In May, approximately 3.7 million United States businesses nationwide, including those in U.S. territories, will receive information by mail with instructions to participate in the 2017 Economic Census. Conducted every five years, the Economic Census is the U.S. government’s official measure of American business and the economy.
With an initial data release planned for September 2019, the Economic Census serves as the statistical benchmark for economic activity by informing the gross domestic product and the producer price index. It also provides information on business locations, workforce and trillions of dollars of sales by product and service type.
Data collection for the census began on February 1, 2018 with a letter to selected small companies requesting industry classification information. Beginning on May 1, 2018, a second letter will be distributed requesting a comprehensive set of economic data elements from all multi-location companies and remaining sampled smaller companies not included in the February mailing.
Business included in the 2017 Economic Census are required by law to respond by June 12, 2018. For more information on the 2017 Economic Census, visit www.census.gov/EconomicCensus.