[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 13959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3946]



[[Page 13959]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey 
(M3).
    Form Number(s): M-3(SD).
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0008.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 16,800 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 4,200.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 20 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting an extension 
of the currently approved collection for the Manufacturers' Shipments, 
Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey. This survey collects monthly data 
from domestic manufacturers on Form M-3 (SD), which is mailed at the 
end of each month. Data requested are shipments, new orders, unfilled 
orders, total inventory, materials and supplies, work-in-process, and 
finished goods. It is currently the only survey that provides broad-
based monthly statistical data on the economic conditions in the 
domestic manufacturing sector. It is designed to measure current 
industrial activity and to provide an indication of future production 
commitments. The value of shipments measures the value of goods 
delivered during the month by domestic manufacturers. Estimates of new 
orders serve as an indicator of future production commitments and 
represent the current sales value of new orders received during the 
month, net of cancellations. Substantial accumulation or depletion of 
backlogs of unfilled orders measures excess (or deficient) demand for 
manufactured products. The level of inventories, especially in relation 
to shipments, is frequently used to monitor the business cycle.
    This survey provides an essential component of the current economic 
indicators needed for assessing the evolving status of the economy and 
formulating economic policy. The Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated this 
survey as a principal Federal economic indicator. The shipments and 
inventory data are essential inputs to the gross domestic product 
(GDP), while the orders data are direct inputs to the leading economic 
indicator series. The GDP and the economic indicator series would be 
incomplete without these data. The survey also provides valuable and 
timely domestic manufacturing data for economic planning and analysis 
to business firms, trade associations, research and consulting 
agencies, and academia.
    The data are used for analyzing short- and long-term trends, both 
in the manufacturing sector and as related to other sectors of the 
economy. The data on value of shipments, especially when adjusted for 
change in inventory, measure current levels of production. New orders 
figures serve as an indicator of future production commitments. Changes 
in the level of unfilled orders, because of excess or shortfall of new 
orders compared with shipments, are used to measure the excess (or 
deficiency) in the demand for manufactured products. Changes in the 
level of inventories and the relation of these to shipments are used to 
project future movements in manufacturing activity. These statistics 
are valuable for analysts of business cycle conditions including 
members of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA), the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the 
Department of the Treasury, business firms, trade associations, private 
research and consulting agencies, and the academic community.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 131 & 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: March 14, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-3946 Filed 3-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P