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2002 Economic Census
What's New for '02
Sample '02 forms
Information kit

Latest Results
Census:
1997 - 1992
Other:
1998-2001

Questions?
Ask Dr. Census

What's New for the 2002 Economic Census?

The 2002 Economic Census implements a number of changes to make the data more relevant, to reduce business reporting burden, and to make resulting data products more useful.

For respondents --

Collection methods

• Electronic reporting (via downloadable spreadsheet-like forms)

Questions

• E-commerce sales
• Supply chain (including outsourcing)
• Leased employees

Customer support

• Automated "HelpDesk" available 24/7
• Better instructions and questionnaire design

For data users

Industry and product classifications

• Most industries comparable 1997 to 2002 under NAICS
• New industries for Construction, Wholesale Trade, and parts of Retail Trade and Information sectors
• New product classifications for selected service industries
• New data on e-commerce for all industries

Dissemination

• New "Industry Series" reports will publish national data for service industries sooner.
• Databases will contain 1997 and 2002 where comparable
• CD-ROM software will support time series comparisons, mapping and charting

Expanded Survey of Business Owners

• Minority- and women-owned business counts comparable 1997 to 2002
• New data on owner characteristics: age, education, hours worked, disability, etc.
• New business characteristics: home-based, family-owned, franchising, year started, financing.