Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders Survey, 16050 [2018-07692]

Agencies

• Census Bureau
• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 16050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07692]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturers' 
Unfilled Orders Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before June 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Mary Catherine Potter, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Economic Indicators Division, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 7K157, 
Washington, DC 20233-6913, (301) 763-4207, or (via the internet at 
[email protected].)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The data collected in the Manufacturers' Unfilled Orders (M3UFO) 
Survey will be used to benchmark the new and unfilled orders 
information published in the monthly Manufacturers' Shipments, 
Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey. The M3 Survey collects monthly 
data on the value of shipments, inventories, and new and unfilled 
orders from manufacturing companies. The orders, as well as the 
shipments and inventory data, are valuable tools for analysts of 
business cycle conditions. The data are used by the Bureau of Economic 
Analysis, the Counsel of Economic Advisors, the Federal Reserve Board, 
the Conference Board, and members of the business community such as 
trade associations and the media.
    The monthly M3 Survey estimates are based on a panel of 
approximately 5,000 reporting units that represent approximately 3,100 
companies and provide an indication of month-to-month change for the 
Manufacturing Sector. These reporting units may be divisions of 
diversified large companies, large homogenous companies, or single-unit 
manufacturers. The M3 estimates are periodically benchmarked to 
comprehensive data on the manufacturing sector from the Annual Survey 
of Manufactures (ASM), the Economic Census (shipments and inventories) 
and the M3UFO Survey, which is the subject of this notice. Unfilled 
orders data are not collected in the ASM or the Economic Census. To 
obtain more accurate M3 estimates of unfilled orders, which are also 
used in deriving M3 estimates of new orders, we conduct the M3UFO 
Survey annually to be used as the source for benchmarking M3 unfilled 
orders data. Additionally, the M3UFO data are used to determine which 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries 
continue to maintain unfilled orders; this is done in order to minimize 
burden, and only request unfilled orders as part of the monthly M3 
Survey from industries that still maintain unfilled orders.
    There are no changes to the MA-3000 form, which is used to conduct 
the M3UFO survey.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to 
collect the data with online reporting encouraged. Online response for 
the survey is typically just under 60 percent. Companies are asked to 
respond to the survey within 30 days of receipt. Letters encouraging 
participation are mailed to companies that have not responded by the 
designated time. Telephone follow-up is conducted to obtain response 
from delinquent companies.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0561.
    Form Number(s): MA-3000.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Manufacturing Businesses, large and small, or 
other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: .50 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 131 and 182.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-07692 Filed 4-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P