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

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 72 (Friday, April 13, 2018)

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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