The Census Bureau seeks public comments by December 5, 2026 on the extension of the Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, & Orders (M3) Survey, considered a “principal federal economic indicator.”
Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on July 20, 2026.
“The M3 survey is designed to measure current industrial activity and to provide an indication of future production commitments. Shipments, new and unfilled orders, and inventories data provide a current statistical measurement of the domestic manufacturing sector in the U.S. economy. The value of shipments measures the value of goods delivered during the month by domestic manufacturers. Estimates of new orders serve as an indicator of future production commitments and represent the current sales value of new orders received during the month, net of cancellations. Substantial accumulation or depletion of unfilled orders measures excess (or deficient) demand for manufactured products. The level of inventory, especially in relation to shipments, is frequently used to monitor the business cycle.”
“The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has designated this survey as a principal federal economic indicator. The shipments and inventories data are essential inputs of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The orders data are direct inputs to The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI), which is a composite index of ten key elements designed to monitor the business cycle. The GDP and the LEI would be incomplete without these data.”
“Shipments, new and unfilled orders, and inventories estimates are used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), The Conference Board, and other government agencies, as well as business users in formulating economic decisions.”
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, & Orders (M3) Survey https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/05/2026-22541/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
