Insulated Wire and Cable: 2006 Issued June 2006

MA335J(06)-1

Current 

Industrial

Reports

Current data are released electronically on Internet SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

for all individual surveys as they become available. Use: http://www.census.gov/mcd/. In 2006, the total value of manufacturers' 

Individual reports can be accessed by choosing shipments of copper insulated wire and cable

"Current Industrial Reports (CIR)," clicking on increased by 37.4 percent to $17.9 billion

"CIRs by Subsector;" then choose the survey of from $13.0 billion in 2005. Quantity of

interest. Follow the menu to view the PDF file shipments of aluminum insulated wire

or to download the worksheet file (XLS format) and cable shows a 5.7-percent increase 

to your personal computer. for 2006, totaling 451.6 million pounds, up

from the 2005 total of 427.2 million pounds.

Copper magnet wire increased to $1.7

These data are also available on Internet billion, up 53.8 percent from $1.1 billion in

through the U.S. Department of Commerce 2005. In 2006 insulated optical fiber cable 

and STAT-USA by subscription. The Internet increased by 7.2 percent to $1,241.3 million,

address is: www.stat-usa.gov/. Follow the from the 2005 value of shipment totaling 

prompts to register. Also, you may call $1,158.8 million. Optical fiber increased 8.7

202-482-1986 or 1-800-STAT-USA, for percent to $489.4 million, from the 2005

further information. total of $450.3 million.

Address inquiries concerning these data to Investment Goods Industries Branch, Manufacturing and Construction Division, (MCD), 

Washington, DC 20233-6900 or call Phil Brown, 301-763-4740.

For mail or fax copies of this publication, please contact the Information Services Center, MCD, Washington, DC 20233-6900, or 

call 301-763-4673.

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U U.S. Department of Commerce

 Economics and Statistics Administration

Helping You Make Informed Decisions U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Table 1. Summary of Shipments of Insulated Wire and Cable: 2001 to 2006

[Value in millions of dollars]

Product

code Product description 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Insulated wire and cable 1/................................ 21,480.3 15,865.1 13,233.8 11,441.5 11,944.8 16,873.4

 

335929A Electronic wire and cable................................ 3,309.6 2,748.2 2,614.3 2,358.8 2,576.2 2,657.5

335929B Telephone and telegraph wire and cable........ 2,545.2 r/ 1,590.1 957.7 1,276.0 1,290.9 2,074.4

3359291 Power wire and cable 2/.................................. 2,875.2 2,256.2 1,810.4 1,484.5 1,466.0 1,545.8

3359291 pt. Portable power cable 2/.................................. (NA) (NA) (D) (D) 117.9 137.9

335929C Control and signal wire and cable.................. 446.7 291.6 (D) (D) 208.0 197.3

335929D Building wire and cable................................... 7,247.7 4,835.2 3,707.3 2,433.8 2,302.4 2,121.1

331491F Apparatus wire and cordage........................... 553.6 509.9 560.6 671.9 629.2 735.4

335929E Other insulated wire and cable....................... 938.3 r/ 810.6 600.1 519.8 604.3 675.0

331491H Magnet wire..................................................... 1,833.3 1,214.7 1,120.7 957.3 980.0 1,059.4

3359210 Insulated optical fiber cable........................... 1,241.3 1,158.3 886.3 944.4 1,282.5 3,646.2

327215A Optical fiber.................................................... 489.4 r/ 450.3 502.3 449.1 487.4 2,023.4

 D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies. NA Not available. pt. Part. r/Revised by 5 percent

or more from previously published data.

 1/Detail may not add to total due to rounding.

 2/Beginning in 2005, part of product code 3359291, "Portable power cable," is included with the rest of product

code 3359291, "Power wire and cable."
Table 2. Shipments of Copper Insulated Wire and Cable: 2006 and 2005

[Shipments in thousands of pounds. Value in thousands of dollars]

Product description

No. Copper No. Copper

Product of content Total of content Total

code cos. weight 2/ Value 2/ cos. weight 2/ Value 2/

335929 pt. Insulated wire and cable (except magnet wire 

 and optical wire)............................................................ (NA) 2,789,562 17,916,197 (NA) 2,995,129 13,041,736

335929A1 Electronic wire and cable................................................. 66 b/ 264,723 a/ 3,309,589 69 c/ 254,186 c/ 2,748,171

 Flexible coaxial cable, armored or unarmored: 

335929A130 135 C and over......................................................... 10 2,573 a/ 83,735 11 c/r/ 3,996 c/r/ 84,263

335929A140 Under 135 C............................................................. 19 32,326 554,735 20 b/ 26,787 b/ 392,165

 Hookup wire (single conductor, shielded and 

 nonshielded): 

335929A170 135 C and over temperature rating......................... 18 b/ 14,374 b/ 218,170 18 c/ 12,953 c/ 159,518

335929A180 Under 135 C temperature rating.............................. 27 c/ 69,811 c/ 438,236 31 a/ 58,664 a/ 359,897

 Multiconductor electronic wire and cable 

 (shielded and nonshielded): 

335929A190 Flat and ribbon cable............................................... 13 b/ 3,576 73,248 17 c/r/ 3,369 c/r/ 65,283

 Other muticonductor electronic wire and cable: 

 Shielded: 

335929A1A0 135 C and over temperature rating.................. 21 (D) (D) 20 (D) (D)

335929A1B0 Under 135 C temperature rating...................... 28 a/ 43,452 414,814 30 c/r/ 43,385 c/r/ 342,375

 Nonshielded: 

335929A1C0 135 C and over temperature rating.................. 10 (D) (D) 8 (D) (D)

335929A1D0 Under 135 C temperature rating...................... 22 36,093 279,289 22 c/r/ 34,414 c/ 238,481

335929A1 pt. Other electronic wire and cable................................... 17 35,583 926,899 19 r/ 46,572 r/ 862,326

335929B Telephone and telegraph wire and cable......................... 20 b/ 358,801 b/ 2,545,176 20 b/ 358,704 b/r/ 1,590,129

335929B120 Station wire and cable.................................................. 8 b/ 13,109 b/ 73,691 8 b/r/ 13,627 b/r/ 56,417

335929B140 Inside wiring cable....................................................... 8 a/ 88,488 706,089 9 c/r/ 63,898 c/r/ 480,132

335929B180 Other telephone and telegraph wire and cable............ 14 257,204 1,765,396 15 a/r/ 281,179 a/r/ 1,053,580

 

3359291 Power wire and cable....................................................... 19 315,030 2,875,244 21 c/r/ 342,085 c/ 2,256,177

3359291810 Paper insulated cable (all voltages, all types).............. 1 (D) (D) 1 (D) (D)

 Plastic and rubber insulated: 

 2 kV or less: 

3359291820 Portable welding cable......................................... 6 a/ 18,507 b/ 81,482 7 a/ 18,244 b/ 55,099

3359291830 Underground distribution cable (UD, URD).......... 7 8,321 a/ 523,733 7 a/ 8,196 b/ 421,158

3359291840 Thermoplastic insulated power cable.................. 9 c/ 24,264 c/ 155,929 9 a/r/ 29,134 b/r/ 111,761

 Thermoset insulated: 

3359291850 Armored, rubber and cross linked................... 6 a/ 8,928 a/ 64,220 6 c/r/ 10,721 c/r/ 52,692

3359291860 Unarmored, rubber........................................... 5 c/ 23,328 b/ 98,719 6 a/r/ 20,802 a/r/ 70,291

3359291870 Unarmored, cross linked.................................. 6 16,465 a/ 98,574 6 a/ 13,560 a/ 58,425

3359291890 Weatherproof cable.............................................. 4 (D) (D) 4 (D) (D)

3359291891 Service drop cable, thermoset and thermo- 

 plastic insulated................................................. 4 (D) (D) 4 (D) (D)

 Over 2 kV: 

33592918C0 Underground distribution cable (UD, URD), 

 all insulations (jacketed and unjacketed).......... 6 61,364 610,278 7 a/ 61,693 b/ 480,032

 Thermoset insulated power cable, excluding 

 underground: 

 2 kV to 15 kV: 

33592918E0 Armored, rubber and cross-linked............... 7 a/ 30,981 a/ 199,994 7 c/r/ 24,155 c/r/ 116,764

33592918F0 Unarmored, rubber....................................... 6 a/ 60,491 a/ 364,487 6 c/r/ 60,760 c/r/ 244,470

33592918G0 Unarmored, cross-linked.............................. 4 3,424 20,725 5 b/r/ 3,931 b/r/ 14,596

33592918H0 Over 15.1 kV (rubber and cross-linked)........... 4 (D) (D) 4 (D) (D)

33592918I0 Other power wire and cable, including portable......... 3 a/ 27,094 b/ 214,513 3 c/r/ 29,937 c/r/ 197,394

 

335929C Control and signal wire................................................... 19 b/ 51,617 b/ 446,666 21 c/r/ 46,139 c/ 291,552

335929C110 Signal wire and cable................................................... 14 b/ 27,566 b/ 242,139 16 c/r/ 26,595 c/r/ 174,238

 Control wire and cable, excluding elevator cable: 

335929C120 Thermoset insulated................................................ 8 a/ 6,291 a/ 77,449 8 c/r/ 5,710 c/r/ 50,152

335929C130 Thermoplastic insulated.......................................... 10 a/ 17,760 b/ 127,078 10 c/ 13,834 c/ 67,162

335929D Building wire and cable.................................................... 22 1,532,858 7,247,665 22 c/ 1,700,219 c/ 4,835,179

 Building wire and cable having underwriters' 

 labels: 

 Thermoset insulated: 

335929D110 Cross-linked polyethylene (XHHW)...................... 12 46,101 375,075 11 c/ 44,654 c/ 177,371

335929D120 Cross-linked polyethylene (XLP, USE)................... 12 14,226 101,804 10 c/ 20,691 c/ 73,149

 Thermoplastic insulated: 

335929D130 Flame-retardant nylon (THHN, THWN)................. 13 743,015 3,082,594 14 c/ 779,550 c/ 1,935,254

335929D140 Moisture and heat resistant (TW, THW)................ 12 5,087 18,918 12 c/r/ 3,017 c/r/ 11,456

335929D150 Service entrance cable (SER, SEU, ASE)................. 9 b/ 13,168 237,317 9 c/ 16,848 c/ 178,179

Shipments, including interplant transfers 1/

2006 2005

Page 1
Table 2. Shipments of Copper Insulated Wire and Cable: 2006 and 2005

[Shipments in thousands of pounds. Value in thousands of dollars]

Product description

No. Copper No. Copper

Product of content Total of content Total

code cos. weight 2/ Value 2/ cos. weight 2/ Value 2/

Shipments, including interplant transfers 1/

2006 2005

 Nonmetallic branch-circuit and under- 

 ground feeder:

335929D160 Type NM-B........................................................ 7 537,725 2,355,303 8 b/ 652,789 c/ 1,689,028

335929D170 Type UF and NMC (corrosion resistant)........... 8 40,558 200,134 10 c/ 47,735 c/ 145,261

335929D190 Other building wire and cable................................. 10 132,978 876,520 11 a/ 134,935 b/ 625,481

331491F Apparatus wire and cordage 3/........................................ 31 a/ 89,085 a/ 553,578 32 c/r/ 106,190 c/ 509,908

 Flexible cordage: 

331491F110 Thermoset insulated................................................ 9 b/ 15,528 b/ 111,200 9 b/r/ 19,962 b/ 100,260

331491F120 Thermoplastic, including thermoplastic 

 elastomers.............................................................. 11 a/ 2,891 a/ 19,925 11 c/ 3,087 c/ 15,276

331491F180 Extension cord sets.................................................. 4 a/ 2,099 a/ 25,680 4 a/r/ 3,949 a/r/ 30,595

331491F190 Fixed power supply cords........................................ 11 1,326 9,007 11 c/r/ 1,061 c/r/ 8,058

331491F1A0 Detachable power supply cords............................... 6 1,902 6,074 6 b/r/ 1,435 b/r/ 4,563

331491F1B0 Retractable power cords and other.......................... 8 461 20,904 8 b/r/ 424 a/ 16,134

 Apparatus wire: 

331491F130 Appliance fixture wire.............................................. 10 15,138 98,502 11 c/ 18,623 c/ 85,502

331491F145 Appliance wiring material 14 gauge and larger, 

 (including motor lead and transformer lead 

 wire), thermoset and thermoplastic insulated....... 10 b/ 14,053 a/ 63,314 11 c/r/ 24,797 c/ 114,458

331491F160 Submersible pump cable.............................................. 9 17,204 102,332 9 b/ 15,853 b/ 69,736

331491F170 Other apparatus wire and cordage, including 

 machine tool wire....................................................... 14 18,483 96,640 14 c/r/ 16,999 c/r/ 65,326

335929E Other insulated wire and cable........................................ 37 b/ 177,448 b/ 938,279 40 c/r/ 187,606 c/r/ 810,620

 Automotive: 

335929E110 Bulk automotive primary wire................................. 12 b/ 93,322 b/ 337,687 12 c/ 98,770 c/ 259,425

335929E120 Bulk battery cable.................................................... 7 a/ 6,935 a/ 29,046 7 b/ 8,859 b/ 25,970

335929E130 Bulk ignition wire..................................................... 5 (D) (D) 7 (D) (D)

335929E140 Other automotive wire and cable............................. 7 (D) (D) 9 (D) (D)

 Airframe, shipboard and ground support cable, 

 excluding coaxial cable and ignition cable: 

335929E150 Airframe and missile, including ground 

 support cable......................................................... 8 a/ 4,752 44,229 8 a/ 4,193 r/ 44,229

335929E160 Shipboard cable........................................................ 5 c/ 3,208 b/ 19,064 5 a/ 3,173 a/r/ 19,064

335929E170 Other insulated or covered wire and cable, n.e.c. ...... 19 c/ 59,787 c/ 320,032 22 c/r/ 60,386 c/r/ 320,032

 D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies. NA Not available. n.e.c. Not elsewhere classified. pt. Part. r/Revised by 5 

percent or more from previously published data. 

 1/Interplant transfers for 2006 totaled $87,544 and for 2005 totaled $67,240.

 2/Aluminum content for 2006 totaled 451,623 thousand pounds and for 2005 totaled 427,200 thousand pounds (not included in copper content

weights). Aluminum shipment values are included in total value. See Table 3 for additional details.

 3/Data include the following: (a) all known establishments which insulate wire and cable and then fabricate it into finished products, NAICS 

product class 331491E; (b) establishments from NAICS product class 334290, that manufacture wire, cord, and flexible cord sets from purchased

insulated wire. 

 Note: Data presented in this table are for copper content insulated wire and cable. See Table 3 for aluminum content information. Percent of

estimation of each item is indicated as follows: a/10 to 25 percent of this item is estimated. b/26 to 50 percent of this item is estimated. c/Over

50 percent of this item is estimated.

Page 2
Table 3. Aluminum Shipments of Selected Insulated Wire and Cable: 2006 and 2005

[Aluminum gross weight shipments in thousands of pounds]

 Product description No. No.

Product of Aluminum of Aluminum

code cos. content 1/2/ cos. content 1/2/

335929 pt. Insulated wire (except magnet wire).................................... (NA) 451,623 (NA) r/ 427,200

335929A Electronic wire and cable................................................. 1 (D) 2 (D)

335929B Telephone and telegraph wire and cable......................... - - - -

3359291 Power wire and cable....................................................... 8 308,137 8 r/ 311,667

3359291830 Underground distribution cable, all insulations--

 2 kV or less................................................................ 5 195,778 5 194,317

3359291890 Weatherproof cable...................................................... 3 2,922 3 r/ 2,041

3359291891 Service drop cable, thermoset and thermoplastic 

 insulated.................................................................... 2 39,015 3 42,485

33592918C0 Underground distribution cable, all insulations-- 

 over 2 kV.................................................................... 6 50,847 6 46,937

33592918F0 Thermoset insulated power cable, unarmored, 

 rubber--2 kV to 15 kV................................................. 4 5,687 4 r/ 4,751

3359291 pt. Other power wire and cable......................................... 7 13,888 7 r/ 21,136

335929D1 Building wire and cable.................................................... 7 132,620 7 105,120

335929D110 Thermoset insulated, cross-linked polyethylene 

 (XHHW)....................................................................... 4 (D) 5 (D)

335929D150 Service enterance cable (SER, SEU, ASE)....................... 3 (D) 5 (D)

335929D1 pt. Other building wire and cable..................................... 7 39,456 6 34,543

335929C1, Other insulated wire and cable........................................ 4 (D) 5 (D)

 - Represents zero. D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies. NA Not available. 

pt. Part. r/Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data. 

 1/Gross weight includes insulating materials, but excludes packing materials.

 2/Value of aluminum content is included in total value of Table 2.

2006 2005
Table 4. Shipments of Magnet Wire (Copper and Aluminum), Including Interplant Transfers: 2006 and 2005

[Gross weight in thousands of pounds. Value in thousands of dollars]

 Product description No. No.

Product of Gross of Gross

code cos. weight 2/ Value cos. weight 2/ Value

331491H Magnet wire................................................................................ 17 564,402 1,833,327 21 569,901 1,214,695

 Class 105 and below:

331491H110 7 AWG and larger round, including all square and 

 rectangle, film coated...................................................... 3 (D) (D) 3 9,501 17,031

331491H120 8 to 21 AWG, film coated................................................... 3 (D) (D) 4 55,796 81,652

331491H135 22 to 33 AWG, film coated................................................. 6 2,285 9,902 6 1,857 6,418

 Class 130 to 155: 

331491H160 8 to 21 AWG, film coated................................................... 7 9,451 35,300 9 13,665 30,117

331491H170 22 to 32 AWG, film coated................................................. 9 16,180 62,179 11 26,735 63,928

331491H180 33 to 44 AWG, film coated................................................. 7 7,873 45,168 10 10,960 42,205

 Class 180 and above: 

331491H190 7 AWG and larger round, including all square and 

 rectangle, film coated...................................................... 4 (D) (D) 4 34,206 78,113

331491H1A0 8 to 21 AWG, film coated................................................... 7 (D) (D) 10 269,544 506,856

331491H1B0 22 to 32 AWG, film coated................................................. 8 96,402 334,130 11 98,610 219,103

331491H1C0 33 to 44 AWG, film coated................................................. 6 (D) (D) 9 (D) (D)

331491H1C2 Miscellaneous film coated, n.e.c. ......................................... - - -- - -

 Nonfilm coated (fibrous): 

331491H1D0 Class 130 and below.......................................................... 3 (D) (D) 2 (D) (D)

331491H1F0 Class 155 and above.......................................................... 5 (D) (D) 5 6,808 24,100

 Nonfilm coated (tape):

331491H1E0 Class 130 and below.......................................................... 4 (D) (D) 3 18,820 40,334

331491H1G0 Class 155 and above.......................................................... 4 10,277 40,499 5 8,244 22,438

331491G1H0 Miscellaneous nonfilm coated, n.e.c. .................................... 2 (D) (D) 2 (D) (D)

 - Represents zero. D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies. n.e.c. Not elsewhere classified. 

r/Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data. 

 1/Interplant transfers for 2006 and 2005 were withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies.

 2/Gross weight includes insulating materials, but excludes packing materials.

Shipments, including interplant transfers 1/

2006 2005
Table 5. Value of Shipments of Fiber Optic Cable: 2006 and 2005

[Thousands of dollars]

Product description No. No.

Product of of

code cos. Value cos. Value

33592101 Insulated optical fiber cable.................... 26 1,241,255 28 1,158,333

33592101 pt. Communication applications.............. 20 1,221,641 21 1,149,001

 Single-mode stepped-index: 

3359210125 Dispersion shifted....................... 9 173,004 10 r/ 191,610

3359210128 Dispersion unshifted................... 18 691,899 19 640,372

3359210129 Multimode index............................. 18 356,738 18 317,019

3359210434 Other applications............................... 12 19,614 11 r/ 9,332

 pt. Part. r/Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data. 

2006 2005
Table 6. Value of Shipments of Optical Fiber: 2006 and 2005

[Thousands of dollars]

Product description No. No.

Product of of

code cos. Value cos. Value

Optical fiber for data and nondata 

 transmission.............................................. 14 489,424 14 r/ 450,324

327215B235 Optical fiber used for data 

 transmission.......................................... 8 469,848 10 r/ 434,252

327215B238 Optical fiber used for nondata 

 transmission.......................................... 7 19,576 5 16,072

 r/Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data. 

2006 2005
Table 7. Shipments, Exports, and Imports of Insulated Wire and Cable: 2006

[Quantity in thousands of units. Value in thousands of dollars]

Product description

Product

code Quantity Value Quanity Value Quantity Value 4/

331491H110, Magnet wire (copper)........................... 505,736 1,711,314 72,971 399,827 41,546 344,155

 120, 130, 140,

 150, 160, 170,

 180, 190, 

331491G1A0,

 1B0, 1C0, 1I0,

 1D0, 1F0, 1E0,

 1G0, 1H0

331491H110, Magnet wire (aluminum)...................... 58,666 122,013 15,048 108,421 2,381 18,574

 120, 130, 140,

 150, 160, 170,

 180, 190, 

331491H1A0,

 1B0, 1C0, 1I0,

 1D0, 1E0, 1F0,

 1G0, 1H0

335929A100, Coaxial cable........................................ 70,482 1,586,925 47,478 496,409 67,515 552,922

 120, 130, 140,

 150

3359210125, Optical fiber cables.............................. 6,248,341 1,241,255 529,174 355,744 849,082 468,604

 128, 131, 134,

 3359210434

327215B235, Optical fibers, bundles, 

 238 and cables.......................................... (X) 489,424 1,523,101 212,222 85,278 30,057

335929B110, Other wire and cable used

 120, 130, 140, for telecommunications

 150, 160, 170, (except fiber optics)........................... 270,822 1,828,689 (NA) (NA) 37,740 819,293

 180,

 335929E150, 160

 NA Not available. X Not applicable.

 1/For comparision of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)-based product codes with Schedule B export

codes and HTSUSA import codes, see Table 8.

 2/Source: Census Bureau report EM 545, U.S. Exports.

 3/Source: Census Bureau report IM 145, Imports for Consumption.

 4/Dollar value represents the c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) value at the first point of entry in the United States 

plus U.S. import duties.

(f.o.b. plant)

shipments

Manufacturers'

Imports for

consumption 1/ 3/

Exports of domestic

merchandise 1/ 2/
Table 8. Comparision of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)-Based Product Codes 

 with Schedule B Export Codes, and HTSUSA Import Codes: 2006

Product

code Product description Export code 1/ Import code 2/

331491G110, Magnet wire (copper)...................................................... 8544.11.0020 8544.11.0020

 120, 130, 8544.11.0030 8544.11.0030

 140, 150, 8544.11.0050 8544.11.0050

 160, 170,

 180, 190,

 1A0, 1B0,

 1C0, 1D0,

 1E0, 1F0,

 1G0, 1H0,

 1I0

331491G110, Magnet wire (aluminum)................................................. 8544.19.0000 8544.19.0000

 120, 130,

 140, 150,

 160, 170,

 180, 190,

 1A0, 1B0,

 1C0, 1D0,

 1E0, 1F0,

 1G0, 1H0,

 1I0

335929A100, Coaxial cable................................................................... 8544.20.0000 8544.20.0000

 120, 130,

 140, 150

3359210125, Optical fiber cable.......................................................... 8544.70.0000 8544.70.0000

 128, 131,

 134, 434

327215A235, Optical fibers, optical fiber bundles, and cables........... 9001.10.0000 9001.10.0075

 238 9001.10.0085

335929B110, Other wire and cable used for telecommunications 

 120, 130, (except fiber optics)....................................................... (NA) 8544.41.4000

 140, 150 8544.49.4000

 160, 170 8544.51.4000

 180 8544.51.7000

335929E150,

 160

 NA Not available.

 1/Source: 2006 edition, Harmonized System-Based Schedule B, Statistical Classification of Domestic

and Foreign Commodities Exported from the United States.

 2/Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Annotated (2006).
Current Industrial Reports A-1

Appendix. 

General CIR Survey Information, Explanation of General Terms

and Historical Note

GENERAL

The CIR program has been providing monthly,

quarterly, and annual measures of industrial activity for

many years. Since 1904, with its cotton and fats and oils

surveys, the CIR program has formed an essential part

of an integrated statistical system involving the quinquennial economic census, manufacturing sector, and

the annual survey of manufactures. The CIR surveys,

however, provide current statistics at a more detailed

product level than either of the other two statistical

programs.

The primary objective of the CIR program is to

produce timely, accurate data on production and

shipments of selected products. The data are used to

satisfy economic policy needs and for market analysis,

forecasting, and decision making in the private sector.

The product-level data generated by these surveys are

used extensively by individual firms, trade associations,

and market analysts in planning or recommending

marketing and legislative strategies, particularly if their

industry is significantly affected by foreign trade.

Although production and shipments information are the

two most common data items collected, the CIR

program collects other measures also such as

inventories, orders, and consumption. These surveys

measure manufacturing activity in important commodity

areas such as textiles and apparel, chemicals, primary

metals, computer and electronic components, industrial

equipment, aerospace equipment, and consumer

goods.

The CIR program uses a unified data collection,

processing, and publication system. The U.S. Census

Bureau updates the survey panels for most reports

annually and reconciles the estimates to the results of

the broader-based annual survey of manufactures and

the economic census, manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector provides a complete list of all

producers of the products covered by the CIR program

and serves as the primary source for CIR sampling.

Where a small number of producers exist, CIR surveys

cover all known producers of a product. However, when

the number of producers is too large, cutoff and

random sampling techniques are used. Surveys are

continually reviewed and modified to provide the most

up-to-date information on products produced. The CIR

program includes a group of mandatory and voluntary

surveys. Typically the monthly and quarterly surveys are

conducted on a voluntary basis. Those companies that

choose not to respond to the voluntary surveys are

required to submit a mandatory annual counterpart

corresponding to the more frequent survey.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM (NAICS), 1997 

The adoption of the North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) in the 1997 Economic

Census has had a major impact on the comparability of

current and historic data. Approximately half of the

industries in the manufacturing sector of NAICS do not

have comparable industries in the Standard Industrial

Classification (SIC) system that was used in the past.

While most of the change affecting the

manufacturing sector was change within the sector,

some industries left manufacturing and others came into

manufacturing. Prominent among those that left

manufacturing are logging and portions of publishing.

Prominent among the industries that came into the

manufacturing sector are bakeries, candy stores where

candy is made on the premises, custom tailors, makers

of custom draperies, and tire retreading. The net effect

of the classification changes are such that if the 1997

value of shipments data for all manufacturers were

tabulated on an SIC basis, it would be approximately 3

percent higher.

Listed below are the NAICS sectors:

21 Mining

22 Utilities

23 Construction

31-33 Manufacturing

42 Wholesale Trade

44-45 Retail Trade

48-49 Transportation and Warehousing

51 Information

52 Finance and Insurance

53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

55 Management of Companies and Enterprises

56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management

and Remediation Services

61 Educational Services

62 Health Care and Social Assistance

71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

72 Accommodation and Food Services

81 Other Services (except Public Administration)

(Not listed above are the Agriculture, Forestry,

Fishing, and Hunting sector (NAICS 11), partially covered

by the census of agriculture conducted by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, and the Public

Administration sector (NAICS 92), covered by the census

of governments conducted by the Census Bureau.)
Current Industrial Reports A-2

The 20 NAICS sectors are subdivided into 96

subsectors (three-digit codes), 313 industry groups

(four-digit codes), and, as implemented in the United

States, 1170 industries (five- and six-digit codes).

FUNDING

The Census Bureau funds most of the surveys.

However, a number of surveys are paid for either fully

or partially by other Federal Government agencies or

private trade associations. A few surveys are mandated,

but all are authorized by Title 13 of the United States

Code.

RELIABILITY OF DATA

Survey error may result from several sources

including the inability to obtain information about all

cases in the survey, response errors, definitional

difficulties, differences in the interpretation of

questions, mistakes in recording or coding the reported

data, and other errors of collection, response,

coverage, and estimation. These nonsampling errors

also occur in complete censuses. Although no direct

measurement of the biases due to these nonsampling

errors has been obtained, precautionary steps were

taken in all phases of the collection, processing, and

tabulation of the data in an effort to minimize their

influence.

A major source of bias in the published estimates is

the imputing of data for nonrespondents, for late

reporters, and for data that fail logic edits. Missing

figures are imputed based on period-to-period

movements shown by reporting firms. A figure is

considered to be an impute if the value was not directly

reported on the questionnaire, directly derived from

other reported items, directly available from

supplemental sources, or obtained from the respondent

during the analytical review phase. Imputation generally

is limited to a maximum of 10 percent for any one data

cell. Figures with imputation rates greater than 10

percent are suppressed or footnoted. The imputation

rate is not an explicit indicator of the potential error in

published figures due to nonresponse, because the

actual yearly movements for nonrespondents may or

may not closely agree with the imputed movements.

The range of difference between the actual and

imputed figures is assumed to be small. The degree of

uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the published

data increases as the percentage of imputation

increases. Figures with imputation rates above 10

percent should be used with caution.

DATA REVISIONS

Statistics for previous years may be revised as the

result of corrected figures from respondents, late

reports for which imputations were originally made, or

other corrections. Data that have been revised by more

than 5 percent from previously published data are

indicated by footnotes.

DISCLOSURE

The Census Bureau collects the CIR data under the

authority of Title 13, United States Code, which

specifies that the information can only be used for

statistical purposes and cannot be published or released

in any manner that would identify a person, household,

or establishment. "D" indicates that data in the cell have

been suppressed to avoid disclosure of information

pertaining to individual companies.

EXPLANATION OF GENERAL TERMS

Capacity. The maximum quantity of a product that can

be produced in a plant in 1 day if operating for 24

hours. Includes the capacity of idle plants until the plant

is reported to be destroyed, dismantled, or abandoned.

Consumption. Materials used in producing or

processing a product or otherwise removing the

product from the inventory.

Exports. Includes all types of products shipped to

foreign countries, or to agents or exporters for

reshipment to foreign countries.

Gross shipments. The quantity or value of physical

shipments from domestic establishments of all products

sold, transferred to other establishments of the same

company, or shipped on consignment, whether for

domestic or export sale or use. Shipments of products

purchased for resale are omitted. Shipments of

products made under toll arrangements are included.

Interplant transfers. Shipments to other domestic

plants within a company for further assembly,

fabrication, or manufacture.

Inventories. The quantity or value of finished goods,

work in progress, and materials on hand.

Machinery in place. The number of machines of a

particular type in place as of a particular date whether

the machinery was used for production, prototype, or

sampling, or was idle. Machinery in place includes all

machinery set up in operating positions.

Net receipts. Derived by subtracting the materials held

at the end of the previous month from the sum of

materials used during the current month.

Production. The total volume of products produced,

including: products sold; products transferred or added

to inventory after adjustments for breakage, shrinkage,

and obsolescence, plus any other inventory adjustment;

and products that undergo further manufacture at the

same establishment. 

Quantities produced and consumed. Quantities of

each type of product produced by a company for

internal consumption within that same company.
Current Industrial Reports A-3

Quantity and value of new orders. The sales value

of orders received during the current reporting period

for products and services to be delivered immediately

or at some future date. Also represents the net sales

value of contract change documents that increase or

decrease the sales value of the orders to which they are 

related, when the parties concerned are in substantial

agreement as to the amount involved. Included as

orders are only those that are supported by binding

legal documents such as signed contracts or letter

contracts.

Quantity and value of shipments. The figures on

quantity and value of shipments represent physical

shipments of all products sold, transferred to other

establishments of the same company, or shipped on

consignment, whether for domestic or export sale. The

value represents the net sales price, f.o.b. plant, to the

customer or branch to which the products are shipped,

net of discounts, allowances, freight charges, and

returns. Shipments to a company's own branches are

assigned the same value as comparable appropriate

allocation of company overhead and profit. Products

bought and resold without further manufacture are

excluded.

Stocks. Total quantity of ending finished inventory.

Unfilled orders (backlog). Calculated by adding net

new orders and subtracting net sales from the backlog

at the end of the preceding year.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Data on insulated wire have been collected by the

Census Bureau since 1965. Historical data may be

obtained from Current Industrial Reports available at

your local Federal Depository Library.