The Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) is undertaken through a partnership
between the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, and
the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Research and Innovative
Technology Administration. This survey produces data on the movement
of goods in the United States. The data from the CFS are used by
public policy analysts and for transportation planning and decision-making
to assess the demand for transportation facilities and services,
energy use, and safety risk and environmental concerns. The CFS
was conducted previously in 2002, 1997, and 1993. Industry coverage The CFS covers business establishments in mining, manufacturing,
wholesale trade, and selected retail and services trade industries.
The survey also covers selected auxiliary establishments (e.g.,
warehouses) of in-scope, multi-unit, and retail companies. Industries
not covered by CFS include transportation, construction, most retail
and services industries, farms, fisheries, foreign establishments,
and most government-owned establishments. Shipment coverage The CFS collects data on shipments originating from within-scope
industries, including exports. Imports are not included until the
point that they leave the importer's initial domestic location for
shipment to another location. The survey does not cover shipments
originating from business establishments located in Puerto Rico
and other U.S. possessions and territories. The CFS is conducted throughout the survey year with information
collected during each calendar quarter. Establishments selected
in the CFS sample are mailed four questionnaires - one during each
calendar quarter of the survey year. The establishments are asked
to provide shipment information about a sample of their individual
outbound shipments during a prespecified one-week period. Generally,
the four questionnaires are the same. The following information
is collected: The CFS was initiated in 1993. Beginning in 1997, the survey has
been conducted every five years for years ending in "2" and "7."
Predecessor surveys were conducted in various years between 1963
and 1983, but data for 1983 were not published. No data were collected
for 1987. Beginning with the 2007 CFS, a sample of 100,000 establishments
was chosen based on geographic location and industry. Each establishment
selected into the CFS sample was mailed a questionnaire for each
of its four reporting weeks. Each sampled establishment was asked
to report on a sample of individual shipments during a one week
period in each calendar quarter. Respondents who are interested
in electronic reporting can request and use a secure electronic
reporting option. Data for the 2007 and 2002 CFS at the national, state, and select
metro levels are available in American Factfinder (AFF), with additional
data breakdowns including state level, sub-state level, hazardous
materials, and exports. Information is available online for the 2002, 1997, and 1993 Commodity
Flow Surveys. Estimates of value, tons, ton-miles, and average miles
are available for national, state, and selected metropolitan areas.
Breakdowns by mode of transportation, shipment distance, shipment
weight, commodity, as well as other breakdowns, are also available.
A limited supply of print reports and CD-ROMs may be available for
some survey years. Print reports are available for the 2007 U.S. level, hazardous materials, and export data. The U.S. Department of Transportation, state DOTs, and metropolitan planning
organizations use the updated and expanded information on commodity flows for
policy development, assessing infrastructure needs, and safety issues. The Bureau
of Economic Analysis uses the data for improvements to the balance of payment
accounts, national input-output accounts, and regional projections. Transportation carriers use these data to better understand their markets and
more efficiently serve shippers. Manufacturers use the information to locate
plants and to identify trends in transportation of their product. Provides the only comprehensive and consistent statistics of commodity flows
with product detail. Service Annual
Survey:
Selected Transportation and Warehousing (merged into Service Annual
Survey)
Vehicle Inventory
and Use Survey EXPLORE INFORMATION CONTINUE OVERVIEW
COMMODITY FLOW SURVEY
PURPOSE
COVERAGE
CONTENT
FREQUENCY
METHODS
PRODUCTS
USES
SPECIAL FEATURES
RELATED PROGRAMS