Aircraft, commercial shipping watercraft, and rail equipment usually already have a buyer before fabrication starts. Buyers of high-cost transportation equipment generally base the amount of their order on the level of expected demand for transportation services.
Industrial Production Index (1992=100)
Nov-01
Dec-01
Ships and boats
103.16
104.94
Percent change from previous month
0.58
1.73
Railroad and other transportation equipment
88.20
89.72
Percent change from previous month
-1.37
1.72
Aircraft and parts
90.35
85.41
Percent change from previous month
-4.09
-5.47
NOTES: These numbers represent the following Standard Industrial Classification groupings: Aircraft and parts (372), Ships and boats (373), and Rail and other transportation equipment (374-6,9). The numbers for automotive industries (371) are on the page entitled “Industry Production Indices for Automotive Transportation Equipment.”
Data from September to December 2001 are preliminary.
