Commodity Flow Survey

The CFS captures data on shipments originating from selected types of business establishments located in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.The establishments are asked to provide shipment information about a sample of their individual outbound shipments during a pre-specified one-week period, four times per year, once in each quarter of the calendar year. For shipments that include more than one commodity, respondents are instructed to report the commodity that makes up the greatest percentage of the shipment's weight. The industries covered by the CFS has expanded over time. The 1977 CFS covered only the manufacturing sector. The 1997 CFS covers business establishments in mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and selected retail industries. The survey also covers selected auxiliary establishments (e.g., warehouses) of in-scope multiunit and retail companies. The survey coverage excludes establishments classified as farms, forestry, fisheries, governments, construction, transportation, foreign establishments, services, and most establishments in retail. Use of this data requires Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approval. The Census Bureau will coordinate all additional necessary reviews.