Description of Industries and Summary of Findings

INDUSTRY 3171, WOMEN'S HANDBAGS AND PURSES

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in
manufacturing women's handbags and purses of leather and other materials,
except precious metals. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing
precious metal handbags and purses are classified in industry 3911.

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 3171, Women's Handbags and
Purses, had employment of 5.1 thousand. The employment figure was 46
percent below the 9.5 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were New York, Florida, New
Jersey, and Massachusetts, accounting for approximately 66 percent of the
industry's employment. This represents a shift from 1987 when New York,
Missouri, Florida, and California were the leading States.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $462.8 million.

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 3171 shipped $402.2 million of products considered primary to the
industry, $34.1 million of secondary products, and had $26.5 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 92 percent (specialization
ratio). In 1987, the specialization ratio was 91 percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 98 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio was 99 percent.

The products primary to industry 3171, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $410.7 million. 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 women's handbags and purses industry
amounted to $189.2 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 2 percent of the total value
of shipments.


INDUSTRY 3172, PERSONAL LEATHER GOODS, N.E.C.

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in
manufacturing small articles, such as wallets, key cases, and coin purses
of leather and other materials, except precious metals.  Establishments
primarily engaged in manufacturing similar personal goods of precious
metals are classified in industry 3911.

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 3172, Personal Leather Goods,
N.E.C., had employment of 6.1 thousand. The employment figure was 15
percent below the 7.2 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were New York, Wisconsin,
Massachusetts, and California. This represents a shift from 1987 when New
York, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Arkansas were the leading States.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $427.5 million.

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 3172 shipped $394.6 million of products considered primary to the
industry, $9.4 million of secondary products, and had $23.5 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 98 percent (specialization
ratio). In 1987, the specialization ratio was 95 percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 76 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio was 83 percent.

The products primary to industry 3172, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $522.3 million. 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 personal leather goods, not elsewhere
classified, industry amounted to $159.1 million. Data on specific materials
consumed appear in file MC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with less than 10 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 4 percent of the total value
of shipments.