Commodity Flow Survey Data Now Available for All 50 States

Contact DOT 251-96 Carolee Bush Media 202-366-6946 Felix Ammah-Tagoe Technical 202-366-8926

Wednesday, October 30, 1996 -- The Department of Transportation s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today announced the availability of results from the Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) for all 50 States.

The reports contain the value and weight of commodities shipped by each state in 1993 by type of commodity, means of transportation, state of destination and other characteristics. The national summary is available on our Internet site. More detailed electronic files and interpretive studies will follow in 1997.

The CFS is the first comprehensive effort to determine where and how goods are shipped in the United States since 1977. The data provide insight into the movement of goods, and are useful for transportation planners, economic development agencies, and others interested in supporting domestic and foreign trade.

The CFS represents a major partnership between DOT and the Department of Commerce s Bureau of the Census. Census collected data each quarter from nearly 200,000 business establishments. BTS helped design the survey, provided funding, and is developing a series of data products and interpretive reports to turn the data into useful information.

Summaries of the data from each state can be obtained from BTS through the Internet at www.bts.gov or through the Bureau s Fax-on-Demand Service at (800) 671-8012. To access the data through the BTS website, select the BTS Products and Services button, and then click on Commodity Flow Survey for CFS data and reports, announcements of future CFS products, and material related to plans for the next CFS in 1997.

Printed copies of the state reports also are available by contacting BTS by telephone at (202) 366-DATA, FAX at (202) 366-3640, or by writing to the Bureau at BTS/DOT, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 25090.