FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016, AT 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Adriana Stoica 

Economic Indicators Division 

(301) 763-4832 

M3-2 (16)-03 

CB 16-72 

Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders 

March 2016 

Summary 

 New orders for manufactured goods in March, up two 

of the last three months, increased $5.0 billion or 1.1 

percent to $458.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau 

reported today. This followed a 1.9 percent February 

decrease. 

 Shipments, up following eight consecutive monthly 

decreases, increased $2.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $464.7 

billion. This followed a 0.8 percent February decrease. 

 Unfilled orders, down three of the last four months, 

decreased $1.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,182.6 billion. 

This followed a 0.4 percent February decrease. The 

unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 7.01, down from 

7.02 in February. 

 Inventories, up following eight consecutive monthly 

decreases, increased $1.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $635.1 

billion. This followed a 0.5 percent February decrease. 

The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.37, unchanged 

from February. 

New Orders 

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two of the last three months, increased $1.7 billion or 

0.8 percent to $230.6 billion, virtually unchanged from 

the previously published increase. This followed a 3.1 

percent February decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three 

months, drove the increase, $2.1 billion or 2.8 percent to $75.8 billion. 

 New orders for manufactured nondurable goods 

increased $3.3 billion or 1.5 percent to $227.8 billion. 

Shipments 

 Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, 

down three of the last four months, decreased $1.1 

billion or 0.5 percent to $236.9 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 1.0 percent February decrease. 

 Transportation equipment, also down three of the last 

four months, drove the decrease, $1.5 billion or 1.9 

percent to $77.4 billion. 

 

 

 

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

following eight consecutive monthly decreases, 

increased $3.3 billion or 1.5 percent to $227.8 billion. 

This followed a 0.6 percent February decrease. 

Petroleum and coal products, also up following eight 

consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $2.8 

billion or 8.0 percent to $37.1 billion. 

 

Unfilled Orders 

 Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in 

March, down three of the last four months, decreased 

$1.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,182.6 billion, virtually 

unchanged from the previously published decrease. This 

followed a 0.4 percent February decrease. 

 

 Transportation equipment, down four consecutive 

months, drove the decrease, $1.5 billion or 0.2 percent to 

$787.3 billion. 

Inventories 

 Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, 

up following two consecutive monthly decreases, 

increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $394.2 

billion. This was virtually unchanged from the 

previously published increase, and followed a 0.3 

percent February decrease. 

 

 Fabricated metal products, up following four 

consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $0.2 

billion or 0.4 percent to $48.5 billion. 

 Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 

following four consecutive monthly decreases, increased 

$1.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $240.8 billion. This 

followed a 0.7 percent February decrease. Petroleum 

and coal products, also up following four consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 2.1 

percent to $29.2 billion. 

 By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies 

increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and increased 1.1 

percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 

0.2 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.4 percent 

in nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.4 

percent in durable goods and increased 0.3 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 April is scheduled for release on May 26, 2016 at 8:30 

a.m. EDT and the Full Report on June 3, 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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

 All manufacturing industries.................. 464,674 462,504 466,180 0.5 -0.8 -0.2 495,688 445,330 418,892 507,773 1,359,910 1,390,608 -2.2

 Excluding transportation................... 387,300 383,611 386,271 1.0 -0.7 -1.3 406,893 367,447 352,324 420,395 1,126,664 1,168,603 -3.6

 Excluding defense.............................. 452,293 450,225 454,181 0.5 -0.9 -0.1 481,408 433,659 409,471 494,070 1,324,538 1,356,882 -2.4

 With unfilled orders............................ 168,646 168,726 170,596 0.0 -1.1 1.7 185,493 162,582 148,304 186,877 496,379 497,842 -0.3

 Durable goods industries......................... 236,882 237,990 240,351 -0.5 -1.0 1.4 258,626 229,503 209,584 259,091 697,713 691,637 0.9

 Wood products....................................... 8,607 8,491 8,266 1.4 2.7 -2.5 8,602 7,773 6,913 7,881 23,288 22,099 5.4

 Nonmetallic mineral products.................... 10,024 10,046 9,885 -0.2 1.6 0.3 9,956 8,837 8,290 9,461 27,083 26,059 3.9

 Primary metals....................................... 19,089 19,140 19,205 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 20,316 19,084 18,368 23,123 57,768 66,685 -13.4

 Iron and steel mills............................ 8,464 8,598 8,739 -1.6 -1.6 4.0 8,883 8,527 8,390 10,560 25,800 31,228 -17.4

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,128 9,022 8,928 1.2 1.1 -2.6 9,825 9,062 8,602 10,792 27,489 30,657 -10.3

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,497 1,520 1,538 -1.5 -1.2 -5.4 1,608 1,495 1,376 1,771 4,479 4,800 -6.7

 Fabricated metal products....................... 29,604 29,743 29,975 -0.5 -0.8 1.0 30,967 28,864 27,308 30,964 87,139 87,187 -0.1

 Machinery............................................. 32,189 32,030 32,713 0.5 -2.1 -1.0 35,551 31,217 28,056 36,353 94,824 96,554 -1.8

 Farm machinery................................. 1,432 1,429 1,504 0.2 -5.0 -7.6 1,780 1,666 1,318 2,058 4,764 5,420 -12.1

 Construction machinery..................... 2,766 2,879 2,782 -3.9 3.5 -11.0 3,121 2,876 2,357 4,231 8,354 11,155 -25.1

 Mining, oil field, and 

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,245 1,178 1,240 5.7 -5.0 -6.3 1,331 1,122 1,124 2,136 3,577 6,215 -42.4

 Industrial machinery.......................... 3,001 2,907 3,097 3.2 -6.1 3.5 3,399 2,743 2,542 2,688 8,684 6,951 24.9

 Photographic equipment...................... 568 526 544 8.0 -3.3 -1.6 655 471 456 596 1,582 1,526 3.7

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............ 3,924 3,965 3,977 -1.0 -0.3 -0.6 4,082 3,347 3,127 4,085 10,556 10,420 1.3

 Metalworking machinery..................... 3,287 3,298 3,456 -0.3 -4.6 8.4 3,572 2,986 2,906 2,922 9,464 7,696 23.0

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment....... 4,009 3,852 3,885 4.1 -0.8 1.8 4,197 3,938 3,640 4,648 11,775 12,414 -5.1

 Material handling equipment............... 2,861 2,955 3,032 -3.2 -2.5 2.3 3,090 2,894 2,670 2,612 8,654 6,937 24.8

 Computers and electronic products2

.......... 29,827 29,547 29,819 0.9 -0.9 -0.1 32,350 26,537 26,316 31,473 85,203 81,012 5.2

 Computers........................................ 504 523 620 -3.6 -15.6 0.5 526 389 488 857 1,403 1,709 -17.9

 Computer storage devices..................... 443 490 461 -9.6 6.3 8.2 684 326 311 773 1,321 1,370 -3.6

 Other peripheral equipment................ 787 836 859 -5.9 -2.7 8.3 984 658 574 1,345 2,216 2,765 -19.9

 Nondefense communications

 equipment.................................... 3,265 3,203 3,174 1.9 0.9 -8.6 3,810 2,789 2,497 3,982 9,096 9,383 -3.1

 Defense communications equipment.... 306 343 290 -10.8 18.3 -30.1 320 343 251 421 914 1,109 -17.6

 Audio and video equipment.................... 290 280 283 3.6 -1.1 4.4 305 242 219 183 766 583 31.4

 Electronic components......................... 5,017 5,009 5,064 0.2 -1.1 3.0 5,266 4,526 4,414 4,634 14,206 11,791 20.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,481 1,456 1,485 1.7 -2.0 0.7 1,789 1,429 1,219 1,612 4,437 3,796 16.9

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment..................................... 2,634 2,632 2,677 0.1 -1.7 -0.3 2,856 2,564 2,117 2,906 7,537 7,412 1.7

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments................. 9,803 9,713 9,705 0.9 0.1 0.6 11,146 8,994 8,223 10,414 28,363 26,518 7.0

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,346 9,446 9,745 -1.1 -3.1 -2.2 9,978 9,017 8,557 11,090 27,552 30,233 -8.9

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,001 992 1,011 0.9 -1.9 2.3 1,021 976 897 976 2,894 2,717 6.5

 Household appliances........................ 1,436 1,482 1,543 -3.1 -4.0 -1.0 1,556 1,368 1,244 1,778 4,168 4,682 -11.0

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,910 2,933 2,966 -0.8 -1.1 -4.6 3,255 2,848 2,531 3,612 8,634 9,565 -9.7

 Batteries........................................... 804 817 829 -1.6 -1.4 2.0 790 735 716 832 2,241 2,372 -5.5

 Transportation equipment........................ 77,374 78,893 79,909 -1.9 -1.3 5.6 88,795 77,883 66,568 87,378 233,246 222,005 5.1

 Automobiles..................................... 8,290 8,730 9,036 -5.0 -3.4 4.9 9,187 8,937 7,739 10,120 25,863 25,288 2.3

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 13,634 14,587 14,676 -6.5 -0.6 4.2 15,718 14,929 12,130 14,809 42,777 37,411 14.3

 Heavy duty trucks ............................. 2,724 2,762 2,830 -1.4 -2.4 1.0 2,967 2,620 2,412 3,385 7,999 8,769 -8.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers.................................... 27,434 27,733 27,480 -1.1 0.9 1.7 30,686 28,723 24,489 28,050 83,898 75,149 11.6

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 13,080 13,004 14,105 0.6 -7.8 29.9 16,050 11,312 10,576 16,974 37,938 39,856 -4.8

 Defense aircraft and parts.................. 4,671 4,399 4,458 6.2 -1.3 -7.8 5,643 3,745 3,334 5,532 12,722 12,666 0.4

 Ships and boats................................. 2,877 2,906 2,745 -1.0 5.9 0.6 3,075 2,919 2,306 2,964 8,300 7,864 5.5

 Furniture and related products.................. 6,528 6,466 6,480 1.0 -0.2 0.0 6,677 6,409 6,072 6,301 19,158 18,133 5.7

 Miscellaneous durable goods................. 14,294 14,188 14,354 0.7 -1.2 -2.7 15,434 13,882 13,136 15,067 42,452 41,670 1.9

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 227,792 224,514 225,829 1.5 -0.6 -1.9 237,062 215,827 209,308 248,682 662,197 698,971 -5.3

 Food products....................................... 65,447 65,321 65,652 0.2 -0.5 1.0 67,071 64,792 63,314 67,440 195,177 196,337 -0.6

 Grain and oilseed milling....................... 8,296 8,298 8,245 0.0 0.6 -1.9 8,580 8,249 8,035 8,270 24,864 24,312 2.3

 Dairy products.................................. 9,892 9,858 9,959 0.3 -1.0 -0.2 10,027 9,365 9,583 10,055 28,975 29,507 -1.8

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products... 18,470 18,053 18,118 2.3 -0.4 1.9 18,520 17,896 17,301 19,485 53,717 57,473 -6.5

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 12,832 12,493 12,453 2.7 0.3 -0.7 13,064 11,717 11,096 12,630 35,877 34,506 4.0

 Beverages......................................... 9,256 9,118 9,281 1.5 -1.8 3.4 9,488 8,342 7,924 9,029 25,754 24,438 5.4

 Tobacco............................................ 3,576 3,375 3,172 6.0 6.4 -10.8 3,576 3,375 3,172 3,601 10,123 10,068 0.5

 Textile mills........................................... 2,508 2,488 2,516 0.8 -1.1 -0.6 2,625 2,457 2,332 2,673 7,414 7,523 -1.4

 Textile products................................... 1,936 1,929 1,945 0.4 -0.8 1.7 1,998 1,920 1,751 1,924 5,669 5,612 1.0

 Apparel................................................ 1,169 1,153 1,147 1.4 0.5 -2.0 1,094 1,147 1,023 1,060 3,264 3,246 0.6

 Leather and allied products...................... 410 409 426 0.2 -4.0 1.9 428 414 391 492 1,233 1,371 -10.1

 Paper products...................................... 16,126 16,041 16,039 0.5 0.0 -0.2 16,528 15,489 15,511 16,454 47,528 47,322 0.4

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills....... 7,070 7,016 7,052 0.8 -0.5 -0.1 7,241 6,796 7,031 7,253 21,068 21,173 -0.5

 Paperboard containers........................ 5,304 5,328 5,239 -0.5 1.7 1.0 5,437 5,047 4,929 5,363 15,413 15,172 1.6

 Printing................................................. 7,166 7,195 7,218 -0.4 -0.3 -1.4 7,501 6,690 6,718 7,416 20,909 20,493 2.0

 Petroleum and coal products.................. 37,133 34,370 35,365 8.0 -2.8 -11.6 36,423 30,192 31,103 50,434 97,718 139,187 -29.8

 Petroleum refineries.......................... 33,370 30,681 31,757 8.8 -3.4 -12.5 32,688 27,023 28,470 46,987 88,181 129,754 -32.0

 Chemical products..................................... 64,092 64,121 64,045 0.0 0.1 -0.3 70,204 62,702 58,815 68,120 191,721 187,503 2.2

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals....................... 5,348 5,204 4,763 2.8 9.3 -3.6 7,861 5,730 3,768 6,614 17,359 15,408 12.7

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines............. 17,383 17,374 17,705 0.1 -1.9 2.1 18,290 16,486 16,691 15,798 51,467 43,409 18.6

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.......... 3,556 3,502 3,477 1.5 0.7 0.7 3,896 3,298 3,012 3,511 10,206 9,349 9.2

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 18,973 18,994 19,023 -0.1 -0.2 0.6 20,126 18,307 17,254 20,039 55,687 55,871 -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.

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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries2........................ 458,377 453,357 461,931 1.1 -1.9 1.2 491,078 438,939 418,427 504,967 1,348,444 1,376,106 -2.0

 Excluding transportation2

...................... 382,534 379,575 382,870 0.8 -0.9 -0.6 405,572 368,779 352,654 417,430 1,127,005 1,163,414 -3.1

 Excluding defense2

.............................. 444,370 443,270 449,660 0.2 -1.4 0.9 473,741 429,410 408,517 490,046 1,311,668 1,345,228 -2.5

 With unfilled orders2............................. 167,414 164,406 171,276 1.8 -4.0 5.7 185,336 160,257 153,596 188,217 499,189 497,361 0.4

 Durable goods industries2

......................... 230,585 228,843 236,102 0.8 -3.1 4.3 254,016 223,112 209,119 256,285 686,247 677,135 1.3

 Primary metals........................................ 19,438 19,327 19,344 0.6 -0.1 0.6 20,799 19,808 19,529 22,573 60,136 67,370 -10.7

 Iron and steel mills.............................. 8,754 8,735 8,717 0.2 0.2 3.9 9,230 9,015 9,160 10,180 27,405 31,711 -13.6

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals.......... 9,041 8,925 9,072 1.3 -1.6 -0.7 9,832 9,116 8,785 10,980 27,733 30,842 -10.1

 Ferrous metal foundries....................... 1,643 1,667 1,555 -1.4 7.2 -8.6 1,737 1,677 1,584 1,413 4,998 4,817 3.8

 Fabricated metal products........................ 29,485 29,888 30,363 -1.3 -1.6 2.5 32,268 30,533 28,374 31,510 91,175 89,016 2.4

 Machinery............................................. 31,633 31,461 32,628 0.5 -3.6 5.3 34,786 31,745 30,070 34,648 96,601 96,849 -0.3

 Construction machinery........................ 2,569 2,694 2,884 -4.6 -6.6 -4.6 2,711 2,917 2,810 3,468 8,438 9,976 -15.4

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 1,069 976 1,239 9.5 -21.2 367.5 1,080 1,151 1,134 1,756 3,365 5,827 -42.3

 Industrial machinery............................ 2,953 2,909 2,963 1.5 -1.8 4.0 3,344 2,706 2,825 2,374 8,875 6,923 28.2

 Photographic equipment....................... 550 529 510 4.0 3.7 2.0 618 507 466 721 1,591 1,644 -3.2

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 3,854 3,930 3,856 -1.9 1.9 -5.1 4,078 3,399 3,250 4,348 10,727 10,971 -2.2

 Metalworking machinery....................... 3,282 3,241 3,381 1.3 -4.1 5.8 3,476 3,075 3,047 2,875 9,598 7,974 20.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment........... 3,947 3,834 4,083 2.9 -6.1 17.8 4,029 3,848 3,916 3,930 11,793 11,432 3.2

 Material handling equipment.................. 2,850 3,055 3,108 -6.7 -1.7 2.0 3,240 3,172 2,913 2,712 9,325 7,639 22.1

 Computers and electronic products2

........... 25,109 25,274 25,500 -0.7 -0.9 0.5 29,255 23,758 21,509 29,597 74,522 71,393 4.4

 Computers........................................ 501 523 585 -4.2 -10.6 -0.5 523 389 453 888 1,365 1,789 -23.7

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 3,355 3,433 3,541 -2.3 -3.0 11.1 4,146 3,519 3,009 4,538 10,674 11,265 -5.2

 Defense communications equipment....... 342 329 276 4.0 19.2 -5.5 430 304 260 397 994 1,185 -16.1

 Electronic components......................... 5,085 5,002 5,061 1.7 -1.2 -1.5 5,215 4,724 4,540 4,499 14,479 12,121 19.5

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 1,574 1,544 1,573 1.9 -1.8 -7.1 1,802 1,542 1,333 1,899 4,677 4,606 1.5

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 2,732 2,909 2,888 -6.1 0.7 -3.8 3,276 2,854 2,255 3,548 8,385 7,542 11.2

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments..................... 9,768 9,693 9,701 0.8 -0.1 -0.3 11,679 8,989 8,309 11,327 28,977 27,612 4.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components................................... 9,567 9,821 10,176 -2.6 -3.5 0.0 10,259 9,742 9,467 11,208 29,468 30,989 -4.9

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,000 1,015 1,054 -1.5 -3.7 4.8 995 1,014 957 969 2,966 2,726 8.8

 Household appliances.......................... 1,464 1,440 1,542 1.7 -6.6 -3.0 1,645 1,201 1,297 1,880 4,143 4,787 -13.5

 Electrical equipment............................ 2,910 2,981 2,900 -2.4 2.8 -5.8 3,236 2,970 2,660 3,692 8,866 10,038 -11.7

 Transportation equipment........................ 75,843 73,782 79,061 2.8 -6.7 10.6 85,506 70,160 65,773 87,537 221,439 212,692 4.1

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers..................................... 27,486 27,741 27,026 -0.9 2.6 1.2 30,586 28,838 24,249 27,506 83,673 75,529 10.8

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 9,648 10,230 13,934 -5.7 -26.6 48.7 10,268 5,939 10,082 17,618 26,289 33,340 -21.1

 Defense aircraft and parts.................... 6,101 3,691 5,308 65.3 -30.5 97.7 6,809 2,913 4,213 5,274 13,935 10,020 39.1

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,991 1,808 1,824 65.4 -0.9 -19.9 3,577 2,187 1,851 2,541 7,615 6,867 10.9

 Furniture and related products................... 6,580 6,565 6,540 0.2 0.4 1.5 7,146 6,874 6,073 6,794 20,093 19,001 5.7

 Nondurable goods industries..................... 227,792 224,514 225,829 1.5 -0.6 -1.9 237,062 215,827 209,308 248,682 662,197 698,971 -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 Mar.

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

All manufacturing industries2...................... 1,182,614 1,183,846 1,188,166 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 1,194,060 1,194,217 1,196,542 1,214,421 -1.7

 Excluding transportation2...................... 395,289 394,990 394,199 0.1 0.2 0.4 400,236 397,104 391,706 402,981 -0.7

 Excluding defense2

............................. 998,090 1,000,948 1,003,076 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 1,007,446 1,010,660 1,010,843 1,026,235 -1.8

 Durable goods industries2........................ 1,182,614 1,183,846 1,188,166 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 1,194,060 1,194,217 1,196,542 1,214,421 -1.7

 Primary metals........................................ 35,336 34,987 34,800 1.0 0.5 0.4 36,492 36,009 35,285 36,867 -1.0

 Iron and steel mills............................... 18,541 18,251 18,114 1.6 0.8 -0.1 19,256 18,909 18,421 18,867 2.1

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............. 11,636 11,723 11,820 -0.7 -0.8 1.2 11,944 11,937 11,883 12,818 -6.8

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 5,159 5,013 4,866 2.9 3.0 0.4 5,292 5,163 4,981 5,182 2.1

 Fabricated metal products......................... 82,089 82,208 82,063 -0.1 0.2 0.5 83,232 81,931 80,262 83,655 -0.5

 Machinery.............................................. 107,734 108,290 108,859 -0.5 -0.5 -0.1 108,689 109,454 108,926 117,474 -7.5

 Construction machinery......................... 5,247 5,444 5,629 -3.6 -3.3 1.8 5,475 5,885 5,844 7,963 -31.2

 Mining, oil field, and

 gas field machinery.......................... 7,425 7,601 7,803 -2.3 -2.6 0.0 7,414 7,665 7,636 10,751 -31.0

 Industrial machinery............................. 7,864 7,912 7,910 -0.6 0.0 -1.7 7,868 7,923 7,960 8,812 -10.7

 Photographic equipment........................ 1,560 1,578 1,575 -1.1 0.2 -2.1 1,532 1,569 1,533 1,592 -3.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment................ 7,352 7,422 7,457 -0.9 -0.5 -1.6 7,526 7,530 7,478 7,931 -5.1

 Metalworking machinery........................ 6,358 6,363 6,420 -0.1 -0.9 -1.2 6,431 6,527 6,438 7,100 -9.4

 Turbines, generators, and other 

 power transmission equipment............ 32,346 32,408 32,426 -0.2 -0.1 0.6 32,386 32,554 32,644 33,963 -4.6

 Material handling equipment................... 13,004 13,015 12,915 -0.1 0.8 0.6 13,256 13,106 12,828 11,452 15.8

 Computers and electronic products2............. 138,297 137,950 137,396 0.3 0.4 0.4 139,512 138,154 136,867 132,917 5.0

 Computers......................................... 2,615 2,618 2,618 -0.1 0.0 -1.3 2,615 2,618 2,618 2,552 2.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 38,049 37,959 37,729 0.2 0.6 1.0 38,562 38,226 37,496 35,635 8.2

 Defense communications equipment........ 2,884 2,848 2,862 1.3 -0.5 -0.5 2,908 2,798 2,837 2,968 -2.0

 Electronic components.......................... 11,341 11,273 11,280 0.6 -0.1 0.0 11,377 11,428 11,230 10,929 4.1

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 20,790 20,697 20,609 0.4 0.4 0.4 20,485 20,472 20,359 18,325 11.8

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 32,835 32,737 32,460 0.3 0.9 0.7 33,220 32,800 32,510 33,029 0.6

 Electromedical, measuring,

 and control instruments...................... 29,783 29,818 29,838 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 30,345 29,812 29,817 29,479 2.9

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 23,157 22,936 22,561 1.0 1.7 1.9 23,509 23,228 22,503 23,315 0.8

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,198 1,199 1,176 -0.1 2.0 3.8 1,189 1,215 1,177 1,115 6.6

 Household appliances........................... 1,508 1,480 1,522 1.9 -2.8 -0.1 1,492 1,403 1,570 1,629 -8.4

 Electrical equipment............................. 9,635 9,635 9,587 0.0 0.5 -0.7 9,682 9,701 9,579 9,575 1.1

 Transportation equipment......................... 787,325 788,856 793,967 -0.2 -0.6 -0.1 793,824 797,113 804,836 811,440 -2.2

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 20,903 20,851 20,843 0.2 0.0 -2.1 21,547 21,647 21,532 22,410 -3.9

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 601,427 604,859 607,633 -0.6 -0.5 0.0 605,810 611,592 616,965 617,260 -1.9

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 68,343 66,913 67,621 2.1 -1.0 1.3 69,207 68,041 68,873 66,743 3.7

 Ships and boats.................................. 24,191 24,077 25,175 0.5 -4.4 -3.5 24,485 23,983 24,715 29,956 -18.3

 Furniture and related products................... 7,851 7,799 7,700 0.7 1.3 0.8 7,977 7,508 7,043 7,917 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.

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 Mar.

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

 All manufacturing industries...................... 635,070 633,971 636,867 0.2 -0.5 -0.5 633,131 636,659 633,296 647,916 -2.3

 Excluding transportation........................ 503,513 502,326 504,969 0.2 -0.5 -0.7 502,103 504,174 501,668 518,314 -3.1

 Excluding defense............................. 608,500 607,032 609,464 0.2 -0.4 -0.7 606,682 609,809 606,026 621,929 -2.5

 With unfilled orders............................. 320,308 319,908 320,938 0.1 -0.3 -0.3 318,603 321,278 319,774 326,054 -2.3

 Durable goods industries........................ 394,240 394,100 395,390 0.0 -0.3 -0.2 392,979 396,888 394,569 399,861 -1.7

 Wood products........................................ 10,976 11,069 11,197 -0.8 -1.1 -0.4 11,285 11,491 11,422 11,454 -1.5

 Nonmetallic mineral products..................... 13,103 13,042 13,103 0.5 -0.5 -0.1 13,423 13,322 13,171 13,446 -0.2

 Primary metals......................................... 33,119 33,229 33,581 -0.3 -1.0 -2.0 32,824 33,501 33,961 38,306 -14.3

 Iron and steel mills............................... 17,957 18,043 18,393 -0.5 -1.9 -4.3 17,693 18,202 18,683 22,526 -21.5

 Aluminum and nonferrous metals............ 13,147 13,165 13,165 -0.1 0.0 0.9 13,079 13,226 13,253 13,768 -5.0

 Ferrous metal foundries........................ 2,015 2,021 2,023 -0.3 -0.1 1.0 2,052 2,073 2,025 2,012 2.0

 Fabricated metal products......................... 48,454 48,244 48,407 0.4 -0.3 -0.6 48,758 48,494 48,462 49,475 -1.4

 Machinery.............................................. 65,365 65,337 65,742 0.0 -0.6 -0.7 64,992 65,810 65,265 66,720 -2.6

 Farm machinery.................................. 2,924 3,044 3,051 -3.9 -0.2 -3.9 3,012 3,245 3,117 3,571 -15.7

 Construction machinery......................... 6,477 6,437 6,633 0.6 -3.0 -0.9 6,510 6,457 6,566 7,123 -8.6

 Mining, oil field, 

 and gas field machinery.................... 5,139 5,312 5,411 -3.3 -1.8 0.4 5,174 5,358 5,340 6,019 -14.0

 Industrial machinery............................. 6,208 6,161 6,212 0.8 -0.8 -1.7 6,273 6,236 6,118 6,374 -1.6

 Photographic equipment....................... 1,390 1,387 1,408 0.2 -1.5 0.4 1,329 1,410 1,424 1,318 0.8

 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning,

 and refrigeration equipment............... 5,055 5,068 5,120 -0.3 -1.0 -0.5 5,137 5,156 4,937 5,442 -5.6

 Metalworking machinery........................ 5,605 5,636 5,615 -0.6 0.4 0.7 5,512 5,580 5,504 5,554 -0.8

 Turbines, generators, and other

 power transmission equipment............ 10,183 9,938 9,960 2.5 -0.2 -2.1 9,743 9,972 9,879 9,557 1.9

 Material handling equipment.................. 4,370 4,332 4,286 0.9 1.1 0.0 4,305 4,225 4,153 3,993 7.8

 Computers and electronic products2

............ 45,098 45,063 44,928 0.1 0.3 0.2 44,586 45,370 44,411 44,897 -0.7

 Computers......................................... 1,226 1,162 1,133 5.5 2.6 2.4 1,144 1,154 1,083 1,023 11.8

 Computer storage devices.................... 1,300 1,294 1,333 0.5 -2.9 2.5 1,191 1,345 1,332 1,340 -11.1

 Other peripheral equipment................... 1,034 1,053 1,083 -1.8 -2.8 0.4 984 1,077 1,080 1,222 -19.5

 Nondefense communications

 equipment...................................... 4,372 4,389 4,415 -0.4 -0.6 -0.5 4,321 4,485 4,425 4,926 -12.3

 Defense communications equipment........ 664 685 733 -3.1 -6.5 2.8 664 685 733 801 -17.1

 Audio and video equipment.................... 784 766 753 2.3 1.7 -1.8 696 725 735 651 6.9

 Electronic components.......................... 8,188 8,086 8,035 1.3 0.6 -1.0 8,226 8,133 8,149 8,141 1.0

 Nondefense search and navigation

 equipment...................................... 3,461 3,468 3,490 -0.2 -0.6 -0.4 3,427 3,463 3,492 3,372 1.6

 Defense search and navigation

 equipment....................................... 3,276 3,223 3,231 1.6 -0.2 1.4 3,272 3,234 3,175 3,043 7.5

 Electromedical, measuring 

 and control instruments...................... 14,018 13,975 14,013 0.3 -0.3 -1.3 13,800 14,041 13,698 14,315 -3.6

 Electrical equipment, appliances, 

 and components.................................... 15,993 15,993 16,076 0.0 -0.5 -0.9 15,927 16,056 15,985 16,574 -3.9

 Electric lighting equipment..................... 1,898 1,889 1,918 0.5 -1.5 1.5 1,873 1,872 1,932 1,841 1.7

 Household appliances........................... 2,094 2,101 2,106 -0.3 -0.2 -0.3 2,084 2,114 2,054 2,049 1.7

 Electrical equipment............................. 4,801 4,800 4,805 0.0 -0.1 0.0 4,762 4,865 4,811 4,983 -4.4

 Batteries............................................ 1,307 1,295 1,277 0.9 1.4 -2.4 1,275 1,255 1,219 1,316 -3.1

 Transportation equipment......................... 131,557 131,645 131,898 -0.1 -0.2 0.3 131,028 132,485 131,628 129,602 1.1

 Automobiles....................................... 4,396 4,514 4,629 -2.6 -2.5 -1.3 4,454 4,677 4,632 5,225 -14.8

 Light trucks and utility vehicles.............. 4,647 4,573 4,664 1.6 -2.0 0.4 4,716 4,750 4,811 3,948 19.5

 Heavy duty trucks ............................... 2,031 1,962 1,961 3.5 0.1 -1.6 1,998 2,008 2,013 1,741 14.8

 Motor vehicle bodies, parts, 

 and trailers...................................... 24,887 24,829 24,768 0.2 0.2 -1.3 24,988 25,049 24,945 25,355 -1.4

 Nondefense aircraft and parts................ 68,076 67,922 67,657 0.2 0.4 0.1 67,582 68,281 67,138 66,197 2.1

 Defense aircraft and parts..................... 11,680 12,428 12,602 -6.0 -1.4 6.6 11,650 12,442 12,556 12,654 -7.9

 Ships and boats.................................. 2,216 2,064 1,995 7.4 3.5 0.1 2,258 2,106 2,001 2,210 2.2

 Furniture and related products.................... 7,477 7,448 7,417 0.4 0.4 1.4 7,281 7,356 7,324 6,937 5.0

 Miscellaneous durable goods..................... 23,098 23,030 23,041 0.3 0.0 0.4 22,875 23,003 22,940 22,450 1.9

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 240,830 239,871 241,477 0.4 -0.7 -1.0 240,152 239,771 238,727 248,055 -3.2

 Food products........................................ 53,404 53,150 53,119 0.5 0.1 0.3 51,896 52,585 52,813 51,283 1.2

 Grain and oilseed milling........................ 5,850 5,951 5,856 -1.7 1.6 1.2 5,768 6,071 6,104 5,852 -1.4

 Dairy products.................................... 8,213 8,263 8,372 -0.6 -1.3 0.5 8,174 8,191 8,092 8,079 1.2

 Meat, poultry, and seafood products....... 8,665 8,719 8,755 -0.6 -0.4 0.6 8,533 8,630 8,579 9,334 -8.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................ 19,998 19,785 19,916 1.1 -0.7 -0.4 20,072 20,028 20,167 19,871 1.0

 Beverages......................................... 15,868 15,647 15,743 1.4 -0.6 -0.4 15,909 15,730 15,759 15,611 1.9

 Tobacco............................................ 4,130 4,138 4,173 -0.2 -0.8 -0.6 4,163 4,298 4,408 4,260 -2.3

 Textile mills............................................ 3,280 3,269 3,255 0.3 0.4 0.5 3,277 3,277 3,247 3,258 0.6

 Textile products...................................... 3,035 3,037 3,024 -0.1 0.4 0.8 3,032 3,052 3,034 2,985 1.6

 Apparel................................................. 2,822 2,826 2,828 -0.1 -0.1 0.9 2,697 2,800 2,824 2,323 16.1

 Leather and allied products....................... 846 847 856 -0.1 -1.1 -0.2 816 827 856 839 -2.7

 Paper products....................................... 16,547 16,565 16,540 -0.1 0.2 -0.6 16,581 16,703 16,592 16,621 -0.2

 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........... 7,243 7,257 7,268 -0.2 -0.2 -1.8 7,319 7,393 7,326 7,340 -0.3

 Paperboard containers......................... 4,698 4,694 4,642 0.1 1.1 0.5 4,668 4,722 4,658 4,665 0.1

 Printing.................................................. 6,007 6,043 6,023 -0.6 0.3 0.3 5,911 5,933 5,766 5,588 5.8

 Petroleum and coal products..................... 29,194 28,583 29,907 2.1 -4.4 -6.5 28,494 27,489 27,760 36,775 -22.5

 Petroleum refineries............................. 24,669 24,055 25,440 2.6 -5.4 -7.4 23,987 22,797 23,225 31,868 -24.7

 Chemical products..................................... 81,334 81,335 81,613 0.0 -0.3 -0.5 82,538 82,282 81,381 83,362 -1.0

 Pesticides, fertilizers, and other

 agricultural chemicals........................ 4,506 4,634 4,658 -2.8 -0.5 0.3 4,837 5,160 5,026 4,947 -2.2

 Pharmaceuticals and medicines.............. 32,601 32,394 32,485 0.6 -0.3 -0.6 33,131 32,605 32,071 32,001 3.5

 Paints, coatings, and adhesives.............. 3,697 3,711 3,714 -0.4 -0.1 -0.3 3,847 3,833 3,738 3,917 -1.8

 Plastics and rubber products..................... 24,363 24,431 24,396 -0.3 0.1 0.0 24,838 24,795 24,287 25,150 -1.2

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 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

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2015 2015

SHIPMENTS

 All manufacturing industries................... 464,674 462,504 466,180 0.5 -0.8 -0.2 495,688 445,330 418,892 507,773 1,359,910 1,390,608 -2.2

 Construction materials and supplies....... 47,183 47,148 46,888 0.1 0.6 -0.5 47,923 43,136 40,234 46,385 131,293 128,253 2.4

 Information technology......................... 23,508 23,459 23,766 0.2 -1.3 -1.4 26,642 21,506 19,770 27,181 67,918 67,623 0.4

 Computers and related products........... 1,734 1,849 1,940 -6.2 -4.7 5.7 2,194 1,373 1,373 2,975 4,940 5,844 -15.5

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 52,082 53,812 54,022 -3.2 -0.4 2.9 58,558 55,209 46,770 56,364 160,537 146,617 9.5

 Capital goods...................................... 85,229 84,811 86,925 0.5 -2.4 2.0 95,524 79,981 72,520 98,437 248,025 253,842 -2.3

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 75,285 74,873 77,219 0.6 -3.0 2.8 84,166 70,327 64,887 87,516 219,380 226,941 -3.3

 Excluding aircraft............................. 66,931 66,584 67,816 0.5 -1.8 -1.4 73,865 63,501 58,847 75,925 196,213 200,802 -2.3

 Defense capital goods4........................ 9,944 9,938 9,706 0.1 2.4 -3.4 11,358 9,654 7,633 10,921 28,645 26,901 6.5

 Consumer goods.................................. 180,642 178,707 180,965 1.1 -1.2 -1.6 187,661 173,387 166,728 198,693 527,776 554,045 -4.7

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,343 36,716 37,312 -3.7 -1.6 2.2 39,775 37,501 31,831 39,393 109,107 102,232 6.7

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 145,299 141,991 143,653 2.3 -1.2 -2.5 147,886 135,886 134,897 159,300 418,669 451,813 -7.3

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 458,377 453,357 461,931 1.1 -1.9 1.2 491,078 438,939 418,427 504,967 1,348,444 1,376,106 -2.0

 Construction materials and supplies....... 47,441 47,397 47,057 0.1 0.7 -0.5 49,005 43,886 40,813 47,152 133,704 129,780 3.0

 Information technology......................... 23,963 24,369 24,800 -1.7 -1.7 1.5 28,251 23,363 21,272 29,654 72,886 71,982 1.3

 Computers and related products........... 1,731 1,849 1,905 -6.4 -2.9 5.4 2,191 1,373 1,338 3,006 4,902 5,924 -17.3

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 52,134 53,820 53,568 -3.1 0.5 2.6 58,458 55,324 46,530 55,820 160,312 146,997 9.1

 Capital goods...................................... 83,298 80,204 88,751 3.9 -9.6 19.4 94,737 75,931 75,736 100,335 246,404 251,835 -2.2

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 71,678 72,402 78,712 -1.0 -8.0 20.7 79,674 68,140 67,258 88,153 215,072 225,697 -4.7

 Excluding aircraft............................. 66,912 66,869 68,706 0.1 -2.7 3.3 75,159 66,563 62,331 76,093 204,053 206,235 -1.1

 Defense capital goods4........................ 11,620 7,802 10,039 48.9 -22.3 9.9 15,063 7,791 8,478 12,182 31,332 26,138 19.9

 Consumer goods.................................. 180,702 178,721 180,947 1.1 -1.2 -1.6 187,821 173,547 166,817 198,907 528,185 554,574 -4.8

 Consumer durable goods..................... 35,403 36,730 37,294 -3.6 -1.5 2.2 39,935 37,661 31,920 39,607 109,516 102,761 6.6

 Consumer nondurable goods.............. 145,299 141,991 143,653 2.3 -1.2 -2.5 147,886 135,886 134,897 159,300 418,669 451,813 -7.3

 All manufacturing industries5

................... 1,182,614 1,183,846 1,188,166 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 1,194,060 1,194,217 1,196,542 1,214,421 (X) (X) -1.7

 Construction materials and supplies....... 54,952 54,694 54,445 0.5 0.5 0.3 55,225 54,143 53,393 55,169 (X) (X) 0.1

 Information technology......................... 139,332 138,877 137,967 0.3 0.7 0.8 140,813 139,204 137,347 134,576 (X) (X) 4.6

 Computers and related products........... 2,615 2,618 2,618 -0.1 0.0 -1.3 2,615 2,618 2,618 2,552 (X) (X) 2.5

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 20,903 20,851 20,843 0.2 0.0 -2.1 21,547 21,647 21,532 22,410 (X) (X) -3.9

 Capital goods...................................... 889,026 890,957 895,564 -0.2 -0.5 0.2 896,347 897,134 901,184 922,227 (X) (X) -2.8

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 738,728 742,335 744,806 -0.5 -0.3 0.2 743,907 748,399 750,586 767,750 (X) (X) -3.1

 Excluding aircraft............................. 245,358 245,377 245,092 0.0 0.1 0.4 247,837 246,543 243,481 251,799 (X) (X) -1.6

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 150,298 148,622 150,758 1.1 -1.4 0.2 152,440 148,735 150,598 154,477 (X) (X) -1.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 5,373 5,313 5,299 1.1 0.3 -0.3 5,639 5,479 5,319 5,792 (X) (X) -2.6

 Consumer durable goods..................... 5,373 5,313 5,299 1.1 0.3 -0.3 5,639 5,479 5,319 5,792 (X) (X) -2.6

 All manufacturing industries................... 635,070 633,971 636,867 0.2 -0.5 -0.5 633,131 636,659 633,296 647,916 (X) (X) -2.3

 Construction materials and supplies....... 64,484 64,454 64,811 0.0 -0.6 -0.3 65,449 65,556 64,989 67,071 (X) (X) -2.4

 Information technology......................... 37,532 37,425 37,680 0.3 -0.7 -0.7 36,871 37,685 37,263 38,530 (X) (X) -4.3

 Computers and related products........... 3,560 3,509 3,549 1.5 -1.1 1.8 3,319 3,576 3,495 3,585 (X) (X) -7.4

 Motor vehicle and parts......................... 35,961 35,878 36,022 0.2 -0.4 -1.1 36,156 36,484 36,401 36,269 (X) (X) -0.3

 Capital goods...................................... 196,683 196,378 197,100 0.2 -0.4 0.2 194,805 196,826 195,260 196,654 (X) (X) -0.9

 Nondefense capital goods3

.................. 175,164 174,566 174,846 0.3 -0.2 -0.3 173,377 175,117 173,093 175,503 (X) (X) -1.2

 Excluding aircraft............................. 118,384 118,061 118,540 0.3 -0.4 -0.6 117,036 118,472 117,316 120,197 (X) (X) -2.6

 Defense capital goods4

........................ 21,519 21,812 22,254 -1.3 -2.0 4.2 21,428 21,709 22,167 21,151 (X) (X) 1.3

 Consumer goods.................................. 181,572 180,303 182,084 0.7 -1.0 -1.2 179,647 179,561 179,922 184,227 (X) (X) -2.5

 Consumer durable goods..................... 30,171 30,180 30,372 0.0 -0.6 0.3 30,013 30,716 30,804 28,990 (X) (X) 3.5

 Consumer nondurable goods................ 151,401 150,123 151,712 0.9 -1.0 -1.5 149,634 148,845 149,118 155,237 (X) (X) -3.6

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 Mar.

Mar. Feb. Jan. Feb. - Jan. - Dec. - Mar. Feb. Jan. Mar. 2016/

2016p 2016r 2016 Mar. Feb. Jan. 2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2015

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 All manufacturing industries....................... 210,874 209,677 210,408 0.6 -0.3 -0.2 210,424 210,767 210,951 215,345 -2.3

 Durable goods industries.......................... 131,029 130,676 131,384 0.3 -0.5 -0.1 130,500 131,447 131,899 134,010 -2.6

 Wood products................................... 4,248 4,305 4,325 -1.3 -0.5 -1.1 4,219 4,441 4,481 4,431 -4.8

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 5,049 5,004 5,050 0.9 -0.9 1.3 5,072 5,026 5,047 5,018 1.1

 Primary metals.................................... 13,296 13,325 13,300 -0.2 0.2 -0.8 12,991 13,360 13,573 14,574 -10.9

 Fabricated metal products........................ 17,369 17,152 17,218 1.3 -0.4 -0.7 17,378 17,153 17,348 17,936 -3.1

 Machinery.......................................... 25,027 25,046 25,173 -0.1 -0.5 -1.9 24,792 25,055 24,970 26,259 -5.6

 Computers and electronic products........ 18,944 18,889 18,692 0.3 1.1 -0.2 18,957 18,978 18,675 18,926 0.2

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,100 6,099 6,154 0.0 -0.9 -2.2 6,071 6,144 6,166 6,628 -8.4

 Transportation equipment..................... 29,614 29,481 29,966 0.5 -1.6 2.3 29,752 29,969 30,151 29,132 2.1

 Furniture and related products............... 3,792 3,797 3,850 -0.1 -1.4 2.1 3,748 3,784 3,849 3,637 3.1

 Miscellaneous products......................... 7,590 7,578 7,656 0.2 -1.0 -0.1 7,520 7,537 7,639 7,469 0.7

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 79,845 79,001 79,024 1.1 0.0 -0.5 79,924 79,320 79,052 81,335 -1.7

 Food products.................................... 18,022 17,807 17,755 1.2 0.3 -0.1 17,675 17,736 17,989 17,535 0.8

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 5,132 5,063 5,096 1.4 -0.6 0.3 5,230 5,231 5,279 5,190 0.8

 Textiles.............................................. 1,193 1,197 1,199 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 1,198 1,200 1,193 1,179 1.6

 Textile products................................... 1,150 1,145 1,139 0.4 0.5 0.4 1,150 1,146 1,139 1,165 -1.3

 Apparel............................................. 846 864 864 -2.1 0.0 -1.1 827 840 844 777 6.4

 Leather and allied products.................... 245 251 250 -2.4 0.4 -2.0 237 245 247 238 -0.4

 Paper products.................................... 8,492 8,509 8,517 -0.2 -0.1 -0.9 8,534 8,590 8,572 8,546 -0.1

 Printing ............................................. 2,696 2,739 2,787 -1.6 -1.7 0.4 2,681 2,709 2,724 2,743 -2.3

 Petroleum and coal products................. 6,970 6,482 6,710 7.5 -3.4 -6.0 6,883 6,339 6,239 8,402 -18.1

 Chemical products................................ 25,425 25,294 24,997 0.5 1.2 0.4 25,724 25,574 25,030 25,576 0.6

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 9,674 9,650 9,710 0.2 -0.6 0.2 9,785 9,710 9,796 9,984 -2.0

WORK IN PROCESS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 198,983 198,906 199,127 0.0 -0.1 -0.8 198,516 199,585 197,766 203,484 -2.4

 Durable goods industries.......................... 154,673 154,404 154,531 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 153,556 154,580 153,443 155,601 -1.3

 Wood products................................... 2,399 2,403 2,421 -0.2 -0.7 0.7 2,447 2,446 2,430 2,314 5.7

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 1,559 1,554 1,540 0.3 0.9 1.0 1,619 1,610 1,546 1,522 6.4

 Primary metals.................................... 9,766 9,738 9,802 0.3 -0.7 -4.9 9,668 9,769 9,827 11,700 -17.4

 Fabricated metal products........................ 12,943 12,963 12,949 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 12,908 12,949 12,818 13,244 -2.5

 Machinery.......................................... 19,791 19,721 20,089 0.4 -1.8 3.2 19,581 19,872 19,912 19,589 0.0

 Computers and electronic products........ 14,702 14,832 15,036 -0.9 -1.4 -0.1 14,560 14,871 14,653 15,084 -3.5

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 3,770 3,762 3,777 0.2 -0.4 0.3 3,748 3,759 3,764 3,887 -3.6

 Transportation equipment..................... 84,561 84,215 83,786 0.4 0.5 -0.4 83,920 84,093 83,434 83,544 0.5

 Furniture and related products............... 1,116 1,129 1,078 -1.2 4.7 1.5 1,103 1,125 1,078 1,035 6.6

 Miscellaneous products......................... 4,066 4,087 4,053 -0.5 0.8 2.2 4,002 4,086 3,981 3,682 8.7

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 44,310 44,502 44,596 -0.4 -0.2 -3.2 44,960 45,005 44,323 47,883 -6.1

 Food products.................................... 5,631 5,687 5,671 -1.0 0.3 0.0 5,472 5,831 5,987 5,283 3.6

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,171 7,069 7,041 1.4 0.4 0.1 7,279 7,327 7,391 7,184 1.3

 Textiles.............................................. 767 759 754 1.1 0.7 0.5 759 755 750 759 0.0

 Textile products................................... 475 475 470 0.0 1.1 1.5 476 481 470 449 6.0

 Apparel............................................. 313 321 321 -2.5 0.0 -2.4 298 314 306 317 -6.0

 Leather and allied products.................... 102 99 104 3.0 -4.8 6.1 103 99 106 98 5.1

 Paper products.................................... 1,305 1,317 1,308 -0.9 0.7 0.0 1,310 1,323 1,310 1,320 -0.8

 Printing ............................................. 1,571 1,559 1,491 0.8 4.6 -1.8 1,534 1,558 1,387 1,269 20.9

 Petroleum and coal products................. 7,233 7,319 7,683 -1.2 -4.7 -5.8 7,293 7,153 6,840 9,687 -24.7

 Chemical products................................ 16,983 17,108 17,025 -0.7 0.5 -5.6 17,607 17,333 17,036 18,732 -6.0

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 2,759 2,789 2,728 -1.1 2.2 0.3 2,829 2,831 2,740 2,785 1.6

FINISHED GOODS

 All manufacturing industries....................... 225,213 225,388 227,332 -0.1 -0.9 -0.5 224,191 226,307 224,579 229,087 -2.1

 Durable goods industries.......................... 108,538 109,020 109,475 -0.4 -0.4 -0.6 108,923 110,861 109,227 110,250 -1.2

 Wood products................................... 4,329 4,361 4,451 -0.7 -2.0 -0.3 4,619 4,604 4,511 4,709 -1.9

 Nonmetallic mineral products................. 6,495 6,484 6,513 0.2 -0.4 -1.4 6,732 6,686 6,578 6,906 -2.5

 Primary metals.................................... 10,057 10,166 10,479 -1.1 -3.0 -0.8 10,165 10,372 10,561 12,032 -15.5

 Fabricated metal products........................ 18,142 18,129 18,240 0.1 -0.6 -0.8 18,472 18,392 18,296 18,295 1.0

 Machinery.......................................... 20,547 20,570 20,480 -0.1 0.4 -2.8 20,619 20,883 20,383 20,872 -1.2

 Computers and electronic products........ 11,452 11,342 11,200 1.0 1.3 1.4 11,069 11,521 11,083 10,887 1.7

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................... 6,123 6,132 6,145 -0.1 -0.2 -0.4 6,108 6,153 6,055 6,059 0.8

 Transportation equipment..................... 17,382 17,949 18,146 -3.2 -1.1 0.7 17,356 18,423 18,043 16,926 2.5

 Furniture and related products............... 2,569 2,522 2,489 1.9 1.3 0.3 2,430 2,447 2,397 2,265 7.3

 Miscellaneous products......................... 11,442 11,365 11,332 0.7 0.3 0.2 11,353 11,380 11,320 11,299 0.5

 Nondurable goods industries...................... 116,675 116,368 117,857 0.3 -1.3 -0.5 115,268 115,446 115,352 118,837 -3.0

 Food products.................................... 29,751 29,656 29,693 0.3 -0.1 0.6 28,749 29,018 28,837 28,465 1.0

 Beverage and tobacco products................. 7,695 7,653 7,779 0.5 -1.6 -1.3 7,563 7,470 7,497 7,497 0.9

 Textiles.............................................. 1,320 1,313 1,302 0.5 0.8 1.0 1,320 1,322 1,304 1,320 0.0

 Textile products................................... 1,410 1,417 1,415 -0.5 0.1 0.9 1,406 1,425 1,425 1,371 2.6

 Apparel............................................. 1,663 1,641 1,643 1.3 -0.1 2.7 1,572 1,646 1,674 1,229 27.9

 Leather and allied products.................... 499 497 502 0.4 -1.0 -0.6 476 483 503 503 -5.4

 Paper products.................................... 6,750 6,739 6,715 0.2 0.4 -0.3 6,737 6,790 6,710 6,755 -0.3

 Printing ............................................. 1,740 1,745 1,745 -0.3 0.0 1.9 1,696 1,666 1,655 1,576 7.6

 Petroleum and coal products................. 14,991 14,782 15,514 1.4 -4.7 -7.1 14,318 13,997 14,681 18,686 -23.4

 Chemical products................................ 38,926 38,933 39,591 0.0 -1.7 1.3 39,207 39,375 39,315 39,054 0.4

 Plastics and rubber products.................. 11,930 11,992 11,958 -0.5 0.3 -0.2 12,224 12,254 11,751 12,381 -1.3

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 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 Mar Feb Jan Dec Mar Feb Jan Dec

2016p 2016r 2016 2015 2016p 2016r 2016 2015

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

Durable goods industries3.................................. 1.66 1.66 1.65 1.67 7.01 7.02 6.96 7.08

 Wood products.............................................. 1.28 1.30 1.35 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Nonmetallic mineral products......................... 1.31 1.30 1.33 1.33 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Primary metals.............................................. 1.73 1.74 1.75 1.79 1.85 1.83 1.81 1.81

 Fabricated metal products.............................. 1.64 1.62 1.61 1.64 2.86 2.85 2.82 2.84

 Machinery..................................................... 2.03 2.04 2.01 2.00 3.59 3.63 3.57 3.56

 Computers and electronic products3

................ 1.51 1.53 1.51 1.50 6.01 6.03 5.97 5.89

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components........................................ 1.71 1.69 1.65 1.63 2.71 2.66 2.53 2.42

 Transportation equipment.............................. 1.70 1.67 1.65 1.74 14.93 14.94 14.88 15.85

 Furniture and related products........................ 1.15 1.15 1.14 1.13 1.41 1.41 1.39 1.38

 Miscellaneous products.................................. 1.62 1.62 1.61 1.56 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

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

 Beverage and tobacco products...................... 1.56 1.58 1.60 1.60 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textiles........................................................ 1.31 1.31 1.29 1.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Textile products............................................ 1.57 1.57 1.55 1.57 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Apparel......................................................... 2.41 2.45 2.47 2.40 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Leather and allied products............................. 2.06 2.07 2.01 2.05 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Paper products.............................................. 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Printing......................................................... 0.84 0.84 0.83 0.82 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Petroleum and coal products........................... 0.79 0.83 0.85 0.80 (X) (X) (X) (X)

 Chemical products......................................... 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.28 (X) (X) (X) (X)

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

Mar

3 Mar3 Mar3 Mar3

Industry 2015- 2015- 2015- 2015-

Mar2 Feb Mar2 Feb Mar2 Feb Mar2 Feb

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

 

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

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

 Wood products................................... (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.3

 Nonmetallic mineral products.............. (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Primary metals.................................... -0.1 0.5 -0.2 0.7 0.1 0.4 -0.3 0.5

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

 Machinery.......................................... 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

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

 Electrical equipment, appliances,

 and components............................. 0.3 0.4 0.4 1.1 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.3

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

 Furniture and related products............. (X) 0.4 (X) 0.2 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.3

 Miscellaneous products...................... (X) 0.5 (X) 0.5 (X) 0.3 (X) 0.2

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) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.2

 Textiles............................................. (X) 0.6 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.4

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

 Apparel.............................................. (X) 1.2 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.0

 Leather and allied products.................... (X) 1.8 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.5

 Paper products.................................... (X) 0.4 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 0.1

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

 Petroleum and coal products................. (X) 0.7 (X) (NA) (X) (NA) (X) 1.1

 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. 

Benchmark notice 

Revised historical data from the Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey will be 

issued on May 18, 2016. These revisions result from: 

 benchmarking the 2008-2011 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) shipments and inventories 

data to the revised 2012 Economic Census data on a 2007 North American Industry 

Classification System (NAICS) basis; 

 benchmarking the M3 shipments and inventories data to the 2014 ASM and revised 2013 ASM 

data, as well as the revised 2012 Economic Census data, on a 2012 NAICS basis, and ASM 

benchmarks for prior years on a 2007 NAICS basis; 

 incorporating the unfilled orders to shipments ratios obtained from the 2014/2013 Manufacturers’ 

Unfilled Orders (M3UFO) Survey by applying these ratios to the respective ASM shipments 

data, as well as incorporating revised unfilled orders to shipments ratios for prior years by 

applying them to the respective Census or ASM shipments data; 

 adjusting the new orders data to be consistent with the benchmarked shipments and unfilled 

orders data; 

 correcting monthly data for late receipts, reclassifications of reported data, and revisions to 

previously reported data; 

 updating the seasonally adjusted data based on the results of benchmarking and the recent annual 

review of the seasonal adjustment models. 

These revisions will span the seasonally adjusted data for January 1997 through March 2016 and the data 

not seasonally adjusted for January 2001 through March 2016. An updated Press Release will contain 

revised monthly tables for January 2016 through March 2016. Please call M3 staff on (301) 763-4832 

with any questions.