[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 59 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16165-16166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7443]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 000207031-0074-02]
RIN Number 0607-XX55


Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders (M3) Supplement: 
Unfilled Orders Benchmark Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of the Census (Census 
Bureau) will conduct a survey, the Unfilled Orders Benchmark survey, to 
supplement the monthly Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and 
Orders survey for 1999. The Census Bureau has determined that it needs 
to collect data covering unfilled orders in manufacturing. The data 
received from this supplement will provide the information necessary to 
benchmark the monthly estimates of unfilled orders in manufacturing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Wentela, Chief, Manufacturers' 
Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Branch, Manufacturing and 
Construction Division, on (301) 457-4832.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Census Bureau is authorized to conduct 
surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered by the 
major censuses authorized by Title 13, United States Code, Sections 
182, 224, and 225. The Unfilled Orders Benchmark survey will provide 
continuing and timely national statistical data for the period between 
the economic censuses. The next economic census will occur in 2002. 
Data collected in this survey will be within the general scope, type, 
and character of those inquiries covered in the economic census.
    This survey is a supplement to the Manufacturers' Shipments, 
Inventories, and Orders survey and will request end-of-year unfilled 
orders and annual sales data for 1999. The unfilled orders series is an 
important indicator of economic activity and has significant 
application to the needs of the public and industry. These data are not 
available from nongovernmental or other governmental sources.
    The survey will require a selected sample of manufacturing 
companies, classified in industries for which unfilled orders are 
normally maintained longer than one month, to report in the 1999 
Unfilled Orders Benchmark survey. We will furnish report forms and 
instruction manuals to the firms covered by this survey and will 
require their submissions within 45 days after receipt. The resulting 
unfilled orders estimates will be used to revise the levels currently 
being published for the monthly survey and will improve the accuracy of 
the data. The current estimates are based on a small sample and are 
subject to error. The survey is especially critical because of the 
conversion to the new North American Industry Classification System.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid Office of Management and

[[Page 16166]]

Budget (OMB) control number. In accordance with the PRA, 44 United 
States Code, Chapter 35, the OMB approved the 1999 Unfilled Orders 
Benchmark survey under OMB Control Number 0607-0868. We will furnish 
report forms to companies included in the survey, and additional copies 
are available on written request to the Director, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Washington, DC 20233-0101.
    Based on the foregoing, I have directed that a survey be conducted 
for the purpose of collecting these data.

    Dated: March 21, 2000.
Kenneth Prewitt,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 00-7443 Filed 3-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P