03-11495. 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 (M3) Survey.

Form Number(s): M-3(SD).

Agency Approval Number: 0607-0008.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Burden: 14,000 hours.

Number of Respondents: 3,500.

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.

This survey provides an essential part 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 the academia.

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, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

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 [phone]) or e-mail ([e-mail]).

Dated: May 5, 2003.

Madeleine Clayton,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.