Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization

A new sample selection is made every 5 years when data from the most recent census become available. In interim years, new establishments are identified from Federal tax records and the annual company organization survey. A sub-sample of these firms is added each year to the capacity utilization survey sample. For more detailed methodology see: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/qpc/technical-documentation/methodology.html

Survey (self- or interviewer-administered)

Annually

Last year/last 12 months

The Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization provides current data on the rates of capacity utilization in U.S. manufacturing plants. Data collected are for the fourth quarter and include number of days and hours worked; estimated value of production at full production capability; and estimated value of production achievable under national emergency conditions. Additional items include reasons why the plant may operate at less than full production; reasons why the estimate of full production capability changed from the prior year; and how quickly the plant could reach full production and national emergency levels of production.

Data were obtained annually since 1973; except no survey was conducted for 1989, 1991, and 1993. The 1994 survey collected data for 1993 and 1994, and the 1996 survey collected data for 1995 and 1996. Since 1997, the survey has been conducted on an annual basis. Reported data are for activity taking place during the fourth quarter of the survey year; data collection begins about 2 months after the reference quarter and continues for about 8 months.

The Federal Reserve Board uses the data to benchmark its monthly estimates of capacity output and capacity utilization rates, and to formulate monetary policy. The Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency use the data in assessing industrys ability to meet increasing demand for goods in a crisis situation quickly. The International Trade Administration uses the data to identify industries with potentially adverse import penetration. Estimates from the QPC are disseminated on a quarterly basis. Revised prior quarter rates and preliminary current quarter rates are released to the survey sponsors roughly seven weeks after mailout for the current quarter. Final utilization rates are delivered to the FRB roughly three weeks before the final publication and sponsor tabulations are released.

The survey is a mail-out/mail-back survey of some 17,000 manufacturing establishments selected from the census of manufactures using a stratified probability procedure. Establishments are stratified by 6-digit NAICS manufacturing industry, and selected with probabilities of selection proportionate to their value of shipments within each industry.

The QPC has 93 industry categories and a relatively small sample at roughly 7,500 establishments. Plants selected for the sample represent other similar businesses.