Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey

Appendix B

M3-1-L1
(1-2012)

FROM THE CHIEF
MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION DIVISION
(MCD)

“The Census Bureau’s
economic surveys are
indispensable to
understanding
America’s economy. They
ensure the accuracy of the
statistics we rely on for
economic policy and for
successful business planning.
Participating in the monthly
survey helps us all.”
- Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman,
Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System

I thank you for your continued participation in the monthly
Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey.
This survey provides some of the Nation’s most widely used, timely
information on the manufacturing sector of the economy. Your
continued participation is essential to the success of the survey.
To reduce your reporting burden and assist with your response, I
encourage you to submit your data via the Internet. This data
collection instrument is fast, easy, and a convenient way to report
your data. Our enhanced system provides more user friendly options,
including the ability to submit and/or view up to 12 months of data.
To begin reporting, please go to https://respond.census.gov/m3 and
enter your user id and original password as imprinted on the enclosed
form(s). If you have any problems, please call your Census Bureau
contact located on the form(s) or go to
http://bhs.econ.census.gov/bhs/m3/contactus.html to email your
request via our Secure Messaging Center. You may also report via
facsimile machine on (800) 272-4096.
The M3 survey is authorized by law (Title 13, United States Code).
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.
As in previous years, the M3 instruction manual is available on the
Internet. Go to the M3 web page, www.census.gov/m3, and click on
the “Get Forms” tab. The “M3 Instruction Manual” has the most
recent information to assist you with reporting. From this web
address, you also will be able to access the published M3 data.
If you have any questions about this voluntary survey or our
electronic reporting methods, please call the M3 office on
(301) 763-4832 or go to
http://bhs.econ.census.gov/bhs/m3/contactus.html to email your
request via our Secure Messaging Center.
Sincerely,

Mendel D. Gayle