5,827 1.6

 Industrial machinery............................ 6,866 6,770 6,661 1.4 1.6 1.0 6,883 6,844 6,638 6,562 4.9

 Photographic equipment...................... 1,576 1,576 1,569 0.0 0.4 2.5 1,542 1,579 1,618 1,467 5.1

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,469 3,499 3,512 -0.9 -0.4 -0.2 3,393 3,508 3,514 3,482 -2.6

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,986 3,957 3,946 0.7 0.3 -0.2 4,029 4,012 3,965 4,136 -2.6

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment.......... 6,270 6,301 6,163 -0.5 2.2 2.9 6,236 6,410 6,093 6,045 3.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 3,039 3,038 3,013 0.0 0.8 1.1 3,003 3,018 2,996 2,985 0.6

 Computers and electronic products 2

......... 45,550 45,462 45,246 0.2 0.5 0.1 45,049 46,188 45,409 43,128 4.5

 Computers......................................... 2,056 2,226 2,353 -7.6 -5.4 -4.0 2,168 2,395 2,272 2,045 6.0

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,081 1,061 1,048 1.9 1.2 -0.5 1,034 1,101 1,063 933 10.8

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,442 1,453 1,461 -0.8 -0.5 0.2 1,378 1,523 1,499 1,375 0.2

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 5,984 5,955 5,988 0.5 -0.6 1.7 5,807 5,981 5,934 5,561 4.4

 Defense communications equipment...... 2,095 2,139 2,066 -2.1 3.5 0.8 2,095 2,139 2,066 1,975 6.1

 Audio and video equipment.................. 372 375 388 -0.8 -3.4 -0.3 411 389 385 782 -47.4

 Electronic components.......................... 7,656 7,566 7,480 1.2 1.1 0.6 7,568 7,634 7,577 6,473 16.9

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,799 3,779 3,767 0.5 0.3 -0.1 3,840 3,817 3,818 3,604 6.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,561 3,589 3,633 -0.8 -1.2 0.9 3,525 3,605 3,650 3,262 8.1

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments.................... 11,992 11,818 11,687 1.5 1.1 -0.8 11,751 12,064 11,714 11,425 2.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 14,788 14,640 14,444 1.0 1.4 1.6 14,670 14,757 14,609 13,554 8.2

 Electric lighting equipment................... 1,676 1,624 1,562 3.2 4.0 0.9 1,639 1,653 1,594 1,563 4.9

 Household appliances.......................... 2,580 2,527 2,437 2.1 3.7 5.5 2,635 2,654 2,554 2,151 22.5

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,827 4,753 4,730 1.6 0.5 1.6 4,654 4,629 4,667 3,994 16.5

 Batteries............................................ 977 985 985 -0.8 0.0 0.7 1,007 1,028 1,024 1,084 -7.1

 Transportation equipment......................... 82,695 81,523 80,377 1.4 1.4 0.4 82,481 82,131 81,327 75,187 9.7

 Automobiles....................................... 1,679 1,726 1,716 -2.7 0.6 -3.3 1,611 1,744 1,727 1,083 48.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles............. 1,911 2,007 1,935 -4.8 3.7 5.5 2,020 2,150 1,922 1,396 44.7

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 1,331 1,328 1,334 0.2 -0.4 1.9 1,320 1,368 1,371 1,290 2.3

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 16,233 16,108 15,954 0.8 1.0 0.8 16,128 16,020 15,967 14,056 14.7

 Nondefense aircraft and parts............... 39,152 37,768 36,682 3.7 3.0 0.5 39,069 38,132 37,556 33,384 17.0

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,904 12,030 12,106 -1.0 -0.6 0.6 11,964 12,091 12,168 12,063 -0.8

 Ships and boats.................................. 3,544 3,534 3,771 0.3 -6.3 1.7 3,501 3,457 3,685 3,207 9.2

 Furniture and related products................. 6,408 6,422 6,356 -0.2 1.0 0.7 6,407 6,484 6,466 6,102 5.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods.................... 20,848 20,674 20,478 0.8 1.0 0.6 20,952 20,877 20,583 20,333 3.0

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 216,445 214,509 214,622 0.9 -0.1 1.5 218,751 217,256 217,212 210,295 4.0

 Food products........................................ 41,493 40,979 40,536 1.3 1.1 0.4 42,306 41,147 40,054 40,048 5.6

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,525 5,433 5,284 1.7 2.8 4.6 5,417 5,272 5,216 4,586 18.1

 Dairy products.................................... 5,599 5,433 5,342 3.1 1.7 -1.4 5,591 5,539 5,529 4,934 13.3

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products...... 8,217 8,165 8,124 0.6 0.5 1.7 8,411 8,212 8,077 7,442 13.0

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 15,350 15,444 15,613 -0.6 -1.1 -0.7 15,350 14,959 14,975 16,083 -4.6

 Beverages......................................... 11,739 11,806 11,962 -0.6 -1.3 -0.8 11,855 11,539 11,559 12,451 -4.8

 Tobacco............................................ 3,611 3,638 3,651 -0.7 -0.4 -0.3 3,495 3,420 3,416 3,632 -3.8

 Textile mills............................................ 3,186 3,148 3,113 1.2 1.1 1.4 3,164 3,120 3,098 3,015 4.9

 Textile products...................................... 3,001 2,980 2,947 0.7 1.1 0.4 3,032 3,005 2,957 2,802 8.2

 Apparel................................................. 2,697 2,642 2,579 2.1 2.4 2.6 2,833 2,774 2,720 2,565 10.4

 Leather and allied products...................... 878 872 863 0.7 1.0 0.6 899 902 891 899 0.0

 Paper products....................................... 14,217 14,191 14,195 0.2 0.0 0.6 14,211 14,198 14,144 14,234 -0.2

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.......... 5,770 5,759 5,776 0.2 -0.3 0.4 5,752 5,752 5,729 6,204 -7.3

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,086 4,097 4,103 -0.3 -0.1 1.4 4,068 4,090 4,095 3,795 7.2

 Printing.................................................. 5,356 5,393 5,390 -0.7 0.1 -0.5 5,518 5,544 5,481 5,613 -1.7

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 41,760 40,039 40,385 4.3 -0.9 6.9 43,346 42,506 43,414 37,752 14.8

 Petroleum refineries............................. 38,985 37,204 37,597 4.8 -1.0 7.2 40,607 39,604 40,590 35,307 15.0

 Chemical products..................................... 69,105 69,308 69,465 -0.3 -0.2 0.4 68,717 69,733 70,031 68,783 -0.1

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 4,081 4,164 4,309 -2.0 -3.4 -1.9 3,574 3,743 3,989 3,657 -2.3

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 23,472 23,708 23,905 -1.0 -0.8 0.2 23,617 24,191 24,360 26,612 -11.3

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives............. 3,350 3,297 3,270 1.6 0.8 0.3 3,312 3,320 3,347 3,069 7.9

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 19,402 19,513 19,536 -0.6 -0.1 -0.1 19,375 19,368 19,447 18,501 4.7

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

1

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

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

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

2 Estimates of inventories for the semiconductor industry data are included in computers and electronic products and all other applicable agregates totals, but are not shown separately. 

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

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

 Topical Series1, 2

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Year to date Percent

Industry Change6

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. 2010/

2010p 2010r 2010 Sept. Aug. July 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 2010p 2009 2009

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries .................. 418,168 416,480 417,504 0.4 -0.2 1.2 436,595 431,794 407,832 408,300 3,741,763 3,409,513 9.7

 Construction materials and supplies...... 39,616 39,973 40,145 -0.9 -0.4 -1.9 42,874 43,785 41,556 42,725 368,328 357,845 2.9

 Information technology......................... 27,338 27,190 27,216 0.5 -0.1 1.6 30,776 26,303 25,143 28,305 237,271 218,473 8.6

 Computers and related products .......... 6,606 6,556 6,352 0.8 3.2 4.8 7,176 5,955 6,302 5,429 53,072 46,038 15.3

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 30,499 30,637 32,629 -0.5 -6.1 4.6 33,298 32,984 25,164 31,335 269,458 240,308 12.1

 Capital goods...................................... 74,921 74,349 75,228 0.8 -1.2 2.4 80,563 72,805 69,906 77,296 655,793 627,129 4.6

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 65,154 65,225 65,641 -0.1 -0.6 3.0 70,113 63,849 61,073 64,930 564,450 531,591 6.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 61,317 60,710 59,876 1.0 1.4 0.0 66,025 59,451 56,546 58,285 528,547 486,985 8.5

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 9,767 9,124 9,587 7.0 -4.8 -1.5 10,450 8,956 8,833 12,366 91,343 95,538 -4.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 168,891 167,603 167,532 0.8 0.0 0.4 174,273 176,243 166,077 162,938 1,519,863 1,369,709 11.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,499 24,600 25,403 -0.4 -3.2 4.4 26,522 25,725 20,703 24,929 216,360 205,116 5.5

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 144,392 143,003 142,129 1.0 0.6 -0.3 147,751 150,518 145,374 138,009 1,303,503 1,164,593 11.9

 All manufacturing industries 5

................. 420,024 411,259 411,101 2.1 0.0 0.5 438,172 423,790 398,090 397,714 3,706,390 3,279,658 13.0

 Construction materials and supplies...... 40,035 40,419 40,195 -1.0 0.6 -2.6 43,422 43,886 41,413 43,049 373,053 354,144 5.3

 Information technology......................... 27,557 28,263 26,912 -2.5 5.0 -2.0 31,687 26,623 24,130 29,567 238,113 214,938 10.8

 Computers and related products .......... 6,746 6,610 5,946 2.1 11.2 -6.4 7,316 6,009 5,896 6,331 53,173 45,297 17.4

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 30,596 30,680 32,318 -0.3 -5.1 4.6 33,353 32,690 25,011 31,030 268,139 238,362 12.5

 Capital goods...................................... 82,553 75,737 75,051 9.0 0.9 -0.8 87,405 71,569 67,336 70,989 666,548 552,194 20.7

 Nondefense capital goods 3

.................. 72,391 66,371 65,505 9.1 1.3 -0.7 77,231 63,214 60,462 60,160 577,578 466,051 23.9

 Excluding aircraft............................. 62,909 63,011 59,953 -0.2 5.1 -5.3 67,659 60,706 56,558 59,012 539,656 461,991 16.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 10,162 9,366 9,546 8.5 -1.9 -1.2 10,174 8,355 6,874 10,829 88,970 86,143 3.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 169,001 167,375 167,450 1.0 0.0 0.5 174,373 175,928 166,114 162,947 1,520,181 1,369,105 11.0

 Consumer durable goods..................... 24,609 24,372 25,321 1.0 -3.7 4.7 26,622 25,410 20,740 24,938 216,678 204,512 5.9

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 144,392 143,003 142,129 1.0 0.6 -0.3 147,751 150,518 145,374 138,009 1,303,503 1,164,593 11.9

 All manufacturing industries 5................. 813,506 805,524 804,173 1.0 0.2 0.0 808,502 801,911 803,869 804,260 (X) (X) 0.5

 Construction materials and supplies...... 54,374 53,955 53,509 0.8 0.8 0.1 54,970 54,422 54,321 50,140 (X) (X) 9.6

 Information technology......................... 119,567 119,348 118,275 0.2 0.9 -0.3 119,119 118,208 117,888 119,273 (X) (X) -0.1

 Computers and related products .......... 5,472 5,332 5,278 2.6 1.0 -7.1 5,472 5,332 5,278 4,777 (X) (X) 14.5

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 13,617 13,520 13,477 0.7 0.3 -2.3 13,329 13,274 13,568 14,282 (X) (X) -6.7

 Capital goods...................................... 636,460 628,828 627,440 1.2 0.2 0.0 631,207 624,365 625,601 630,530 (X) (X) 0.1

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................496,135 488,898 487,752 1.5 0.2 0.0 493,297 486,179 486,814 486,255 (X) (X) 1.4

 Excluding aircraft............................. 198,694 197,102 194,801 0.8 1.2 0.0 197,971 196,337 195,082 188,872 (X) (X) 4.8

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 140,325 139,930 139,688 0.3 0.2 0.0 137,910 138,186 138,787 144,275 (X) (X) -4.4

 Consumer goods.................................. 8,420 8,310 8,538 1.3 -2.7 -1.0 8,335 8,235 8,550 7,499 (X) (X) 11.1

 Consumer durable goods..................... 8,420 8,310 8,538 1.3 -2.7 -1.0 8,335 8,235 8,550 7,499 (X) (X) 11.1

 All manufacturing industries .................. 531,179 527,696 525,722 0.7 0.4 0.9 532,447 532,464 530,257 506,049 (X) (X) 5.2

 Construction materials and supplies...... 55,153 55,165 55,101 0.0 0.1 0.0 55,019 55,204 55,285 53,555 (X) (X) 2.7

 Information technology......................... 38,974 39,010 38,984 -0.1 0.1 0.0 38,596 39,694 39,092 37,567 (X) (X) 2.7

 Computers and related products .......... 4,579 4,740 4,862 -3.4 -2.5 -2.0 4,580 5,019 4,834 4,353 (X) (X) 5.2

 Motor vehicle and parts........................ 21,154 21,169 20,939 -0.1 1.1 0.9 21,079 21,282 20,987 17,825 (X) (X) 18.3

 Capital goods...................................... 150,699 149,001 147,637 1.1 0.9 0.7 149,646 150,037 148,445 140,773 (X) (X) 6.3

 Nondefense capital goods 3..................133,378 131,377 129,702 1.5 1.3 0.7 132,425 132,542 130,599 123,422 (X) (X) 7.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 102,457 101,934 101,304 0.5 0.6 0.8 101,526 102,837 101,363 98,329 (X) (X) 3.3

 Defense capital goods 4....................... 17,321 17,624 17,935 -1.7 -1.7 0.2 17,221 17,495 17,846 17,351 (X) (X) -0.7

 Consumer goods.................................. 160,356 158,283 158,142 1.3 0.1 2.0 163,280 161,507 160,738 157,240 (X) (X) 3.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 23,110 23,099 22,777 0.0 1.4 1.6 23,259 23,524 22,899 21,358 (X) (X) 8.9

 Consumer nondurable goods............... 137,246 135,184 135,365 1.5 -0.1 2.1 140,021 137,983 137,839 135,882 (X) (X) 3.0

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

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

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

2

 Topical series are regroupings of the separate industry categories.

3

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

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

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

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

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

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

and search and navigation equipment.

5 Estimates and percent changes exclude semiconductor industry data. 

6

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

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

NEW ORDERS 

UNFILLED ORDERS 

TOTAL INVENTORIES 
 7

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

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

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted

Monthly Percent Change Monthly Percent

Industry Change

Sept. Aug. July Aug. - July - June - Sept. Aug. July Sept. Sept.

2010p 2010r 2010 Sept. Aug. July 2010p 2010r 2010 2009 10/09

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries..................... 177,726 176,563 177,088 0.7 -0.3 0.7 178,332 177,024 178,720 171,713 3.9

 Durable goods industries........................ 106,019 106,014 105,914 0.0 0.1 -0.3 106,349 106,228 106,601 103,718 2.5

 Wood products................................... 3,272 3,274 3,236 -0.1 1.2 -0.6 3,398 3,276 3,170 3,246 4.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 4,513 4,558 4,577 -1.0 -0.4 0.5 4,515 4,567 4,601 4,714 -4.2

 Primary metals.................................... 11,978 11,835 11,992 1.2 -1.3 -2.3 12,230 11,952 12,196 11,471 6.6

 Fabricated metal products.................. 15,207 15,435 15,459 -1.5 -0.2 -0.7 15,451 15,431 15,403 15,133 2.1

 Machinery.......................................... 20,033 19,973 19,714 0.3 1.3 0.5 19,945 20,030 19,829 19,981 -0.2

 Computers and electronic products...... 14,954 15,048 15,201 -0.6 -1.0 0.3 15,133 15,172 15,251 15,334 -1.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,781 5,801 5,704 -0.3 1.7 1.3 5,679 5,804 5,729 5,150 10.3

 Transportation equipment.................. 20,306 20,193 20,205 0.6 -0.1 -1.1 20,040 20,039 20,516 19,020 5.4

 Furniture and related products............ 3,150 3,137 3,100 0.4 1.2 1.6 3,137 3,139 3,126 2,855 9.9

 Miscellaneous products........................ 6,825 6,760 6,726 1.0 0.5 0.3 6,821 6,818 6,780 6,814 0.1

 Nondurable goods industries................. 71,707 70,549 71,174 1.6 -0.9 2.2 71,983 70,796 72,119 67,995 5.9

 Food products................................... 14,421 14,151 14,064 1.9 0.6 2.9 14,175 13,746 13,984 13,355 6.1

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 4,157 4,152 4,155 0.1 -0.1 -1.2 4,061 3,951 3,999 4,144 -2.0

 Textiles.............................................. 1,167 1,164 1,150 0.3 1.2 1.5 1,165 1,170 1,155 1,076 8.3

 Textile products.................................. 1,220 1,215 1,203 0.4 1.0 1.1 1,244 1,228 1,218 1,157 7.5

 Apparel............................................. 714 689 665 3.6 3.6 3.7 719 695 681 619 16.2

 Leather and allied products................ 345 346 336 -0.3 3.0 -0.6 356 356 344 341 4.4

 Paper products................................... 6,917 6,937 6,982 -0.3 -0.6 0.0 6,993 6,966 6,939 7,093 -1.4

 Printing ............................................ 2,349 2,385 2,355 -1.5 1.3 1.1 2,415 2,430 2,383 2,326 3.8

 Petroleum and coal products............... 10,539 9,626 10,189 9.5 -5.5 11.6 10,866 10,194 11,075 9,567 13.6

 Chemical products............................. 21,771 21,776 21,968 0.0 -0.9 0.6 21,787 21,922 22,156 20,884 4.3

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,107 8,108 8,107 0.0 0.0 -0.5 8,202 8,138 8,185 7,433 10.3

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 160,605 159,405 158,078 0.8 0.8 0.8 159,972 160,557 158,948 148,932 7.4

 Durable goods industries........................ 116,277 115,068 113,995 1.1 0.9 0.8 115,896 116,133 114,819 105,467 9.9

 Wood products................................... 1,650 1,635 1,682 0.9 -2.8 -2.3 1,650 1,642 1,695 1,619 1.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 1,341 1,318 1,324 1.7 -0.5 0.5 1,326 1,299 1,330 1,372 -3.4

 Primary metals.................................... 8,596 8,713 8,717 -1.3 0.0 0.0 8,852 9,023 9,005 8,042 10.1

 Fabricated metal products.................. 11,633 11,621 11,625 0.1 0.0 1.0 11,636 11,695 11,779 10,563 10.2

 Machinery.......................................... 14,403 14,344 14,297 0.4 0.3 3.7 14,405 14,551 14,145 13,940 3.3

 Computers and electronic products...... 20,580 20,562 20,263 0.1 1.5 -0.1 20,021 20,796 20,290 18,372 9.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 3,280 3,224 3,189 1.7 1.1 1.7 3,221 3,282 3,240 2,956 9.0

 Transportation equipment.................. 50,405 49,305 48,568 2.2 1.5 0.5 50,402 49,463 48,955 44,775 12.6

 Furniture and related products............ 1,015 1,012 1,030 0.3 -1.7 0.6 1,011 1,013 1,038 994 1.7

 Miscellaneous products........................ 3,374 3,334 3,300 1.2 1.0 0.0 3,372 3,369 3,342 2,834 19.0

 Nondurable goods industries................. 44,328 44,337 44,083 0.0 0.6 0.7 44,076 44,424 44,129 43,465 1.4

 Food products................................... 3,466 3,541 3,465 -2.1 2.2 -0.6 3,186 3,090 2,945 3,237 -1.6

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,482 5,601 5,795 -2.1 -3.3 -0.5 5,394 5,147 5,260 5,834 -7.5

 Textiles.............................................. 703 696 679 1.0 2.5 0.0 707 702 681 664 6.5

 Textile products.................................. 496 495 484 0.2 2.3 -1.6 504 499 484 494 2.0

 Apparel............................................. 371 368 368 0.8 0.0 0.5 378 381 385 344 9.9

 Leather and allied products................ 78 77 76 1.3 1.3 -1.3 76 75 75 69 10.1

 Paper products................................... 1,406 1,401 1,398 0.4 0.2 4.7 1,400 1,421 1,404 1,329 5.3

 Printing ............................................ 1,269 1,269 1,289 0.0 -1.6 -3.4 1,338 1,321 1,303 1,454 -8.0

 Petroleum and coal products............... 13,317 13,181 12,846 1.0 2.6 3.5 13,445 13,895 13,717 10,889 23.5

 Chemical products............................. 15,424 15,382 15,390 0.3 -0.1 -0.5 15,339 15,594 15,614 17,015 -9.9

 Plastics and rubber products............... 2,316 2,326 2,293 -0.4 1.4 0.6 2,309 2,299 2,261 2,136 8.1

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries..................... 192,848 191,728 190,556 0.6 0.6 1.3 194,143 194,883 192,589 185,404 4.7

 Durable goods industries........................ 92,438 92,105 91,191 0.4 1.0 1.3 91,451 92,847 91,625 86,569 5.6

 Wood products................................... 3,947 3,942 3,950 0.1 -0.2 -1.2 3,907 3,920 3,914 3,891 0.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products............... 5,465 5,372 5,332 1.7 0.8 0.2 5,269 5,272 5,356 5,419 -2.8

 Primary metals.................................... 9,869 10,032 10,117 -1.6 -0.8 2.2 9,771 9,943 10,024 7,631 28.0

 Fabricated metal products.................. 14,933 14,993 14,888 -0.4 0.7 1.6 14,589 14,966 15,095 13,998 4.2

 Machinery.......................................... 17,605 17,421 17,289 1.1 0.8 1.4 17,193 17,204 17,109 16,430 4.6

 Computers and electronic products...... 10,016 9,852 9,782 1.7 0.7 0.1 9,895 10,220 9,868 9,422 5.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components.............................. 5,727 5,615 5,551 2.0 1.2 1.9 5,770 5,671 5,640 5,448 5.9

 Transportation equipment.................. 11,984 12,025 11,604 -0.3 3.6 2.4 12,039 12,629 11,856 11,392 5.7

 Furniture and related products............ 2,243 2,273 2,226 -1.3 2.1 -0.5 2,259 2,332 2,302 2,253 0.3

 Miscellaneous products........................ 10,649 10,580 10,452 0.7 1.2 1.0 10,759 10,690 10,461 10,685 0.7

 Nondurable goods industries................. 100,410 99,623 99,365 0.8 0.3 1.3 102,692 102,036 100,964 98,835 3.9

 Food products................................... 23,606 23,287 23,007 1.4 1.2 -1.0 24,945 24,311 23,125 23,456 6.3

 Beverage and tobacco products........... 5,711 5,691 5,663 0.4 0.5 -0.4 5,895 5,861 5,716 6,105 -3.4

 Textiles.............................................. 1,316 1,288 1,284 2.2 0.3 2.1 1,292 1,248 1,262 1,275 1.3

 Textile products.................................. 1,285 1,270 1,260 1.2 0.8 0.6 1,284 1,278 1,255 1,151 11.6

 Apparel............................................. 1,612 1,585 1,546 1.7 2.5 2.7 1,736 1,698 1,654 1,602 8.4

 Leather and allied products................ 455 449 451 1.3 -0.4 1.8 467 471 472 489 -4.5

 Paper products................................... 5,894 5,853 5,815 0.7 0.7 0.5 5,818 5,811 5,801 5,812 0.1

 Printing ............................................ 1,738 1,739 1,746 -0.1 -0.4 -0.5 1,765 1,793 1,795 1,833 -3.7

 Petroleum and coal products............... 17,904 17,232 17,350 3.9 -0.7 6.8 19,035 18,417 18,622 17,296 10.1

 Chemical products............................. 31,910 32,150 32,107 -0.7 0.1 0.8 31,591 32,217 32,261 30,884 2.3

 Plastics and rubber products............... 8,979 9,079 9,136 -1.1 -0.6 0.1 8,864 8,931 9,001 8,932 -0.8

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

1

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

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

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

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

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

 to Shipments, by Industry Group3

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

Inventory/Shipments ratio Unfilled Orders/Shipments ratio1

Industry Sep Aug Jul Jun Sep Aug Jul Jun

2010p 2010r 2010 2010 2010p 2010r 2010 2010

All manufacturing industries2

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

Durable goods industries2

.................................. 1.59 1.58 1.55 1.58 5.64 5.61 5.53 5.59

 Wood products.............................................. 1.43 1.40 1.35 1.34 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.39 1.37 1.36 1.35 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.51 1.54 1.56 1.56 0.91 0.93 0.93 0.91

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.52 2.04 2.05 2.05 2.02

 Machinery..................................................... 2.03 2.06 2.11 2.01 4.45 4.50 4.52 4.28

 Computers and electronic products 2

................ 1.35 1.33 1.32 1.43 4.88 4.90 4.88 5.00

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.55 1.52 1.50 1.49 2.88 2.79 2.75 2.77

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.69 1.66 1.53 1.63 13.59 13.32 12.44 13.31

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.15 1.16 1.14 1.12 1.33 1.31 1.28 1.36

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.63 1.60 1.58 1.62 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Nondurable goods industries............................. 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.98 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Food products.............................................. 0.75 0.74 0.74 0.73 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.42 1.43 1.49 1.45 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.34 1.31 1.30 1.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.65 1.63 1.61 1.57 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.19 2.05 2.01 1.94 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.26 2.22 2.16 2.13 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 0.98 0.99 0.99 1.00 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.74 0.75 0.75 0.75 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.83 0.81 0.82 0.77 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.14 1.16 1.18 1.18 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Plastics and rubber products........................... 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.27 (X) (X) (X) (X)

X Not Applicable p

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

1

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

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

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

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

trucks; and miscellaneous furniture.

2 Unfilled orders to shipments ratio excludes semiconductor manufacturing.

Sep2 Sep2 Sep2 Sep2

Industry 2009- 2009- 2009- 2009-

Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug Sep1 Aug

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010

All manufacturing industries.................. (X) 0.3 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.1 (X) 0.2

Durable goods industries....................... 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

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

 Primary metals.................................... 0.1 0.6 0.2 1.5 0.3 1.2 -0.1 0.3

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

 Machinery.......................................... 0.4 0.7 0.2 1.9 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.2

 Computers and electronic products..... 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.1 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.3

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.1 0.5 -0.6 1.3 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.4

 Transportation equipment.................... 0.2 1.1 0.1 1.4 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.4

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.5 (X) 1.3 (X) 0.9 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.3 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.4 (X) 0.2

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

 Food products................................... (X) 0.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Beverage and tobacco products............ (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Textiles............................................. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Textile products.................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.0 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.6

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

 Printing.............................................. (X) 0.9 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.7

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.4

 Chemical products................................ (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

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

 publication.

2

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

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

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

3

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

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

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

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

for price changes.

Table 8. Revisions to Previously Published Monthly Percent Changes3

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

Shipments New Orders Unfilled Orders Inventories
4

Survey Description 

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

(M3) survey. This survey provides statistics on manufacturers' value of shipments, new orders (net of cancellations), 

end-of-month order backlog (unfilled orders), end-of-month total inventory (at current cost or market value), and 

inventories by stage of fabrication (materials and supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods). The M3 includes 

approximately 4,300 reporting units. Units may be divisions of diversified large companies, large homogenous 

companies, or single-unit manufacturers in 89 industry categories. Due to the small monthly sample, these 89 

categories have been combined into 64 publication levels. The survey methodology assumes that the month-tomonth changes of the total operations of those companies in the monthly survey effectively represent the month-tomonth movements of all establishments that make up the category. The current coverage levels in the survey show 

that reported data in the monthly survey represent approximately 60 percent of the shipments estimates at the total 

manufacturing level. Data published represent manufacturing in a calendar month. The data collection is based on a 

voluntary survey authorized by Title 13 of the United States Code. 

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

indication of the activity within the manufacturing sector. The results differ from what would be obtained from a 

complete enumeration of all manufacturing companies. In addition, a different panel of 4,300 companies would 

yield different results. The M3 panel is comprised of companies with $500 million or more in shipments and a 

limited number of smaller companies. From a statistical perspective, the panel is not a probability sample; therefore, 

the sampling errors that are normally provided with sample surveys cannot be measured. Nonsampling errors are 

attributable to many sources. The use of company or divisional reports to estimate the monthly change for 

establishments is one source of nonsampling error. The use of primarily large companies to represent the month-tomonth 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.

2011 Release Dates for M3 Survey

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

November 2010 Dec. 23, 2010 Jan. 4, 2011

December 2010 Jan. 27, 2011 Feb. 3, 2011

January 2011 Feb. 24, 2011 Mar. 4, 2011

February 2011 Mar. 24, 2011 Mar. 31, 2011

March 2011 Apr. 27, 2011 May 3, 2011

April 2011 May 25, 2011 Jun. 2, 2011

May 2011 Jun. 24, 2011 Jul. 5, 2011

June 2011 Jul. 27, 2011 Aug. 3, 2011

July 2011 Aug. 24, 2011 Aug. 31, 2011

August 2011 Sep. 28, 2011 Oct. 4, 2011

September 2011 Oct. 26, 2011 Nov. 3, 2011

October 2011 Nov. 23, 2011 Dec. 5, 2011

November 2011 Dec. 23, 2011