Various Economic Area Pretesting Activities

MA-3001-L1
(07-2010) Draft 3

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001

FROM THE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION DIVISION
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders
Benchmark Supplement (MA-3001) Survey. This survey collects shipments, inventories, and
unfilled orders data from domestic manufacturing establishments; the data collected will be
used in the development of estimates for industries with defense manufacturing activities in the
monthly Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey.
The M3 survey measures monthly current industrial activity and provides an indication of future
production; it is a principal economic indicator and is critical to assessing current economic
activity. The MA-3001 survey will be conducted annually to obtain a current allocation between
defense and nondefense manufacturing. With your participation in the MA-3001 survey, the
monthly M3 survey will provide a more accurate estimate of the magnitude of defense activities
in the manufacturing sector.
The law (Title 13, United States Code) requires your response to this survey. By Section 9
of the same law, your report to the Census Bureau is confidential. It may be seen only by
persons sworn to uphold the confidentiality of Census Bureau information and may be used
only for statistical purposes. The law also provides that copies retained in your files are
immune from legal process.
Please read the instructions included with this form carefully. If actual figures are not available,
estimates may be used. Please return the completed form by (date forthcoming). If you need
additional time to complete the report or have any questions or comments, contact the M3 staff
on 301-763-4832. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

William G. Bostic, Jr.
Acting Chief, Manufacturing and Construction Division

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions

www.census.gov