1997 Economic Census: What's New
New Industry Classification System
The 1997 Economic Census will publish data primarily on the basis
of the new North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Detailed conversion tables show how the
shift will affect each industry, and identify where discontinuities in
time series will occur.
A limited amount of data from the 1997 census will be published according to the
old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system:
certain national preliminary totals in the first publications (early 1999),
a detailed "bridge table"
showing the relationships between NAICS and SIC categories a year later,
and state level statistics based on SIC, also in 2000, but after
publication of geographic area data by NAICS. For more information, see
How NAICS Will Affect Data Users.
Faster publication via the Internet
Census results will become available on the Internet faster than
they have ever before been published.
Fewer printed reports
Only highlights of the the Economic Census will be published in
paper reports. Nonetheless, software on both CD-ROM and the
Internet will include the ability to print out any of the
detailed data on demand.
Better software
Access software on both CD-ROM and the Internet will be easier to use and
have more capabilities than the software on 1992 CD-ROMs.
Greater integration of data economy-wide
Data for all sectors will be integrated in the Core Business Statistics
reports and key CD-ROM files. Those statistics published separately by sector
will have a more consistent look and feel.
Terminology
The "Economic Census" terminology will be used more consistently. We will
no longer title publications as if we had conducted a separate census
for each sector of the economy, e.g., the census of manufactures.
Comments? econ@census.gov
Revised: 5/29/97
