PLUMBING FIXTURES
PURPOSE
To provide detailed data on the production, and quantity and value of shipments
of plumbing fixtures. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey
and provides for voluntary quarterly responses and mandatory annual responses.
The Plumbing Manufacturers' Institute and the International Cast Polymers Institute fully
fund this survey.
COVERAGE
All companies that manufacture plumbing fixtures (most but not all are in SIC 3088, 3261, 343l,
and 3436). In 1993, manufacturer's total value of shipments amounted to nearly $3 billion.
CONTENT
Product data are collected on over 50 types of plumbing fixtures. Data at the
7-digit SIC level include quantity and value of shipments, quantities produced,
and end of quarter stocks.
FREQUENCY
Quarterly and annually; reported data are for activities taking place during
the applicable reporting period. Data on plumbing fixtures have been collected
since 1946.
METHODS
A mail-out/mail-back survey of all 160 known manufacturers; annual reports are
required from companies that do not report quarterly. Companies are identified
from the latest census of manufactures, Standard Statistical Establishment
List, and private sources. Firms are contacted using form MQ34E. Quarterly
data may be revised if firms later provide corrected data or return the annual
report. Annual figures are compared with data collected from the annual survey of
manufactures to reconcile any differences between the two series.
PRODUCTS
Plumbing Fixtures (MQ34E) quarterly reports present data for the current and
preceding quarter, and the current quarter a year ago. Statistics on plumbing
products include quantity of production and stocks and on the quantity and
value of shipments by type of materials (including plastics fixtures) and
principal types of fixtures. Also included is a table comparing domestic
output, exports, and imports. The annual report summarizes data and includes
any revisions.
USES
The sponsoring trade associations and other private parties use the data from
this report to monitor market trends in the plumbing fixture area.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Provides the most detailed production and shipment data on plumbing fixtures
collected by the Census Bureau.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Refrigeration and Heating
Pumps and Compressors
Fluid Power
Census of Manufactures
Annual Survey of Manufactures
County Business Patterns
Export Statistics
Import Statistics
EXPLORE INFORMATION CONTINUE OVERVIEW
Industrial Products Next Program
U.S. Economy Economy Overview
revised 03/11/96
