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The four industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in October are: Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; and Transportation Equipment. The eight industries reporting faster supplier deliveries in October -- listed in order -- are: Wood Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Primary Metals; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. Six industries reported no change in supplier deliveries in October compared to September.

Inventories* The Inventories Index registered 50 percent in October, which is 0.5 percentage point lower than the 50.5 percent reported in September. This month's reading indicates that respondents are reporting inventories are unchanged from September. An Inventories Index greater than 42.8 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 seven industries reporting higher inventories in October -- listed in order -- are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components. The five industries reporting decreases in inventories in October are: Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; and Apparel, Leather & Allied Products. Six industries reported no change in inventories in October compared to September.

Inventories %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index

Oct 2012 21 58 21 0 50.0

Sep 2012 20 61 19 +1 50.5

Aug 2012 24 58 18 +6 53.0

Jul 2012 21 56 23 -2 49.0

Customers' Inventories* The ISM Customers' Inventories Index registered 49 percent in October, which is 0.5 percentage point lower than in September when the index registered 49.5 percent. Customers' inventories have registered at or below 50 percent for 43 consecutive months. A reading below 50 percent indicates customers' inventories are considered too low.

The six manufacturing industries reporting customers' inventories as being too high during October -- listed in order -- are: Primary Metals; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Chemical Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. The six industries reporting customers' inventories as too low during October -- listed in order -- are: Wood Products; Paper Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; and Machinery.

Prices* The ISM Prices Index registered 55 percent in October, which is a decrease of 3 percentage points compared to the September reading of 58 percent. In October, 23 percent of respondents reported paying higher prices, 13 percent reported paying lower prices, and 64 percent of supply executives reported paying the same prices as in September. A Prices Index above 49.4 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Index of Manufacturers Prices.