Net sales reflect companies' total revenue stream, minus the costs of such things as discounts, allowances and product returns.
The Census Bureau's Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) presents industry data based on information from about 11,000 corporations. The data comes from income and earnings statements, balance sheets, and other records from manufacturers with assets of at least $250,000, the bureau said.
Other statistics come from companies with at least $50 million in assets in the categories of mining, wholesale trade, retail, professional and technical services, and information.