[Federal Register: August 13, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 157)]
[Notices]
[Page 47129-47130]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au08-37]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will submit 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 to the
Department of Defense.
Form Number(s): M3-DOD, M3-DOD(I).
OMB Control Number: None.
Type of Request: New collection.
Burden Hours: 2,500.
Number of Respondents: 5,000.
Average Hours Per Response: 30 minutes.
Needs and Uses: The Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and
Orders (M3) survey collects monthly data on shipments, inventories, and
orders from domestic manufacturing companies. The purpose of the M3
survey is to provide early broad-based monthly statistical data on
current economic conditions and indications of future production
commitments in the manufacturing sector. The orders, as well as the
shipments and inventory data, are used widely and are valuable tools
for analysis of business cycle conditions. Major data users include:
members of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Bureau of Economic
Analysis (BEA), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), Conference Board, Treasury
Department, and the business community.
The monthly M3 reflects primarily the month-to-month changes of
companies within the survey. The M3 survey collects data for 89
industry categories of which 13 provide defense and non-defense
allocations. Those industries include: Small Arms and Ordnance;
Communications Equipment; Search and Navigation Equipment; Aircraft;
Aircraft Engine and Parts; Missile, Space Vehicle, and Parts
Manufacturing; and Ship and Boat Building.
The link relative estimator used in the M3 is not self-correcting.
A minor error in the series can be magnified by the multiplicative
effect of the estimator. Over time, the M3 estimates can be
significantly different than the true universe levels. Consequently,
there is a need to re-establish these universe levels on a periodic
basis. The Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) provides annual
benchmarks for the shipments and inventory data for the M3 survey;
however, the ASM does not distinguish between defense and non-defense
activities. The last collection instrument used to benchmark defense
and non-defense data was the Shipments to Federal Agencies Benchmark
Survey (MA-9675) conducted in 1992. Since the defense industries have
dramatically changed, it is necessary to conduct a benchmark survey to
obtain a current allocation of data between defense and non-defense
manufacturing activities for the M3 universe levels.
The Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders to the
Department of Defense (M3DOD) survey will collect 2006 and 2007
shipments, inventories, and unfilled orders data from domestic
manufacturing companies that encompass defense manufacturing
activities. This survey will be conducted every five years to provide
correct benchmark levels and preserve the integrity of the estimates
for the M3 survey, especially for the closely watched non-defense
capital goods series. The monthly M3 data will be adjusted based on the
results of the M3DOD survey.
The M3DOD survey will provide up-to-date shipments, unfilled
orders, and inventories data to domestic manufacturing establishments
that encompass defense and non-defense manufacturing activities. During
the M3's benchmarking process, the data will be applied to adjust
shipments, unfilled orders, and inventories for selected M3 industries
on a NAICS basis. The M3's current universe will be recalibrated to a
new level reflecting the most recent economic condition of defense and
non-defense sectors. Once revisions are finalized, the benchmark will
take place, revising the M3's historical time series beginning with
1992 for defense and non-defense sectors. The benchmark report will be
released to the public electronically. The M3's data users will have
more accurate data reflecting short and long-term trends in these
manufacturing sectors.
[[Page 47130]]
The value of shipments, especially when adjusted for change in
inventory, measures current levels of production. 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 CEA, BEA, FRB, Department of Treasury, business firms, trade
associates, private research and consulting agencies, and the academic
community.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Frequency: Every five years.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: The M3DOD survey will be conducted on a mandatory
basis under the authority of Title 13, United State Code, Sections 131,
182, 193 and 224.
OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
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
dhynek@doc.gov ).
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245)
or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-18650 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P