Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders M3-1(86) Published and Unpublished Data, 1958-1986

<p>This file contains data for all manufacturing companies. The sample is based on information from manufacturing companies with 1,000 or more employees, as well as selected smaller companies included to strengthen the sample coverage in individual industry categories. The data are available for most 2-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes on value of shipments; new orders; unfilled work orders; total inventories; materials and supplies inventories; work in progress inventories; finished goods inventories; inventory to shipments ratios; and unfilled orders to shipments ratios. Data on shipments, new orders, unfilled orders, and total inventories also are provided for 73 combinations of 4-digit SIC codes, including over 50 unpublished categories. Note that there is a break in all of the inventory series between December 1981 and January 1982. Data prior to 1982 are book value estimates based on a mix of inventory valuation methods. For 1982 and later, data are valued on a current cost basis.</p>