1997 Commodity Flow Survey

Appendix A. Comparability With the 1993 Commodity Flow Survey

The Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) restores a data program on commodity flows that the Census Bureau conducted as a part of its 5-year economic census program from 1963 through 1977. The CFS was first conducted in 1993. For the 1993 CFS, the Census Bureau incorporated improvements identified from the evaluation of previous surveys and additional research. The following table shows a comparison of the 1993 and 1997 surveys.

1. Industrycoverage Manufacturers (minor exceptions)
Mining (except mining services and oil and gas extraction)

All wholesale
Video tape distributers
Catalog mail-order houses
Auxiliaries (e.g., warehouses) Manufacturers (minor exceptions)
Mining (except mining services)

All wholesale

Catalog mail-order houses
Auxiliaries (e.g., warehouses)

2. Commodity classification system Standard Transportation Commodity Classification (STCC), developed by the American Association of Railroads (AAR). Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG).

3. Sample size Approximately 200,000 establishments were selected from a universe of about 800,000 in-scope establishments on the 1992 Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL). Approximately 100,000 establishments were selected from a universe of about 800,000 in-scope establishments on the 1995 Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL).

4. Survey methodology Respondents took a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 2-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of 1993.

Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment. Respondents took a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 1-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of 1997.

Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment.

5. Reported mode of transportation Rail

For-hire truck
Private truck
Air
Inland water and/or Great Lakes
Deep sea water
Pipeline
Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier
Other
Unknown Rail

For-hire truck
Private truck
Air
Shallow draft vessel
Deep draft vessel
Pipeline
Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier
Other
Unknown

6. Data items requested on questionnaire. For each shipment:

Total value
Total weight
Major commodity (STCC)
All modes of transportation
Multiple origins (respondents specifically requested to report all shipment origins for the sampled establishment and report the appropriate origin for each shipment; assumed to always be the mailing address if no other origins listed).
Destination
Containerized (Y/N)
Hazardous material (Y/N)
Export (Y/N)
If export, mode of export, foreign country, and city of destination. For each shipment:

Total value
Total weight
Major commodity (SCTG)
All modes of transportation
Single origin (assumed to be the mailing address unless the respondent provided a different physical location address).
Destination
Containerized (Y/N)
Hazardous material (UN/NA codes)
Export (Y/N)
If export, mode of export, foreign country, and city of destination.

1. Industrycoverage	Manufacturers (minor exceptions) Mining (except mining services and oil and gas extraction) All wholesale Video tape distributers Catalog mail-order houses Auxiliaries (e.g., warehouses)	Manufacturers (minor exceptions) Mining (except mining services) All wholesale Catalog mail-order houses Auxiliaries (e.g., warehouses)
2. Commodity classification system	Standard Transportation Commodity Classification (STCC), developed by the American Association of Railroads (AAR).	Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG).
3. Sample size	Approximately 200,000 establishments were selected from a universe of about 800,000 in-scope establishments on the 1992 Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL).	Approximately 100,000 establishments were selected from a universe of about 800,000 in-scope establishments on the 1995 Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL).
4. Survey methodology	Respondents took a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 2-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of 1993. Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment.	Respondents took a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 1-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of 1997. Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment.
5. Reported mode of transportation	Rail For-hire truck Private truck Air Inland water and/or Great Lakes Deep sea water Pipeline Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier Other Unknown	Rail For-hire truck Private truck Air Shallow draft vessel Deep draft vessel Pipeline Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier Other Unknown
6. Data items requested on questionnaire.	For each shipment: Total value Total weight Major commodity (STCC) All modes of transportation Multiple origins (respondents specifically requested to report all shipment origins for the sampled establishment and report the appropriate origin for each shipment; assumed to always be the mailing address if no other origins listed). Destination Containerized (Y/N) Hazardous material (Y/N) Export (Y/N) If export, mode of export, foreign country, and city of destination.	For each shipment: Total value Total weight Major commodity (SCTG) All modes of transportation Single origin (assumed to be the mailing address unless the respondent provided a different physical location address). Destination Containerized (Y/N) Hazardous material (UN/NA codes) Export (Y/N) If export, mode of export, foreign country, and city of destination.