Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders Survey

Appendix B

M3-1-L2
(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.
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