Census Bureau

Overview of Economic Statistical Programs

This Overview describes Census Bureau programs that provide major statistics about U.S. businesses and governments. Each description includes links to data products, related programs and additional information. "Programs" are major data collection, business list and research data operations, including some funded by other agencies or sponsors. All active programs are included along with discontinued programs of continuing interest. Links are provided to electronic data elsewhere at this site. Descriptions have recently been revised for programs marked with *.

Sectors covered by programs in Census Bureau Economy Overview.

Multi-Sector (Programs covering several sectors)

Construction (Buildings, alterations and public works)
Governments (Local, state and Federal agencies)
o International Trade (Exports, imports and participants)
o Manufacturing (Companies, operations and shipments, products)
o Mining (Minerals, gases and initial processing)
o Retail (Merchandise for personal or home use)
o Services (Personal, business and transport services)
o Wholesale (Merchandise for business use)

Multi-Sector Programs

Census Bureau data, list and research programs covering businesses in several industries

Economy-Wide

o Economic Census
o Economic Census of Island Areas: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
o Survey of Business Owners (including minority- and women-owned businesses)
o Survey of Businesses (1994 only)
o Characteristics of Business Owners Survey (discontinued 1992)
o Statistics of U.S. Businesses
o Enterprise Statistics (discontinued 1992)
o County Business Patterns
o Nonemployer Statistics
o Annual Capital Expenditures Survey
o Investment Plans Survey (discontinued)
o National Employer Survey
o Business Register
o Company Organization Survey

Selected Sectors

o Survey of Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures
o Survey of Industrial Research and Development
o Research and Development Database
o Quarterly Financial Report
o Business Expenditures Survey
o Plant and Equipment Survey
o Business and Professional Classification Survey
o Retail and Services Area Survey

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Construction Programs

Census Bureau programs covering residential, commercial and public building, alterations, and repairs

o Census of Construction Industries
o Building Permits Survey *
o Value of New Construction Put in Place
o Survey of Construction
o Survey of New Manufactured Mobile Homes

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Governments Programs

Census Bureau programs covering local, state and Federal agencies and activities.

o Census of Governments
o Directory Survey of Local Governments
o Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances
o State Government Tax Collections Survey
o Quarterly Tax Survey
o State and Local Government Public-Employee Retirement System Survey
o Quarterly Public - Employee Retirement Systems Survey
o Education Finance Survey
o Annual Public Employment Survey
o Federal Assistance Awards Data System *
o Consolidated Federal Funds Report *
o Federal Audit Clearinghouse *

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International Trade Programs

Census Bureau programs covering U.S. imports, exports, traders, brokers, and trade flows.
o Import Statistics
o Export Statistics
o Exporter Database *

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Manufacturing Programs

Census Bureau data and research programs covering manufacturers, production processes, shipments, and industrial products

o Census of Manufactures


o Manufacturers' Shipments to Federal Agencies


o Annual Survey of Manufactures


o Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey


o Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization


o Monthly M3 Survey


Current Industrial Reports (Industrial products)
o Manufacturing Technology Surveys


o Longitudinal Research Database

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Mining Overview

Census Bureau program covering mineral and gas extraction and processing
o Census of Mineral Industries

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Retail Overview

Census Bureau programs covering businesses selling and products sold for individual use
o Census of Retail Trade
o Annual Retail Trade Survey
o Advance Monthly Retail Sales Survey
o Monthly Retail Trade Survey

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Services Overview

Census Bureau programs covering businesses that provide personal, business and other services
o Census of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate
o Census of Service Industries
o Service Annual Survey
o Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities
o Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey
o Commodity Flow Survey
o Service Annual Survey: Selected Transportation and Warehousing

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Wholesale Overview

Census Bureau programs covering businesses selling and products sold for use by other businesses
o Census of Wholesale Trade
o Annual Trade Survey
o Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey

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Comments (your suggestions about this Overview)
Economy Page

Last revised: October 09 2003