Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

Author: Abt Associates Inc.

Date Created:

Date Modified: 2/21/2012

Purpose: This file contains capacity utilization rates for selected industries by NAICS codes. This data was used to create 

capacity utilization profiles for the 316(b) manufacturing industries.

File Contents:

Worksheet Contents

Introduction Contains source information.

Utilization Rates Contains capacity utilization data, by quarter, for 2008 and 2009 for a select group of industries.

Appendix Contains information on the survey methodology and reliability of the data.

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx FileInfo 1
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization: 2009

Address inquiries concerning this report to U. S. Census Bureau, Manufacturing and Construction Division, HQ-7K145, 4600 Silver Hill 

Rd., Washington DC 20233, or call survey staff at 800-201-4647 and choose option 5.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports U.S. domestic manufacturing plants used an estimated 64.1 percent (+/- 1.6 percent) of their full 

production capacity for the fourth quarter 2009, compared with 65.5 percent (+/- 3.0 percent) for the third quarter 2009 and 63.9 percent 

(+/- 1.6 percent) for the fourth quarter 2008, not adjusted for seasonal variation, holiday or trading-day differences.

Data are obtained from a sample of manufacturing and publishing establishments by means of a mailed questionnaire or an electronic 

instrument. Selected establishments are asked to report actual production and an estimate of their full production capability. We derive 

utilization rates from these reported dollar values that are not adjusted for price change. 

The industry classifications for this report are based on the 2002 edition of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 

manual published by the Office of Management and Budget. The Federal Reserve Board (FRB), who funds the survey, developed the 

industry groups shown.

The fourth quarter 2009 rates in this release are based on unit response from approximately 75% of the survey sample. The Census 

Bureau also tracks and measures item response for each component used to calculate the utilization rates and the average plant hours 

per week in operation. These items are reported at an approximately 73% response rate. The item response rates are available upon 

request.

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Introduction 2
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

TABLE 1. Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization : 2009 and 2008

NAICS Code(s) Description

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

31-33 All manufacturing 2/ 64.1 0.8 59.2 0.9 65.5 1.5 59.2 0.9 59.6 1.0 57.9 0.8 58.5 0.9 58.3 0.8

3111, 7, 8

Animal food, bakery and tortilla mfg, 

seafood product preparation and packaging 68.2 6.0 71.3 7.8 61.1 8.1 74.0 7.6 54.8 9.4 68.7 7.1 c 57.8 8.6 68.6 6.8

3112, 5, 6 Grain and oilseed milling, dairy, and animal 

slaughtering and processing 80.4 2.9 87.8 9.6 80.6 2.7 84.3 9.0 83.8 3.3 82.2 9.2 80.5 3.4 79.6 8.4

3113, 4 Sugar and confectionary product, fruit and 

vegetable preserving and specialty food 

mfg. 73.2 3.6 100.5 12.2 74.1 4.8 99.4 12.9 61.2 3.5 90.7 12.2 64.4 3.0 83.2 11.7

31191 Snack food mfg. 67.5 2.9 99.3 9.8 67.6 2.5 119.2 4.6 67.7 2.8 99.8 10.0 66.2 2.6 94.6 7.7

31192 Coffee and tea mfg. 69.6 0.5 73.0 3.1 67.3 0.5 70.4 2.7 61.0 0.4 70.7 2.9 61.1 0.4 73.5 2.7

31193, 4, 9 Other food mfg. 63.4 1.0 84.1 8.3 65.9 1.1 87.4 8.3 67.7 0.7 85.1 6.8 65.9 1.0 84.3 7.8

3121 Beverage mfg. 63.9 7.8 80.0 15.3 71.5 6.6 85.5 15.0 68.9 7.8 76.2 14.7 68.0 6.4 74.4 13.4

3122 Tobacco mfg. 65.0 0.2 98.4 2.0 64.4 0.3 95.4 2.2 62.8 0.1 96.6 1.9 63.4 0.4 97.7 2.0

3131 Fiber, yarn, and thread mills 74.6 2.6 127.6 11.4 75.2 2.7 134.2 11.0 76.5 2.0 132.1 10.7 69.6 2.4 130.0 10.0

3132 Fabric mills 59.5 2.2 82.5 11.2 61.5 2.4 74.4 13.8 57.9 2.0 79.7 12.8 c 57.4 2.0 92.6 5.0

3133 Textile and fabric finishing, and fabric 

coating mills c 56.3 7.8 55.9 10.8 c 55.3 7.2 51.1 6.4 c 44.9 5.2 55.6 9.7 c 49.4 6.1 48.5 4.5

3141 Textile furnishings mills 51.7 4.1 52.0 7.7 48.8 5.7 52.3 8.1 47.6 7.9 51.3 7.7 c 45.3 7.1 51.4 7.6

3149 Other textile product mills 68.5 2.5 53.3 6.5 65.7 2.4 48.6 3.4 62.9 2.1 50.9 6.2 63.7 4.0 48.5 5.6

31511 Hosiery and sock mills 41.8 4.5 91.9 10.8 42.5 3.6 79.9 9.9 42.8 3.6 86.5 10.0 49.6 4.3 83.6 8.3

31519 Other apparel knitting mills c 76.5 0.4 60.9 8.3 c 73.3 1.3 47.3 3.5 c 62.8 1.7 58.9 10.8 c 56.6 1.8 44.2 7.0

31521 Cut and sew apparel contractors c 67.3 4.5 38.6 1.2 c 61.6 3.8 39.4 1.8 c 65.5 4.2 36.7 1.9 c 74.3 0.5 35.7 2.2

31522

Men's and boy's cut and sew apparel mfg. c 79.2 3.1 42.3 1.9 c 80.2 2.6 44.9 3.5 c 79.9 2.5 39.8 2.5 c 81.2 3.0 44.1 2.8

31523 Women's and girl's cut and sew apparel c 76.6 3.8 36.5 2.6 c 81.5 3.5 36.4 2.7 c 82.8 4.5 36.5 2.7 c 86.3 3.4 35.8 2.1

31529 Other cut and sew apparel mfg. c 63.1 0.4 40.0 0.3 c 65.4 0.4 40.5 0.4 c 62.8 0.5 39.1 0.5 c 64.9 0.6 41.3 0.5

3159

Apparel accessories and other apparel mfg. 60.3 5.4 40.1 1.4 64.6 5.1 44.0 3.2 71.2 3.6 45.6 2.8 c 75.2 4.3 43.6 3.0

3161 Leather and hide tanning and finishing 72.8 0.6 50.6 1.4 63.4 0.4 48.9 1.2 62.9 0.4 51.2 1.4 c 44.8 0.5 47.8 1.2

3162 Footwear mfg. 62.8 2.3 52.1 2.7 60.8 2.3 52.4 3.0 64.1 1.9 47.7 3.5 62.8 2.0 47.4 3.4

3169 Other leather and allied product mfg. c 53.5 4.4 40.6 0.4 c 48.8 4.1 40.3 0.4 c 46.3 2.9 40.2 1.0 c 46.3 3.3 40.2 1.8

3211 Sawmills and wood preservation 52.6 4.5 51.2 5.4 49.7 6.8 51.1 5.5 54.9 6.5 46.5 5.9 55.5 7.5 50.5 5.0

3212 Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood 

product mfg. 42.3 7.3 53.0 7.9 51.4 7.2 48.9 7.0 47.9 6.7 48.9 7.8 36.6 4.8 46.9 6.5

3219 Other wood product mfg. 52.4 3.2 43.8 1.8 52.3 3.6 41.2 1.5 48.5 3.7 39.7 1.2 40.9 4.1 41.8 1.7

32211 Pulp mills 90.8 0.3 156.3 2.2 89.7 0.5 156.3 2.2 84.2 1.9 155.1 2.7 c 83.8 0.3 162.4 1.2

32212 Paper mills 83.5 2.1 140.6 9.9 86.9 1.8 141.2 9.9 82.1 2.1 141.2 9.9 82.5 2.4 140.0 11.0

32213 Paperboard mills 86.5 2.5 91.5 32.7 84.5 1.9 91.9 32.7 83.1 2.5 89.2 31.2 76.5 2.1 73.6 27.2

3222 Converted paper product mfg. 68.1 2.6 83.5 6.4 70.1 2.7 82.1 6.9 66.6 3.4 81.2 6.6 67.2 2.7 76.1 6.0

3231 Printing and related support activities c 56.3 2.9 55.2 3.6 c 49.2 5.2 53.5 3.2 55.3 6.4 53.8 3.3 c 55.5 5.0 55.6 3.5

32411 Petroleum refineries 80.0 3.1 163.1 3.6 85.4 3.1 164.2 3.5 87.4 3.0 168.0 0.0 77.7 4.6 163.3 4.3

32412, 9 Paving, roofing, and all other petroleum and 

coal products mfg. 46.3 4.8 58.1 6.5 59.8 5.0 62.7 7.6 47.4 4.0 61.2 7.3 34.6 5.6 68.3 10.5

32511 Petrochemical mfg. 77.5 2.2 156.0 4.1 79.8 2.2 156.9 3.7 77.3 3.1 156.0 4.1 62.1 3.4 162.2 1.8

325193 Ethyl Alcohol mfg. 97.3 1.2 157.9 5.6 94.8 1.6 152.2 6.6 76.2 12.3 163.9 1.0 80.3 10.4 157.3 5.4

325191, 2, 9 Gum, wood chemical, cyclic crude and 

intermediate, and all other basic organic 

chemical mfg. 70.1 5.6 125.0 29.6 74.1 5.2 117.2 27.2 61.6 4.5 107.8 21.4 56.6 4.6 112.0 26.3

32512, 3,8 Industrial gas, synthetic organic dye and 

pigment, and other basic inorganic chemical 

mfg. 68.7 1.3 98.8 11.8 67.6 1.2 105.4 13.1 64.2 0.9 94.1 11.6 65.9 1.3 101.5 14.0

2009

Quarter 3

2009 2009

Quarter 2 Quarter 1 

2009

Quarter 4

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Utilization Rates 3
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

TABLE 1. Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization : 2009 and 2008

NAICS Code(s) Description

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

2009

Quarter 3

2009 2009

Quarter 2 Quarter 1 

2009

Quarter 4

325211 Plastics material and resin mfg. 75.3 4.7 112.9 7.8 76.8 3.7 111.2 7.7 70.9 4.0 115.8 6.7 c 66.8 4.4 116.4 9.4

325212 Synthetic rubber mfg. 69.8 2.1 63.6 18.4 66.5 1.1 64.4 18.8 63.0 1.9 63.2 18.2 56.1 2.3 64.4 18.9

32522 Artificial and synthetic fibers and filaments 

mfg. c 78.7 2.9 160.4 2.8 77.2 2.6 154.5 4.3 65.9 2.5 163.1 1.5 47.2 2.2 156.3 4.8

32531 Fertilizer mfg. 74.1 1.7 81.6 11.7 74.6 1.7 80.7 11.2 75.0 1.3 94.9 16.9 67.0 1.0 93.9 17.2

32532 Pesticide and other agricultural chemical 

mfg. 61.5 2.6 44.2 2.0 36.5 3.0 43.6 1.7 49.1 5.2 44.9 2.5 69.1 3.0 45.6 2.8

3254 Pharmaceutical and medicine mfg. 68.8 3.6 62.9 7.2 67.1 3.2 63.8 7.5 62.9 2.2 69.0 9.0 c 63.5 2.1 65.0 8.2

3255 Paint, coating, and adhesive mfg. c 46.6 7.4 48.2 3.1 56.7 5.8 51.2 4.9 57.3 6.3 51.8 6.0 48.7 6.1 50.2 4.0

3256 Soap, cleaning compound, and toilet 

preparation mfg. 54.8 5.4 47.7 2.6 57.3 5.1 47.0 3.6 54.1 5.0 45.1 3.1 c 52.7 4.7 47.2 3.3

3259 Other chemical product and preparation 58.1 3.6 72.0 10.0 59.7 3.2 70.2 9.9 55.1 3.0 73.6 9.0 51.6 3.6 75.3 8.7

3261 Plastics product mfg. 51.3 3.6 94.7 7.3 58.0 3.7 94.6 7.2 52.7 4.7 92.3 7.1 48.5 2.5 84.8 7.1

32621 Tire mfg. 67.1 5.3 78.3 9.8 65.7 5.7 76.5 19.2 63.8 4.7 92.6 19.2 67.4 4.7 67.4 11.9

32622, 9 All other rubber product (excluding tires) 55.9 3.6 66.3 7.9 51.8 4.3 68.2 7.9 49.7 3.9 75.0 9.0 55.1 3.2 76.4 8.7

3271 Clay product and refractory mfg. 44.2 4.4 63.0 9.3 44.1 4.0 62.5 8.1 38.7 3.3 57.7 5.7 38.8 4.2 78.2 9.0

3272 Glass and glass product mfg. 66.1 8.8 77.6 15.2 68.5 8.2 84.4 17.0 65.4 8.2 108.0 20.4 66.6 6.7 86.7 17.6

32731 Cement mfg. 46.1 3.5 113.6 20.2 57.8 3.2 140.9 8.0 54.8 3.5 126.5 12.0 54.5 7.2 137.0 5.7

32732, 9 Ready-mix concrete; concrete pipe, brick, 

and block; and other concrete mfg. 28.5 2.8 42.0 1.2 38.1 3.2 43.6 1.4 37.9 3.1 42.6 1.6 31.9 2.8 42.7 1.2

3274 Lime and gypsum product mfg. 51.2 8.8 116.0 10.6 61.2 7.3 140.8 13.4 54.6 8.9 120.6 10.1 60.2 6.6 140.0 12.3

3279 Other nonmetallic mineral product mfg 48.8 9.2 52.7 7.7 53.3 9.5 55.8 6.1 44.7 5.9 57.7 6.4 46.6 6.6 65.3 9.1

3311, 2

Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy mfg.; and 

steel product mfg from purchased steel 61.9 1.9 106.4 6.3 57.0 1.7 87.8 12.1 41.6 1.7 81.6 11.6 43.5 2.0 81.8 11.5

3313 Alumina and aluminum production and 

processing 61.3 5.5 78.7 19.9 63.4 5.5 82.8 22.8 62.2 4.7 85.7 23.7 60.4 5.7 85.6 23.8

3314 Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) 

production and processing 68.4 3.4 78.6 19.0 63.0 2.2 84.1 18.6 62.3 2.6 70.5 14.2 c 58.3 3.2 75.1 16.8

3315 Foundries 53.2 2.7 61.4 7.6 48.9 2.4 61.3 7.2 42.4 2.1 58.9 6.2 46.5 2.6 61.7 6.5

3321, 2, 4, 5, 6 Forging and stamping; cutlery, handtool, 

boiler, tank, shipping container, hardware, 

and spring and wire mfg. 61.3 2.9 56.6 3.0 58.6 2.6 56.2 2.8 54.8 2.6 54.3 2.8 58.4 2.9 58.2 3.2

3323, 7, 8, 9 All other fabricated metal product mfg. 59.4 4.0 49.6 2.0 73.0 2.1 49.2 1.9 54.3 4.0 48.5 1.7 64.4 3.3 51.2 1.9

3331 Agriculture, construction, and mining 

machinery mfg. 52.8 3.9 59.5 7.6 49.2 3.3 61.6 8.4 55.7 3.0 59.8 7.6 63.7 3.0 64.2 7.5

3332 Industrial machinery mfg. 53.3 2.4 56.2 6.2 47.7 2.0 51.0 3.2 45.7 2.3 50.0 3.6 44.9 2.2 50.4 3.4

3333 Commercial and service industry machinery 

mfg. 74.7 4.7 46.3 4.9 72.4 4.6 44.8 3.5 66.4 4.1 45.3 3.3 c 65.6 3.7 48.2 4.4

3334 Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning, and 

commercial refrigeration equipment mfg. 56.5 1.8 63.7 6.9 59.5 1.5 56.2 4.3 63.0 1.7 59.3 6.2 59.8 1.8 59.4 6.3

3335 Metalworking machinery mfg. 48.7 2.5 50.4 3.0 47.2 2.4 53.3 3.4 48.7 2.4 55.6 3.5 56.5 2.1 54.4 3.5

3336 Engine, turbine, and power transmission 

equipment mfg. 56.3 0.7 71.4 8.7 50.7 0.7 65.9 7.9 51.2 1.0 66.5 8.1 51.3 0.9 64.1 8.7

3339 Other general purpose machinery mfg. 56.4 2.8 50.8 3.2 57.4 1.6 51.0 3.4 56.5 1.7 51.7 3.6 56.4 3.2 52.4 3.9

3341 Computer and peripheral equipment mfg. c 84.3 1.4 49.8 7.8 c 71.3 1.6 41.8 4.7 c 67.0 2.6 41.8 4.5 74.0 1.6 51.0 8.4

3342 Communications equipment mfg. c 71.6 13.3 45.7 4.1 c 77.5 8.4 48.2 5.5 c 77.2 7.9 45.6 3.2 c 68.5 10.2 47.5 4.7

3343, 6 Audio and video equipment mfg; and 

manufacturing and reproducing magnetic 

and optical media 70.3 4.1 63.4 9.9 58.8 2.7 63.3 11.0 49.2 2.3 64.1 12.2 c 50.0 3.1 58.7 9.7

334411 Electron tube mfg. 47.9 0.3 49.5 1.6 45.2 0.3 47.7 1.4 49.8 0.2 49.9 1.5 48.1 0.3 53.2 1.5

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Utilization Rates 4
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

TABLE 1. Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization : 2009 and 2008

NAICS Code(s) Description

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

2009

Quarter 3

2009 2009

Quarter 2 Quarter 1 

2009

Quarter 4

334412, 4-9 Bare printed circuit board, electronic 

capacitor, and other electronic component 

mfg. 50.8 5.1 68.5 6.3 45.1 6.2 63.9 6.4 44.5 5.7 60.8 5.8 45.1 5.6 57.9 3.6

334413 Semiconductor and related device mfg. c 65.9 9.8 60.4 9.4 c 71.0 3.5 72.3 11.0 c 50.1 2.1 67.5 6.7 37.3 3.0 79.0 9.6

3345 Navigational, measuring, electromedical, 

and control instruments mfg. 60.0 3.0 50.4 4.1 57.3 3.0 50.2 3.8 55.4 3.1 49.3 4.1 55.9 3.0 50.5 4.1

3351 Electric lighting equipment mfg. 57.3 5.7 39.4 1.2 60.0 6.2 40.9 1.3 54.8 4.7 40.4 1.3 55.2 5.5 38.6 1.5

3352 Household appliance mfg. 62.3 0.3 62.7 13.0 58.5 0.3 58.9 11.1 58.8 0.4 56.0 13.5 57.9 0.4 58.7 10.6

3353, 9

Electrical equipment and component mfg. 59.1 4.4 53.5 4.9 57.6 4.4 54.2 5.2 54.8 4.5 59.5 6.2 56.4 4.5 59.4 5.5

336111 Automobile mfg. 60.4 2.6 44.4 3.9 53.8 2.7 45.1 4.7 44.8 2.8 42.7 2.5 38.1 1.4 42.2 2.1

336112 Light truck and utility vehicle mfg. 64.5 4.3 92.5 6.1 50.2 3.1 85.1 6.8 34.7 3.8 78.8 8.1 46.4 4.7 78.5 7.9

33612 Heavy duty truck mfg. 35.6 0.7 38.9 5.3 27.8 0.6 38.9 5.3 27.6 0.6 44.7 3.6 23.4 0.6 45.0 3.9

3362 Motor vehicle body and trailer mfg. c 41.0 2.0 42.0 0.6 c 39.7 1.8 42.1 0.6 38.1 2.3 42.0 0.6 c 33.7 2.4 41.6 0.4

3363 Motor vehicle parts mfg. 50.9 9.7 71.8 7.6 42.3 8.6 71.0 8.0 36.0 5.2 62.0 6.6 31.1 4.1 60.4 5.7

3364 Aerospace product and parts mfg. 77.6 1.1 81.5 8.6 76.2 0.9 80.5 8.1 c 71.4 0.4 82.2 8.3 c 74.2 0.5 81.9 8.3

3365, 6, 9 Railroad rolling stock, ship, boat, and other 

transportation equipment mfg. 54.5 3.6 45.2 3.4 56.4 2.6 46.2 3.8 53.4 2.9 49.3 5.0 55.4 2.6 53.4 7.1

3371 Household and institutional furniture and 

kitchen cabinet mfg. 63.2 3.2 40.1 1.3 62.5 3.4 42.1 1.3 64.3 2.9 41.4 1.3 68.0 2.7 40.5 1.1

3372 Office furniture (incl. fixtures) mfg. 54.7 3.8 38.8 1.1 59.7 3.4 38.9 1.6 57.9 3.3 38.9 1.5 57.5 3.5 40.3 1.9

3379 Other furniture related product mfg. 62.1 3.0 48.1 1.9 71.1 3.1 47.4 1.8 64.8 2.7 45.6 1.5 64.3 2.6 46.4 1.7

3391 Medical equipment and supplies mfg. 70.0 3.2 55.6 4.6 74.0 7.4 56.8 4.7 74.0 8.2 53.8 4.2 68.8 7.6 55.8 4.5

33991,2, 3 Jewelry, silverware, sporting and athletic 

goods, and doll, toy and game mfg. 60.9 11.5 40.1 3.6 55.2 9.7 41.2 3.1 48.8 11.2 37.9 1.8 46.1 11.4 42.6 2.1

33994-5 Office supplies (except paper) and sign 

mfg. 68.5 2.6 42.7 1.2 66.1 2.4 44.4 1.8 55.8 3.2 43.3 1.3 48.3 5.5 44.3 1.6

33999 All other miscellaneous mfg. 54.5 5.0 45.4 4.8 61.5 4.5 49.5 5.4 59.1 4.2 43.8 3.0 c 58.3 6.2 41.6 3.3

51111, 3 Newspaper and book publishers c 69.2 4.2 56.5 9.4 c 70.5 4.0 67.6 10.5 c 51.6 4.8 63.3 8.6 c 66.2 1.1 54.9 7.1

51112 Periodical publishers c 87.3 2.0 40.0 0.0 c 93.1 8.5 40.0 0.0 c 98.3 0.7 52.0 10.4 c 97.7 3.5 49.6 8.6

51114, 9 All other publishers 85.7 3.8 45.0 5.0 80.3 5.1 52.7 8.7 79.6 4.7 55.0 8.8 c 77.2 7.9 59.2 6.3

 1/ Standard errors for Average Plant Hours Per Week in Operation were not published in reports prior to the Fourth Quarter 2009.

 2/ Excluding publishers (51111-51119)

 S Withheld because estimate did not meet publication standards

Note: Data may differ from that previously published due to revisions during the processing of the current quarter.

 c The utilization rate is based on responses with industry coverage of less than 50 percent. Coverage is calculated as the ratio of the weighted measure of size for responses to the weighted measure of size for the entire industry group. 

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Utilization Rates 5
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/ 

63.9 0.8 62.1 1.1 71.7 0.7 64.4 1.0 73.0 1.0 62.1 0.9 75.7 1.6 63.5 1.3

63.7 4.9 64.7 6.3 62.5 6.3 69.1 7.2 S S 67.9 6.8 72.4 6.3 62.4 10.1

83.3 2.7 84.7 8.8 86.9 2.9 88.8 9.4 84.9 3.2 74.0 9.1 87.7 1.9 87.9 13.0

70.7 3.9 101.7 13.5 76.4 3.5 106.7 13.2 60.1 5.1 85.1 12.2 68.0 3.0 71.8 9.2

76.7 2.5 96.5 9.5 74.1 2.2 97.3 10.0 73.4 2.3 98.5 10.7 74.6 2.1 96.0 11.0

67.2 0.5 76.8 2.8 68.2 0.5 73.3 2.7 60.6 0.4 60.3 6.9 62.1 1.7 62.4 9.0

65.9 0.9 85.9 7.6 68.9 1.0 85.4 8.2 71.8 2.1 91.6 7.8 68.2 1.4 82.3 11.1

59.0 5.0 72.5 12.2 81.8 5.0 73.5 12.2 82.3 4.4 72.9 12.8 77.1 4.4 59.1 9.8

59.2 0.3 104.3 1.5 63.5 0.3 100.9 1.8 70.6 0.3 100.9 1.8 66.9 0.3 103.7 1.5

67.9 4.3 121.9 12.5 80.0 3.2 129.9 14.2 79.0 2.6 128.2 11.2 80.8 3.1 144.1 6.0

60.6 2.1 87.2 10.2 67.9 1.9 104.4 4.6 69.9 1.6 87.1 10.5 66.0 2.9 80.5 13.1

42.9 6.3 53.5 8.1 54.4 6.8 77.1 15.7 57.0 6.1 84.7 21.2 58.0 6.0 114.5 5.9

60.2 14.3 49.4 8.9 61.9 14.5 47.2 6.8 72.9 5.4 42.6 4.1 69.7 4.6 64.8 24.2

64.7 3.3 51.0 5.4 66.7 7.8 49.6 5.2 76.4 2.9 48.1 3.2 77.0 3.7 51.4 4.8

51.1 5.7 89.0 7.1 62.6 3.7 103.4 8.8 74.8 3.5 106.5 11.6 72.9 4.7 98.5 10.9

71.9 1.2 44.5 7.3 69.8 1.7 57.4 11.1 73.8 1.5 58.6 12.0 79.1 2.0 116.0 1.6

62.9 4.6 35.8 1.4 65.4 4.2 37.5 1.2 75.6 3.8 41.0 1.4 66.7 0.8 45.2 1.5

84.7 1.6 44.1 2.4 88.5 1.4 47.3 3.8 92.3 0.6 47.8 3.7 90.2 2.6 42.1 1.4

88.5 4.1 36.0 2.3 90.5 2.5 39.8 0.6 90.1 4.8 41.1 1.5 75.1 15.7 40.0 0.0

68.1 2.0 42.2 0.7 79.3 0.4 40.5 0.4 73.4 2.2 36.7 4.8 66.0 1.5 41.4 0.7

65.0 4.5 44.7 2.7 69.8 3.4 43.8 2.7 73.3 4.0 40.6 2.8 73.5 3.1 50.6 5.4

56.7 0.4 52.7 2.4 57.1 0.4 58.7 2.1 62.9 0.4 57.8 2.5 76.4 5.0 61.8 3.0

69.0 1.8 45.6 2.9 72.3 1.5 51.8 3.7 73.4 1.4 55.9 4.3 67.2 0.5 62.2 2.8

57.7 4.1 39.9 1.7 61.7 3.4 43.1 3.2 61.6 4.1 46.2 3.3 56.6 3.6 53.3 6.9

59.1 6.2 50.3 4.7 64.9 6.4 50.3 5.6 69.8 7.4 52.5 6.7 82.8 3.5 66.3 10.2

43.7 6.6 54.0 8.6 56.6 6.1 62.3 9.3 60.8 6.5 66.0 9.8 60.7 8.4 59.3 10.6

50.9 3.0 41.7 1.7 60.5 3.4 46.7 3.0 64.2 2.8 46.5 1.9 58.5 4.2 44.0 1.7

91.2 0.5 162.4 1.2 97.3 0.1 151.4 0.7 92.8 0.9 151.6 2.9 94.2 0.3 138.6 1.9

84.1 2.2 140.8 11.5 96.9 0.8 131.4 8.1 89.9 1.8 141.4 12.0 88.3 1.8 160.9 4.9

90.2 1.6 93.0 33.8 97.8 0.6 88.4 32.8 97.1 1.0 87.4 32.2 97.1 0.8 166.5 0.9

70.6 2.9 81.2 5.6 73.8 2.8 87.2 6.3 72.1 2.8 90.1 6.5 54.4 9.7 93.6 7.8

68.2 4.1 56.7 3.4 74.1 4.3 58.6 3.6 70.1 4.3 57.6 3.6 57.0 8.0 65.1 6.7

81.5 4.0 168.0 0.0 79.8 3.9 168.0 0.0 94.9 2.5 168.0 0.0 90.4 2.9 167.9 0.1

52.6 6.2 65.6 7.8 70.3 6.9 81.2 11.2 60.7 6.3 71.3 14.8 39.8 7.9 84.1 17.8

61.3 1.3 158.0 3.7 66.9 0.2 150.5 2.0 78.7 0.0 165.0 0.0 86.2 1.8 160.6 2.3

86.0 7.5 159.5 6.7 97.7 0.9 161.0 5.7 96.5 1.9 160.3 6.2 52.8 18.6 168.0 0.0

51.0 7.1 126.0 23.4 74.4 3.2 127.4 29.6 79.7 2.5 130.5 32.1 82.1 4.2 156.8 10.5

72.5 1.0 110.1 15.4 75.9 1.0 119.3 16.4 78.9 1.6 119.2 16.6 78.2 1.0 152.6 9.9

Quarter 2

2008

Quarter 1 

2008 2008 2008

Quarter 4 Quarter 3

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Utilization Rates 6
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/ 

Quarter 2

2008

Quarter 1 

2008 2008 2008

Quarter 4 Quarter 3

58.2 11.0 122.9 4.3 73.0 3.3 129.8 8.0 83.5 5.6 128.1 5.7 87.1 2.8 131.5 9.6

59.4 3.3 61.2 17.2 67.5 1.4 68.9 23.1 80.3 1.9 61.2 18.2 77.4 1.8 143.2 14.2

42.4 2.2 151.9 8.3 78.2 1.0 156.3 5.1 81.2 0.5 145.2 10.2 80.1 1.1 143.6 10.8

62.2 1.4 84.1 15.5 84.2 0.9 101.9 22.1 88.0 0.7 96.2 20.3 87.8 0.7 84.9 25.3

63.0 3.2 39.2 4.5 46.1 3.4 47.9 3.9 61.2 4.9 40.8 2.8 61.3 3.1 37.9 6.3

62.2 1.9 64.5 7.7 65.7 1.6 66.1 8.2 64.2 2.2 63.4 7.4 63.0 1.5 63.5 10.2

55.2 5.4 55.4 6.1 66.1 5.2 65.5 7.7 66.5 6.3 56.6 7.2 78.8 4.0 50.9 6.8

55.0 5.7 51.9 5.1 67.6 4.4 57.0 7.0 59.9 6.0 54.5 6.5 71.5 3.3 47.6 3.7

53.1 4.8 73.5 10.5 63.7 4.9 78.6 10.3 61.9 4.9 73.9 9.6 67.4 3.4 79.6 16.5

53.6 3.2 88.3 7.1 66.5 5.2 95.6 6.9 67.5 4.7 91.9 6.9 64.7 5.6 87.2 10.5

65.7 5.5 67.3 14.0 71.3 7.0 67.4 9.1 78.5 4.8 84.9 13.6 76.4 4.3 78.5 12.8

61.0 3.3 80.0 9.5 65.4 3.3 86.1 9.4 66.7 3.3 89.5 9.1 65.9 4.2 91.2 10.7

49.9 4.1 71.3 8.6 55.1 3.8 89.0 11.3 29.6 7.3 77.0 17.4 57.5 4.0 111.9 11.4

80.4 5.3 78.3 16.9 86.3 4.1 74.7 14.4 79.5 4.5 82.6 16.5 81.6 5.1 107.0 26.7

66.5 3.0 135.4 15.1 82.0 3.0 138.4 14.4 71.9 8.6 133.0 15.2 72.3 4.0 128.6 26.6

43.9 3.6 43.5 1.4 55.0 3.3 53.5 5.1 52.6 3.8 47.8 1.8 53.2 8.2 45.7 2.0

61.7 6.5 95.2 8.4 69.1 6.7 147.5 10.5 69.3 7.5 131.5 3.7 70.2 5.0 135.3 4.6

68.3 8.8 62.1 7.8 74.4 8.3 63.2 7.1 78.7 8.1 73.4 10.6 73.6 6.5 60.5 10.3

50.7 1.7 102.9 24.7 81.8 2.1 94.2 16.7 84.8 1.8 90.6 15.2 78.3 0.1 132.2 10.8

78.3 3.8 92.2 23.5 85.6 3.9 150.5 6.7 86.8 3.7 101.5 29.1 88.8 3.8 151.2 5.8

65.6 2.3 74.2 17.8 70.4 2.5 70.8 16.1 72.7 3.0 77.9 18.2 67.9 3.5 80.2 25.6

53.4 2.5 66.4 7.3 65.6 2.9 73.1 7.6 68.5 2.0 66.1 7.3 69.0 1.7 64.4 9.8

66.4 3.0 82.4 15.8 71.8 4.2 79.3 12.1 68.9 3.4 61.6 3.7 74.8 2.9 75.6 6.6

67.8 2.7 54.2 2.0 71.9 2.4 57.4 2.1 75.5 2.3 57.7 2.1 76.2 2.3 50.6 1.9

71.3 2.6 72.3 9.2 77.0 3.1 68.4 8.8 81.3 2.3 65.4 7.4 80.1 1.8 66.6 9.2

55.4 3.4 54.2 4.0 58.7 2.7 53.8 3.6 65.4 1.8 53.8 4.0 69.0 2.0 59.5 7.0

72.5 4.2 49.5 3.8 70.9 3.2 45.4 2.3 77.7 2.5 50.0 4.1 76.2 2.8 54.0 7.1

63.9 2.0 68.2 7.7 74.3 1.8 68.0 8.4 75.0 2.0 67.1 8.4 67.5 1.5 55.0 6.1

68.8 2.1 61.6 3.8 72.6 2.0 59.8 3.7 75.5 1.9 56.8 3.1 73.3 2.1 49.1 2.4

60.8 0.7 74.3 7.0 64.2 0.9 74.6 9.4 68.2 0.8 71.5 8.5 69.6 0.7 72.9 9.7

63.8 2.5 54.0 3.9 69.0 1.9 56.1 4.2 71.7 1.8 56.3 3.9 70.9 1.7 64.1 5.6

68.6 4.5 46.3 4.2 75.6 0.7 52.5 9.9 76.8 0.9 51.1 9.0 65.6 3.8 102.8 6.3

75.3 9.5 45.3 3.1 84.7 4.6 45.4 3.2 84.1 4.5 49.5 6.5 81.5 8.0 51.3 11.0

62.5 3.2 57.9 9.7 67.1 3.4 57.9 9.0 64.2 2.8 56.6 8.3 59.4 4.1 57.9 10.3

48.2 0.3 52.7 1.5 46.0 0.2 54.0 1.5 45.1 0.3 53.1 1.2 46.5 0.3 55.9 3.9

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Utilization Rates 7
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant hours 

per week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/

Utilization 

Rate 

Standard 

Error 

Average 

Plant 

hours per 

week in 

operation 

Standard 

Error 1/ 

Quarter 2

2008

Quarter 1 

2008 2008 2008

Quarter 4 Quarter 3

52.5 4.9 59.4 3.7 60.5 1.9 61.9 3.5 66.3 4.0 63.4 3.9 60.0 2.2 57.6 4.4

74.9 5.3 68.0 9.0 76.3 2.2 57.2 5.0 76.9 4.3 48.4 5.1 85.7 6.8 44.8 6.4

59.2 3.8 50.5 3.5 60.5 5.2 52.6 4.4 61.4 4.5 48.9 2.6 67.0 3.8 44.6 1.5

59.7 5.1 41.1 1.1 61.3 4.7 41.8 0.9 66.7 4.2 42.2 1.1 63.7 3.0 43.7 1.5

62.2 0.4 63.4 14.5 69.5 0.2 59.8 17.3 70.6 0.1 63.9 15.5 71.4 0.2 62.8 15.1

67.7 4.7 59.7 5.5 72.9 3.8 65.6 6.8 74.1 3.6 59.7 5.7 77.9 5.4 64.0 9.2

69.4 1.9 43.9 3.6 84.6 1.8 44.4 4.0 80.1 2.2 43.8 3.5 82.3 1.7 75.4 4.3

49.4 4.2 85.3 5.6 41.4 3.3 85.7 2.7 60.6 3.7 96.3 4.6 70.0 2.7 104.3 3.9

34.5 0.8 30.1 7.7 37.8 0.6 68.5 4.3 43.4 0.1 71.6 5.2 40.7 0.2 81.0 5.0

43.5 2.0 104.7 18.0 52.9 2.2 44.0 1.2 61.3 2.1 47.0 1.7 63.6 1.5 47.0 2.3

52.9 9.7 65.5 6.2 60.1 5.3 73.3 7.0 57.6 3.5 69.0 6.4 63.7 3.4 77.9 9.5

55.4 1.8 114.9 14.2 54.5 1.2 81.5 13.0 71.0 0.7 85.5 11.5 74.6 0.5 67.9 12.6

63.7 2.9 63.3 10.9 63.6 2.9 59.1 6.8 64.4 2.5 54.3 4.5 61.1 1.6 54.1 5.3

69.1 2.2 43.0 2.0 72.4 3.1 42.5 1.2 73.6 2.9 43.5 1.2 78.9 3.9 44.1 2.1

64.4 3.3 41.9 1.9 58.8 4.5 43.8 2.1 73.1 3.0 44.6 2.3 69.3 3.1 46.8 2.6

56.1 2.9 47.3 3.3 68.0 2.9 63.5 8.3 65.8 0.2 48.0 4.0 69.7 2.5 48.5 5.1

67.7 7.3 56.0 5.0 70.8 6.4 56.2 5.9 72.3 7.6 60.7 5.9 76.9 2.3 55.0 5.4

48.9 9.8 39.2 2.9 77.3 5.0 44.7 3.0 64.7 3.3 35.4 4.3 57.6 3.9 46.3 3.0

61.0 4.6 45.6 1.5 76.8 1.0 46.1 1.7 71.4 5.5 43.3 1.8 71.8 2.6 47.1 3.2

60.7 5.2 50.1 6.3 61.6 3.4 53.5 5.9 68.6 4.3 49.2 4.7 85.3 7.9 48.2 3.9

72.6 3.7 70.5 12.2 72.6 3.8 70.7 12.1 70.6 4.3 67.0 11.3 78.6 6.1 73.6 15.8

91.9 2.5 49.6 8.6 96.8 0.8 52.0 10.4 90.9 1.7 49.6 8.6 91.5 0.3 40.0 0.0

85.3 7.3 63.9 11.9 83.7 2.9 58.8 13.6 86.5 7.3 98.7 10.5 92.4 2.5 59.1 9.5

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Utilization Rates 8
Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

Appendix

Survey Methodology

Reliability of the Estimates

The FRB’s requirements included 95 industry groups corresponding predominantly to the 4-digit NAICS industries or combinations. Each of these 95 industry groups is 

sampled independently to satisfy the total sample size constraint. The sampling procedure ensured that the allocated sample size for each industry group was exactly 

realized. 

The sample for the 2009 Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization is a continuation of the 2008 sample with a birth supplement of new plants that came into existence 

since the 2008 sample was drawn. The birth supplement brings the sample to its original size of approximately 7,500 and replaces plants lost due to attrition. The 2008 

sample consisted of establishments selected from the 2006 Business Register. The sample frame contained approximately 217,000 manufacturing plants and 13,000 

publishing plants. Sampling probabilities for the quarterly survey were assigned proportionate to the total value of shipments. The actual sample allocation is determined by 

the priority industry requirements specified by the Federal Reserve Board (FRB). 

The survey estimates presented in this report are subject to both sampling and nonsampling errors. Potential nonsampling errors include various response and operational 

errors, such as errors during data collection, reporting errors, transcription errors, and bias due to nonresponse. These are all types of errors that could also occur if a 

complete enumeration had been done under the same conditions as the sample survey. Most of the important operational errors were detected and corrected during the 

course of reviewing data for reasonableness and consistency. Though nonsampling error is not measured directly, quality control procedures are employed throughout the 

survey process to minimize this type of error.

Sampling error is the difference between estimates obtained from the sample and results theoretically obtainable from a comparable complete enumeration of the sampling 

frame. This error results because only a subset of the sampling frame is measured in a sample survey. Standard errors of the estimates shown in this publication, which are 

estimated measures of the sampling variability, are displayed along with the corresponding estimates in Table 1 of this report. These standard errors may be used to define 

confidence intervals about the corresponding estimates with a desired level of confidence. Only one of many possible samples was selected. If confidence intervals were 

constructed for each of these possible samples, then it would be expected that the percentage of confidence intervals containing the complete coverage result would equal 

the percent of the level of confidence. For example, the interval defined by one standard error below the estimate to one standard error above the estimate approximately 

yields a 68-percent confidence interval, the interval defined by two standard errors approximately yields a 95-percent confidence interval, and the interval defined by two and 

a half standard errors approximately yields a 99-percent confidence interval.

The full production utilization rate for an industry is estimated based on those plants in the industry reporting both the actual value of production and the full production 

estimate. Simple weighted estimates of the two variables are formed by applying the plant’s sample weight to its respective values and adding these weighted values 

across the reporting plants. The utilization rate for a particular industry group is formed as the ratio of the actual production weighted sum to the full production weighted 

sum for that given industry.

The average plant hours per week in operation for an industry are estimated based on those plants in the industry reporting plant hours. Simple weighted estimates of the 

plant hours are formed by applying the plant’s sample weight to its respective values and adding these weighted values across the reporting plants. The average is formed 

as the ratio of the plant hours weighted sum to the sum of the weights for the reporting plants. 

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Appendix 9
Sampling error is the difference between estimates obtained from the sample and results theoretically obtainable from a comparable complete enumeration of the sampling Record for the Final Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule

frame. This error results because only a subset of the sampling frame is measured in a sample survey. Standard errors of the estimates shown in this publication, which are 

estimated measures of the sampling variability, are displayed along with the corresponding estimates in Table 1 of this report. These standard errors may be used to define 

confidence intervals about the corresponding estimates with a desired level of confidence. Only one of many possible samples was selected. If confidence intervals were 

constructed for each of these possible samples, then it would be expected that the percentage of confidence intervals containing the complete coverage result would equal 

the percent of the level of confidence. For example, the interval defined by one standard error below the estimate to one standard error above the estimate approximately 

yields a 68-percent confidence interval, the interval defined by two standard errors approximately yields a 95-percent confidence interval, and the interval defined by two and 

a half standard errors approximately yields a 99-percent confidence interval.

2009_qtr_combined_tables_final_q4.xlsx Appendix 10