The Economic Census provides comprehensive details about the U. S. economy, from the national to the local level. Surveys, like Monthly Retail Sales, provide timely information, but only for particular industries or sectors. Since surveys are based on samples that include only a small fraction of all businesses, they cannot supply the geographic and industry details that are unique to the census.
Economic Census statistics about industries, their inputs and outputs, and how they relate to each other, are available nowhere else. Economic census totals also serve as benchmarks to keep our surveys accurate.
The Economic Census is also used to update the Census Bureau’s master list of businesses. Without the Economic Census, the Census Bureau would miss vital information about changes in the ownership and organizational structure of American businesses and industries.