Due to Supertyphoon Pongsona, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Census Bureau has extended the due date for returning 2002 Guam Economic Census forms to March 12. The new due date will give businesses recovering from the effects of the typhoon additional time to meet their census obligation.

Guam Economic Census enumeration materials, including those that will be used in planned follow-up mailings, were printed and assembled months ago and reference the original Feb. 12 due date. Businesses that receive a census form are required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code) to respond by March 12.

The Census Bureau has an Internet help site for businesses in Guam http://help.econ.census.gov/econhelp/resources/ia-98/SEC_IA-98163.html. Census Bureau employees are also answering a toll-free "help line" (1-800-681-3012) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. The "help line" accepts messages at any other time and operators will return calls the next business day during local business hours.

The quicker businesses respond, the faster the Census Bureau can compile the data and provide the information needed by policymakers to assess damages and implement future relief and rebuilding programs. The Guam Economic Census, taken every five years, ensures the accuracy of the statistics used for developing economic policies and successful business planning. The economic census will provide Guam useful information needed to measure and encourage economic growth.

The Census is confidential. By law individual responses may be seen only by persons sworn to uphold the confidentiality of Census Bureau information and may only be used for statistical purposes. Copies retained in respondents’ files are immune from legal process. Business responses are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, and no business competitors can obtain the data.

Data covering calendar year 2002 will be collected and processed during 2003, and the first data will be released in 2004. The Guam Economic Census will provide data on industries and geographic areas. The results of the 2002 census will be available on the Internet, on CD-ROM, and in printed reports.

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