The Inventories Index registered 46.7 percent in October, 5.3 percentage points lower than the 52 percent reported in September. An Inventories Index greater than 42.7 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).
The five industries reporting higher inventories in October are: Textile Mills; Furniture & Related Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Machinery. The 11 industries reporting decreases in inventories in October — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Paper Products.
| Inventories | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Oct 2011 | 17 | 59 | 24 | -7 | 46.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sep 2011 | 23 | 58 | 19 | +4 | 52.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Aug 2011 | 23 | 63 | 14 | +9 | 52.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jul 2011 | 18 | 60 | 22 | -4 | 49.3 |
