2012 Economic Census

About the Economic Census

Reliable business statistics from the Economic Census are critical to evaluating the condition of the American economy.

The Economic Census is the most authoritative and comprehensive source of information about American businesses from the national to the local level.

• The Economic Census is the foundation for measurement of business activity across our economy.
• The Economic Census provides accurate benchmark statistics that are the fundamental building blocks of economic indicators such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), monthly retail sales and the producer price index.
• Only the Economic Census provides consistent, comparable and comprehensive statistics on industry revenues and other measures of American business performance across industries and geographic areas.
• Economic assistance programs and emergency and transportation planning rely on information about business location, size, and other characteristics available only from the Economic Census.
• The Economic Census is the only consistent, nationwide source of data on the characteristics of U.S. businesses.
• Without the Economic Census, statistics about the American economy that are essential to understanding the competitiveness of U.S. business and industry and sound public and private sector planning would no longer be available.

The Economic Census provides statistics that allow businesses, investors, policy makers, trade associations, chambers of commerce and others to answer vital questions such as:

• How do we know the size of industries and businesses?
• How can we determine the economic activity of communities large and small?
• Where should I place a new business?
• What products in my industry are growing?
• What materials are purchased by my industry?
• What industries purchase my products?