Description of Industries and Summary of Findings

INDUSTRY 2521, WOOD OFFICE FURNITURE

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in
manufacturing office furniture, chiefly of wood.

In the 1992 Census of Manufactures, Industry 2521, Wood Office Furniture,
had employment of 23.4 thousand. The employment figure was 25 percent below
the 31.0 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were Indiana, North Carolina,
California, and New York, accounting for approximately 55 percent of the
industry's employment. These same States were the leaders in 1987.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $2.0 billion.

Establishments in virtually all industries ship secondary products as well
as products primary to the industry in which they are classified and have
some miscellaneous receipts, such as resales and contract receipts.
Industry 2521 shipped $1.8 billion of wood office furniture products
considered primary to the industry, $136.5 million of secondary products,
and had $70.5 million of miscellaneous receipts, resales, and contract
work. Thus, the ratio of primary products to the total of both secondary
and primary products shipped by establishments in this industry was 93
percent (specialization ratio). In 1987, the specialization ratio also was
93 percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 90 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio was 91 percent.

The products primary to industry 2521, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $1.9 billion. For further
explanation of specialization and coverage ratios, see file MC92F5B and the
appendixes.

The total cost of materials, services, and fuels and energy used by
establishments classified in the wood office furniture industry amounted to
$853.8 million. Data on specific materials consumed appear in file MC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with less than 5 employees
were excluded from the mail portion of the census. The data for these
establishments (and a small number of larger establishments whose reports
were not received at the time the data were tabulated) were obtained from
administrative records of other agencies or developed from industry
averages. These establishments accounted for 18 percent of the total value
of shipments.


INDUSTRY 2522, OFFICE FURNITURE, EXCEPT WOOD

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in
manufacturing office furniture, except furniture chiefly of wood.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing safes and vaults are
classified in industry 3499.

The 1992 definition of this industry is the same as that used in the 1987
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The SIC number and title
also are the same.

In the 1992 Census of Manufactures, Industry 2522, Office Furniture, Except
Wood, had employment of 44.5 thousand. The employment figure was 10 percent
below the 49.7 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were Michigan, California,
Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, accounting for approximately 58 percent
of the industry's employment. These same States were the leaders in 1987.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $6.0 billion.

Establishments in virtually all industries ship secondary products as well
as products primary to the industry in which they are classified and have
some miscellaneous receipts, such as resales and contract receipts.
Industry 2522 shipped $5.5 billion of nonwood office furniture products
considered primary to the industry, $292.3 million of secondary products,
and had $228.3 million of miscellaneous receipts, resales, and contract
work. Thus, the ratio of primary products to the total of both secondary
and primary products shipped by establishments in this industry was 95
percent (specialization ratio).  In 1987, the specialization ratio was 94
percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 96 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio also was 96 percent.

The products primary to industry 2522, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $5.8 billion. For further
explanation of specialization and coverage ratios, see file MC92F5B and the
appendixes.

The total cost of materials, services, and fuels and energy used by
establishments classified in the nonwood office furniture industry amounted
to $2.5 billion. Data on specific materials consumed appear in file MC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with less than 15 employees
were excluded from the mail portion of the census. The data for these
establishments (and a small number of larger establishments whose reports
were not received at the time the data were tabulated) were obtained from
administrative records of other agencies or developed from industry
averages. These establishments accounted for 6 percent of the total value
of shipments.