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Retail Trade
Advance Monthly Retail
Sales Survey
Purpose: To
provide an early indication of sales by retail establishments. The United States Code,
Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for voluntary responses.
Coverage: Retail
firms with one or more establishments that sell merchandise and associated services to
final consumers (SIC Division G).
Content: Firms
provide data on dollar value of sales, reporting period, and number of retail
establishments.
Frequency: Monthly
since 1953; except for February 1970 to February 1972. Reported data are for activity
taking place during the previous month. Forms are mailed 5 working days before the end of
the reporting month and responses are due 3 working days after the reporting month.
Smaller and medium sized retailers participate in the survey for about two years and then
are replaced with new firms.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of a sub-sample of companies and Employer Identification Numbers
(EINs) selected for the monthly retail trade survey. The advance survey sample of about
3,300 firms is selected by stratifying the companies in the larger monthly sample by sales
size and major kind-of-business and selecting the desired number of cases randomly for
each stratum. Some 400 firms, because of their relatively large effect on the sales of
certain industry groups, are selected with certainty. Advance sales estimates for
each kind of business are developed by applying a ratio of current-month to previous-month
sales (derived from the advance sample) to the preliminary estimate of sales for the
previous month (from the larger monthly sample). Industry estimates are summed to derive
national sales figures. Data are seasonally adjusted. Publication of the advance report
was suspended in the 1970's because of unsatisfactory relationships between the advance
and later monthly estimates, and was resumed after modification of the estimating
procedure.
Products: Advance
Monthly Retail Sales reports are released 9 working days after the close of the
reference month. They contain the advance estimates for the reporting month and
preliminary and revised sales data for the previous two months by major kind-of-business
group. The seasonally adjusted estimates for the current and previous months of the
previous year are revised also. Data presented are both seasonally adjusted and
unadjusted.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the estimates as an input for estimating Gross Domestic
Product. The Federal Reserve Board uses the estimates to anticipate economic trends. The
Council of Economic Advisors uses the estimates for economic policy analysis. The news
media companies use the estimates for economic analysis. Market research firms use the
data to analyze market trends as well as to determine the direction of the economy.
Special Features: Provides
a designated principal economic indicator and the earliest available monthly estimates of
broad based retail trade activity.
Related Programs: Monthly
Retail Trade Survey, Annual Retail Trade Survey, Business and Professional, Classification
Survey, and Census of Retail Trade
Monthly
Retail Trade Survey
Purpose: To
provide current estimates of sales at retail stores and inventories held by retail stores.
The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for voluntary
responses.
Coverage: Firms
with one or more establishments that sell merchandise and related services to final
consumers (SIC Division G).
Content: Retail
firms provide data on dollar value of retail sales and sales for selected establishments;
some firms also provide data on value of end-of-month inventories.
Frequency: Monthly
since 1951. A new sample is chosen every 5 years; most recently for 1997.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of about 13,300 retail businesses with paid employees selected
for sales, including about 4,300 businesses also selected for inventories; supplemented by
a procedure to include nonemployers and new employees. The sample of retail firms is drawn
from the Standard Statistical Establishment List which contains all Employer
Identification Numbers (EINs) and listed establishment locations. Sales and inventories
data are collected using one survey form. Firms selected for sales are first stratified by
major kind of business and estimated sales. All firms with sales above applicable size
cutoffs are selected "with certainty" and report for all their retail industry
EINs. This means they are sure to be selected and will represent only themselves. EINs are
stratified by major kind of business and sales, and randomly selected from each strata.
There are approximately 2,700 certainty firms plus 10,600 noncertainty firms selected to
report data each month. Some firms are also selected for inventories by stratifying most
firms in the larger sales sample by kind of business and sales sizes. Approximately 1,100
certainty firms and 3,600 noncertainty firms are selected to report inventories each
month. The sample is updated quarterly to reflect employer business "births" and
"deaths"; adding new employer businesses identified in the business and
professional classification survey and dropping firms and EINs when it is determined they
are no longer active. There is about a 9 to 12 month delay before new firms can be
represented in the sample. An imputation procedure is used on all selected firms that go
out of business to account for births during this delay.
Products: Monthly
Retail Trade, Sales and Inventories report is released 7 weeks after the close of the
reference month. The report contains preliminary figures for the current month and final
figures for the prior 12 months. Statistics include national estimates of retail sales,
inventories, and inventories sales ratios. Data are both seasonally adjusted and
unadjusted. The Annual Benchmark Report for Retail Trade report is released each spring.
The report contains benchmarked monthly estimates of sales and inventories by retail kind
of business for the most recent 10 years; and annual estimates of purchases, accounts
receivable, and gross margin levels.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the estimates to calculate Gross Domestic Product. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the estimates to develop producer price indexes and
productivity measurements. The Council of Economic Advisers uses the estimates to analyze
current economic activity. The Federal Reserve Board uses the estimates to assess recent
trends in consumer purchases. The media use the estimates to report news of recent
consumer activity. Financial and investment companies use the estimates to measure recent
economic trends.
Special Features: Contributes
to two designated principal economic indicators. This survey is an intregal component of
the Advance Monthly Retail Sales Survey. In addition it accounts for the retail portion of
the Manufacturing and Trade Inventories Sales Report.
Related Programs: Advance
Monthly Retail Sales Survey, Annual Retail Trade Survey, Business and Professional
Classification Survey, and Census of Retail Trade
Annual
Retail Trade Survey
Purpose: To
provide detailed industry measures of retail company activities. The United States Code,
Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory responses.
Coverage: Retail
firms with one or more establishments that sell merchandise and associated services to
final consumers (SIC Division G).
Content: Firms
provide data on dollar value of retail sales, sales taxes collected, inventories,
method-of-inventory valuation, cost of purchases, and account receivables balances.
Frequency: Annually
since 1951 (except 1954); reported data are for activity taking place over the prior
calendar year. Data collection begins the first week after the close of the year. Samples
are re-selected every 5 years and updated annually; most recently for 1997.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of a sub-sample of about 24,000 retail companies and Employer
Identification Numbers (EINS) that include firms selected for the monthly retail trade
survey as well as an additional panel of firms selected only for the annual survey. In
addition we used data obtained from administrative records of other Federal agencies to
estimate nonemployer data. Since 1977, the monthly retail trade survey has been bench
marked to the annual retail trade report. Inventories have been similarly benchmarked
since 1951. Annual estimates are bench marked to the most recent census of retail trade.
Products: Annual
Benchmark Report for Retail Trade reports are released annually each spring. They
contain estimates of annual sales, per capita sales, gross margins, monthly and year-end
inventories, inventories/sales ratios, merchandise purchased, monthly and gross
margin/sales ratios, and accounts receivable balances for the United States by kind of
business. Comparable statistics are shown for the previous year, along with year-to-year
percentage changes. Monthly data for the most recent 10 years are also presented.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the estimates as an input for estimating Gross Domestic
Product. The Bureau of the Census uses the data to bench mark the monthly sales and
inventory series. The Federal Reserve Board uses accounts receivable balances for
measuring consumer credit. Retail merchants use data to determine market share. Market
research firms use the estimates to analyze market trends and to determine the direction
of the economy.
Special Features: Provides
the only current data on gross margin and accounts receivables owed to retail firms.
Related Programs: Advance
Monthly Retail Sales Survey, Annual Retail Trade Survey, Business and Professional
Classification Survey, Business Expenditures Survey, and Census of Retail Trade.
Wholesale Trade
Monthly Wholesale
Trade Survey
Purpose: To
provide monthly estimates of sales and inventories of wholesale trade industries. The
United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for voluntary responses.
Coverage: Wholesale
firms with employment that are primarily engaged in merchant wholesale trade in the United
States (SIC Division F). These include merchant wholesalers that take title of the goods
they sell, and jobbers, industrial distributors, exporters, and importers. Excluded are
non-merchant wholesalers such as manufacturer sales branches and offices; agents,
merchandise or commodity brokers, and commission merchants; and other businesses whose
primary activity is other than wholesale trade.
Content: Firms
provide data on dollar values of merchant wholesale sales, end-of-month inventories, and
methods of inventory valuation.
Frequency: Monthly
since 1946; firms report data for activity taking place during the previous month. New
samples are drawn every 5 years and are updated monthly. Use of the latest sample began in
1997.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of about 3,400 selected wholesale firms. The sample of merchant
wholesalers is drawn from the Standard Statistical Establishment List which contains all
Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and locations of establishments for listed
businesses. EINs may represent one or more establishments and companies may have one or
more EINs. Firms are first stratified by merchant wholesale sales, inventories and major
kind of business (determined from the latest census of wholesale trade). All firms with
wholesale sales or inventories above applicable size cutoffs for each major kind of
business are selected with certainty and report for all their wholesale industry EINs.
Remaining EINs are stratified by major kind of business and estimated sales, and a simple
random sample is selected from each stratum. The sample is updated every month to reflect
"births" and "deaths", adding new employer businesses identified in
the business and professional classification survey and dropping companies that no longer
have active EINs. There is a 9 to 12 month period before new firms can be represented in
the sample. To account for births during this interim period, data are imputed for all
EINs that go out of business but are still active on the Census Business Register.
Products: Monthly
Wholesale Trade, Sales and Inventories reports are released 6 weeks after the close
of the reference month. They contain preliminary current month figures and revised figures
for the previous month. Statistics include sales, inventories, and inventories/sales
ratios by 3-digit SIC code along with standard errors. Data are both seasonally adjusted
and unadjusted.
Annual Benchmark Report for Wholesale Trade reports are released annually each
spring. They contain estimated annual sales, monthly and year-end inventories,
inventories/sales ratios, purchases, gross margins, and gross margin/sales ratios by kind
of business. Annual estimates are benchmarked to the most recent census of wholesale
trade. These reports also present the results of a benchmarking operation that revises
monthly sales and inventories estimates. Estimates are both seasonally adjusted and
unadjusted.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the estimates as an input to estimate sales and
inventories for the Gross Domestic Product. The Council of Economic Advisers uses the
estimates to assess near term economic activity. The Department of the Treasury uses the
estimates to research economic trends. Business and industry groups use the estimates to
forecast future demand. Researchers use the estimates to benchmark the results from their
own sampling operations. Manufacturers can use inventory estimates as a proxy for the
distributors confidence for future expected sales.
Special Features: Provides
a designated principal economic indicator and the only source of current data on wholesale
trade.
Related Programs: Annual
Trade Survey, Business and Professional Classification Survey, and Census of Wholesale
Trade
Annual Trade
Survey
Purpose: To
provide detailed industry measures of sales and inventories for wholesale trade
activities. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for
mandatory responses.
Coverage: Firms
with employment that are primarily engaged in merchant wholesale trade in the United
States (SIC Division F). These include merchant wholesalers that take title of the goods
they sell, and jobbers, industrial distributors, exporters, and importers. Excluded are
non-merchant wholesalers such as manufacturer sales branches and offices; agents,
merchandise or commodity brokers, and commission merchants; and businesses whose primary
activity is other than wholesale trade.
Content: Firms
provide data on organizational status, number of establishments, annual sales, and cost of
merchandise sold for the year. Data for the reporting year and prior year are provided for
end-of-year inventories and methods of inventory valuation.
Frequency: Annually
since 1978; collected data are for activity taking place throughout the calendar year. New
samples are chosen every 5 years and are updated quarterly. Use of the latest sample began
in 1997.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of about 6,200 wholesale firms and Employer Identification
Numbers (EINs) that include firms selected for the monthly wholesale trade survey as well
as an additional panel of firms selected only for the annual survey.
Products: Annual
Benchmark Report for Wholesale Trade reports are released annually each spring. They
contain estimated annual sales, monthly and year-end inventories, inventories/sales
ratios, purchases, gross margins, and gross margin/sales ratios by kind of business.
Annual estimates are benchmarked to the most recent census of wholesale trade and monthly
sales and inventories estimates are also revised in a benchmarking operation. Estimates
are both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the estimates as an input to estimate sales and
inventories for the Gross Domestic Product. The Council of Economic Advisers uses the
estimates for assessing near term economic activity. The Department of the Treasury uses
the estimates to research economic trends. The Census Bureau uses the data to benchmark
results from the monthly wholesale trade survey. Individual businesses use the estimates
to gauge their sales to the overall industry. National associations use the estimates as a
leading indicator in forecasting future demand. They also use the annual estimates to
benchmark their own sampling operations.
Special Features: Provides
the only source of current purchases and gross margin data for merchant wholesalers.
Related Programs: Monthly
Wholesale Trade Survey, Business and Professional Classification Survey, and Census of
Wholesale Trade
Services
Annual Survey of
Communication Services
Purpose: To
provide estimates of revenue and expenses for the communication services industries. The
United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory responses.
Coverage: All
firms with payroll that provide telephone communication, radio and television
broadcasting, cable television and other communication services (SIC 48). Coverage
reflects 1987 SIC classifications definitions beginning in 1991. In 1994, domestic
communication industries had some 40,000 employer establishments and estimated revenue of
more than $264 billion.
Content: Data
collected include: total revenue and revenue by source; total expenses and expenses by
type; number of locations by kind of business; and industry specific inquiries such as
telephone communication revenue by type of user and number of cable subscribers. In the
first year of a new sample, participants report data for both the current and preceding
year. In subsequent years, only current year data are requested.
Frequency: Annually
since 1990; reported data are for activity taking place during the calendar year. Data
collection begins about 4 months after the close of the reporting year, and continues for
about 4 months. Samples are reselected every 5 years and updated annually; use of latest
sample began in 1991.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of about 2,000 selected employer firms. The sample was
constructed from communications firms listed in the Standard Statistical Establishment
List (SSEL). The SSEL contains Federal Identification Numbers (EINs) for establishments
with payroll, and locations for listed businesses. EINs may represent one or more
establishments and companies with payroll may have one or more EIN. Firms are first
stratified by payroll and kind of business group. All companies with total revenue
(estimated from payroll) above applicable size cutoffs are included in the survey and
report for all their industry EINs. In a second stage, unselected EINs are stratified by
kind of business group and revenue, and a simple random sample is taken from each stratum.
The sample is updated for employer business "births" and "deaths" in
an annual procedure. Companies and EINs that are not active in a survey year are dropped
from the sample. New EINs are identified in a birth selection procedure and included in
the survey.
Products: Annual
Survey of Communication Services reports are released 11 months after the reporting
period. Summary statistics are provided on revenue, revenue by source, and expenses by
kind of business at the 4-digit SIC level.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the data as an input to national income and product
accounts and input-output tables. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses these data in
developing producer price indices and productivity measures. Trade and professional
organizations use the estimates to analyze industry trends and benchmark their own
statistical programs, develop forecasts, and evaluate regulatory requirements. The media
use estimates for news reports and background information. Private businesses use the
estimates to measure market share; analyze business potential; and plan investment
decisions.
Special Features: Provides
the only annual source of the communication sector measures (in lieu of former regulatory
agency data collections) including measures of new industry technologies; a sample size
increase of 50 percent and new SIC classifications permit publication of additional
4-digit industries for 1991.
Related Programs: Business
and Professional Classification Survey and Census of Transportation, Communications, and
Utilities
Transportation
Annual Survey
Purpose: To
provide national estimates of revenue, expenses, and vehicle fleet inventories for
commercial motor freight transportation and public warehousing service industries. The
United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory responses.
Coverage: Companies
with employment that provide commercial motor freight transportation and public
warehousing services (SIC 42). In 1991, the survey size was nearly doubled to provide more
industry detail. In 1994, over 110,000 covered employer establishments had an estimated
combined operating revenue of nearly $168 billion.
Content: Data
collected include operating revenue and operating revenue by source; total expenses and
expenses by type; percentage of motor carrier freight revenue by commodity type, size of
shipments handled, length of haul, and shipments country of origin and destination; and
vehicle fleet inventory. Current and previous year data are requested for the first year
of a new sample. In subsequent years, only current year data are requested.
Frequency: Annually
since 1985; reported data are for activity taking place during the calendar year. Data
collection begins about 3 months after the reporting year and continues for about 4
months. Samples are selected every 5 years and updated annually. Use of the latest sample
began in 1992 (for the 1991 reporting year).
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of some 2,500 selected firms and Employer Identification Numbers
(EINs). The sample is drawn from a list of employers contained on the Standard Statistical
Establishment List which contains all EINs and locations of establishments for listed
businesses. An EIN may represent one or more establishments and firms with payroll may
have one or more EIN. Firms are stratified by total revenue size and kind of business
using data from the latest census of transportation. All firms with total revenue above
applicable size cutoffs are included in the survey and report for all their industry EINs.
In a second stage, unselected EINs are stratified by kind of business and revenue and a
simple random sample is taken from each stratum. The sample is updated annually to reflect
"births" and "deaths" in an annual procedure. Companies and EINs that
are not active in a survey year are dropped from the sample. New EINs are identified in a
birth selection procedure and included in the survey.
Products: Transportation
Annual Survey reports are released 12 months after the reference year. They include
estimates of annual operating revenues and selected operating expenses for the United
States at the 3- and 4-digit SIC level for trucking and warehousing. Comparable statistics
are shown for the previous year along with year-to-year percentage changes.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the data as an input to estimates of national income and
product accounts. The Department of Transportation uses the estimates for policy
development, program management, and evaluation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the
estimates in developing producer price indices and productivity measures. Trade and
professional organizations use the estimates to analyze industry trends and benchmark
their statistical programs; develop forecasts; and evaluate the impact of regulatory
requirements. Researchers use the estimates for market research and segmentation.
Private businesses use the estimates to measure market share, analyze business potential,
and plan investment decisions.
Special Features: Provides
the only annual source of data for employer firms that offer for-hire trucking and public
warehousing services; the increased sample size for 1991 permitted publication of
additional 4-digit industry detail.
Related Programs: Business
and Professional Classification Survey, Truck Inventory and Use Survey, Nationwide Truck
Activity and Commodity Survey, Commodity Flow Survey, and Census of Transportation,
Communications and Utilities
Services Annual
Survey
Purpose: To
provide estimates of receipts, revenue, and other measures for most traditional service
industries. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for
mandatory responses.
Coverage: Companies
that primarily provide services to individuals, businesses, and governments (SIC 472, SIC
653, and SIC Division I, except SICs 821, 822, 829, 863, 865, 866, and 88). Industry
coverage and detail have been expanded since 1982, and include most personal, business,
automotive, amusement and recreation, social, health, and other professional services. In
1991, use of expanded 1987 SIC classifications began. Covered industries accounted for
about 20% of the Nation's 1994 Gross Domestic Product.
Content: Collected
data include tax and organizational status; operating receipts (revenue for tax-exempt
firms and organizations); sources of receipts and expenses by type for selected
industries; operating expenses for tax-exempt firms; and selected industry-specific items.
Frequency: Annually
since 1982; reported data are for activity taking place during the calendar year. Prior to
1982, the survey was conducted monthly. Data collection begins in January following the
survey year and continues for about 14 weeks. A new sample is introduced about every 5
years, most recently for the 1996 survey.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back survey of about 30,000 selected service businesses with paid employees;
supplemented by administrative records data or imputed values to account for nonemployer
and certain other businesses. To be eligible for the list sample, service businesses must
be in the Standard Statistical Establishment List which contains all Employer
Identification Numbers (EINs) for listed businesses and all locations of
multi-establishment companies. EINs may represent one or more establishments and firms may
have one or more EINs. In the initial sampling, companies are stratified by major
and minor kind of business, and by estimated receipts or revenue. All companies with total
receipts above applicable size cutoffs are included in the survey and report for all their
service industry locations. In a second stage, EINs of unselected companies are stratified
by major kind of business and receipts or revenue. Within each stratum a simple random
sample of EINs is selected. The initial sample is updated annually to reflect
"births" and "deaths"; adding new employer businesses identified in
the business and professional classification survey and dropping firms and EINs that are
no longer active. During interim periods, service nonemployer and other businesses are
represented by administrative records data or imputed values.
Products: Service
Annual Survey reports are published 12 months after the end of the survey year. Summary
data are provided at the industry group and industry level for the survey year and past
years. Industry specific data are provided for selected industries. In addition, there are
data for selected kinds of business by federal income-tax status (taxable and tax-exempt).
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses these data in its preparation of national income and
product accounts, and its benchmark and annual input-output tables. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics uses the data as input to its producer price indexes and in developing
productivity measurements. The Health Care Financing Administration uses the data to
estimate expenditures for the National Health Accounts. The Coalition of Service
Industries uses data for general research and planning.
Special Features: Provides
the only source of annual receipts estimates for the service industries; a 50 percent
increase in sample size for 1991 permits the publication of additional 4-digit industry
detail.
Related Programs: Business
and Professional Classification Survey, Assets and Expenditures Survey, and Census of
Service Industries
Multi-sector
Annual capital
Expenditures Survey
Purpose: To
provide broad-based data on business spending for new and used structures and equipment.
The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory
responses. (It is also called the ACES program.)
Coverage: All
domestic, private, nonfarm businesses including the self employed for all years. Major
exclusions are foreign operations of U.S. businesses, businesses in U.S. territories,
government operations (including the U.S. Postal Service), agricultural production
companies, and private households.
Content: Basic
annual data include expenditures on new and used structures and equipment (excluding land
and depletable assets) for 94 separate industry categories. Supplementary data for
selected years include added expenditure detail by type of structure, or added expenditure
detail by type of equipment.
Frequency: Annually
beginning with 1993. Basic annual data are supplemented periodically to provide added
detail by type of structure or type of equipment. Data are reported for activities in the
prior calendar year; data collection begins about 3 months after the end of each year and
continues for 9 months.
Methods: A
mail-out/mail-back sample survey of approximately 34,000 employer companies, plus 12,000
nonemployer companies. Larger companies are selected each year from the updated Standard
Statistical Establishment List (SSEL); all companies with at least 500 paid employees are
included in the survey, and smaller companies are stratified by industry and payroll size
and selected randomly by strata. Nonemployer companies are selected each year based on new
information from Census Bureau data programs and administrative records from other
agencies. SSEL establishment-level data are consolidated to create company information for
sampling purposes. Separate industry categories are 2- or 3- digit SIC industries
developed on the basis of the aggregate value of capital expenditures and the
reportability of detailed expenditures information. Published data are weighted totals for
all covered businesses, adjusted for companies that do not respond, and accompanied by
standard error information.
Products: Annual
Capital Expenditures reports provide domestic capital expenditures data about 12
months after each reference year. Each report provides statistics on expenditures for new
and used structures and equipment in 94 ACES industry categories. In addition, it
summarizes findings, describes survey background and concepts, and explains sampling and
estimation methods.
Uses: The Bureau of
Economic Analysis uses the results to estimate nonresidential fixed investment in the
national income and product accounts. The Department of Treasury use them to analyze
business asset depreciation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics use the data to improve
estimates of capital stocks for productivity analysis. The Federal Reserve Board use them
in developing monetary policy. Private corporations, economists, trade associations, and
researchers use the data for market analysis and economic forecasting; the news media will
use them in general economic and business coverage.
Special Features: Provides
the only annual capital expenditures data that cover all domestic nonfarm businesses and
include detailed investments by type and industry.
Related Programs: Value
of New Construction Put in Place, Economic Censuses, Pollution Abatement Costs and
Expenditures, Assets and Expenditures Survey, and Enterprise Statistics
County Business
Patterns
Purpose: To
provide annual detailed geographic, industry, and other information for U.S. business
establishments. The United States Code, Title 13 and 26, authorizes this program.
Coverage: Most
of the nation's economic activity is covered in this series. Data are excluded for
self-employed persons, domestic service workers, railroad employees, agricultural
production workers, most government employees, and employees on the ocean-borne vessels or
in foreign countries. Data are provided by industry in the following economic divisions:
agricultural services, forestry, and fishing; mining; construction; manufacturing;
transportation and public utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance,
and real estate; and services.
Content: Data
for establishments are presented by geographic area, 4-digit SIC, and employment size
class. Data consist of number of establishments, first quarter and annual payroll, and
employment during the week of March 12. No data are provided that would disclose the
operations of an individual employer.
Frequency: Annually
since 1964; similar data were reported for various time periods since 1946. Data reported
are for activities taking place during the reference calendar year.
Methods: A compilation
and publication of data extracted from the Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL).
The SSEL contains the Census Bureau's most complete, current, and consistent data for U.S.
business establishments. The SSEL is updated continuously and incorporates data from all
Census Bureau economic and agriculture censuses and current business surveys, quarterly
and annual Federal income and payroll tax records, and other Departmental and Federal
statistics and administrative records programs.
Products: County
Business Patterns reports are available on a flow basis starting about 18 months
after each reference year. Reports provide complete annual data for each state, each
county area within each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico (including each principio), plus a U.S. summary. Data include number of
establishments by employment size class and 4-digit SIC, quarterly and annual payroll, and
employment during the week of March 12. Separate tables provide data for central
administrative units and auxiliary establishments of multi-establishment businesses.
Public-use data files are available on a flow basis starting about 18 months
after each reference year. Files provide all data published in the manual reports with
some additional detail (such as county-level summary data for industries with less than
100 employees). Files are available in magnetic computer tape, floppy diskette, and
compact disc (CD-ROM) formats. Data by zip code are also available on compact disc
(CD-ROM).
Uses: The
data are the standard reference source for small area (county) economic data. They are
used to bench mark public and private sector business statistical series, surveys and data
bases between economic census years. Federal agencies also use the data to determine
employee concentrations and trends by industry. Private businesses use the data for market
research, strategic business planning, and managing sales territories. State and local
government budget, economic development, and planning offices use the data to assess
business changes, develop fiscal policies, and plan future policies and programs.
Special Features: Provides
the only source of annual, complete, and consistent county-level data for U.S. business
establishments, with industry detail.
Related Programs: Economic
and Agriculture Censuses, Standard Statistical Establishment List, and Enterprise
Statistics
Quarterly
Financial Reports
Purpose: To
provide current statistics on domestic corporate financial conditions. The United States
Code, Title 13, requires this survey and provides for mandatory responses.
Coverage: Corporations
that have a plurality of business activity in manufacturing industries and domestic assets
over $250,000; and corporations with a plurality of business activity in the mining,
retail, or wholesale trade industries and domestic assets over $50 million. These include
approximately 172,000 corporations with estimated assets of over $4.6 trillion.
Content: Corporation
provide standard income statement and balance sheet data consolidated for all
majority-owned domestic enterprises (except banking, insurance, and finance). Information
collected includes sales, depreciation, before- and after-tax income, retained earnings,
cash, investments, receivables, inventories, fixed assets, short- and long-term
liabilities, accounts payable, and stockholders' equity. Large corporations report
additional data that include separate reporting of nonoperating income and expenses,
earnings from foreign and other nonconsolidated entities and investments, extraordinary
gains and losses, trade receivables from the U.S. Government, investments in Federal and
other securities, commercial paper issued, and treasury stock.
Frequency: Quarterly
since 1947, the program was transferred to the Census Bureau from the Federal Trade
Commission in 1983. Data collection begins about 25 days after each quarter and continues
for about 9 weeks; data are for 3 months of company activities. The survey panel is
updated quarterly.
Methods: Mail-out/mail-back
surveys of some 3,700 large manufacturing, mining, and trade corporations using a long
form, and of some 4,600 selected small- and medium-sized manufacturers using a short form;
plus periodic reporting by corporations to determine and update business classification.
The sample frame of firms is updated annually from Federal income tax records, and the
large company sample frame is updated quarterly from Federal payroll tax records. Using
the tax data, corporations are selected by stratified random sample, with strata by
industry and assets size. To determine initial and continuing eligibility, selected firms
are asked to complete a Nature of Business Report form to classify their
enterprises and determine their intercorporate relationships, if any. Data for
manufacturing firms with assets between $250,000 and $250 million are estimated from a
sample panel. Each quarter, one-eighth of the sample panel is replaced. Replacement firms
report for 8 quarters.
Products: Quarterly
Financial Report for Manufacturing, Mining, and Trade Corporations publications are
released 75 days after each of the first three quarters, and 95 days after the fourth
quarter. The report provides 5 quarters of data, including estimated statements of income
and retained earnings, balance sheets, and related financial and operating ratios by
industry and asset size. Revisions to data for prior quarters are made when necessary and
usually result from respondent data corrections subsequent to publication. Information is
provided, when possible, on material distortions in comparability due to changes in
accounting conventions or users' needs.
Uses: The
Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the data as a primary source for current estimates of
corporate profits, taxes, and dividends in quarterly estimates of Gross Domestic Product
and national income and in a cyclical economic indicator series. The Federal Reserve uses
the data as a major building block in estimating the U.S. flow of funds and its sole
source of consolidated data for nonfinancial corporations. The Small Business
Administration uses the data to trace the financial performance of small business, analyze
and prepare reports for use in loan policy-making, and advise the Administration and
Congress on small versus large company performance. The data are widely used by domestic
and foreign businesses, financial analysts, researchers, trade associations, and banking
institutions.
Special Features: Provides
designated principal indicators and is the sole source of current profits and
comprehensive balance sheet data for major industries.
Related Programs: Enterprise
Statistics and Assets and Expenditures Survey
National
Employer Survey
Purpose: To
provide and relate information on worker education, employer training and employer
business characteristics, including business productivity. The United States Code, Title
13, authorized this survey and provided for voluntary responses. The National Center on
the Educational Quality of the Workforce (EQW), a nonprofit research group, fully funded
the survey.
Coverage: All
U.S. manufacturing and nonmanufacturing establishments with 20 or more employees, except
agriculture and government establishments. A major finding was that, in the early 1990's,
increased worker training and education raised business productivity more than comparably
increased hours worked or capital equipment.
Content: Data
were collected on four topics: employees and employment, employee training, business
characteristics, and equipment and technology. Employees and employment included number of
employees, work week, pay, benefits, supervision, hiring practices and union
representation. Employee training included organization, purposes, formal and
informal programs, duration, trainees and effectiveness. Business characteristics included
year operations began, company and establishment size, principal product and exports.
Equipment and technology included capital assets, recent investments, age of equipment,
use of computers and research activities.
Frequency: One-time
survey primarily covering conditions in 1993, with a follow-up covering 1995 conducted in
1996. Primary data collection began in August 1994 and continued for about 8 weeks; data
collected were mostly for activities taking place in the prior calendar year but included
some information for earlier years.
Methods: A
computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) survey of 3,100 establishments, supplemented
by historical census and survey performance (productivity) measures for most manufacturing
establishments. Establishments were randomly selected from the Standard Statistical
Establishment List (SSEL) and placed in industry-based panels that would support
regression estimates by business size and type of activity. Historical performance
measures were obtained from the Longitudinal Research Database (LRD). Respondents received
an introductory letter describing the survey but, because this was a telephone survey, no
printed form. The sample was evenly divided between manufacturers and nonmanufacturers,
with explicit oversampling of establishments that have 100 or more employees and implicit
oversampling of manufacturers because they are greatly outnumbered by nonmanufacturers in
the SSEL universe. Sampling was adequate to produce regression panels for 10 SIC-based
manufacturing categories and 11 nonmanufacturing categories. Each SIC-based category was
stratified into 5 establishment size classes and the regression model could calculate
relationships by establishment size class.
Products: The
EQW National Employer Survey: First Findings report was released by the EQW about 13
months after the survey reference year (7 months after data collection was completed). It
included data on worker education and workplace training, and employer views on education
adequacy and hiring practices. The Other Shoe: Education's Contribution to the
Productivity of Establishments report was released by EQW about 17 months after the
reference year. It included data on the relationship between worker education and business
productivity, and the comparative productivity contributions of increased hours and
capital investment. Another major report by EQW is scheduled for release about 20
months after the reference year. It will include the complete results from the regression
models of studied activities by establishment size.
Uses: Education,
human services, and economic policy agencies use the study results to assess what kinds of
education and training most affect business productivity, and encourage actions and
develop initiatives that increase productivity. Employer businesses and industry
associations use the results to assess existing and potential company and industry
practices, and take actions that will increase business productivity, profitability and
international competitiveness.
Special Features: Provided
first-ever U.S. statistics that relate education, training and hiring practices to
business productivity; results will be linked to a 5-year study of the American workplace
and coordinated with World Bank-sponsored studies in other countries.
Related Programs: Longitudinal
Research Database and Standard Statistical Establishment List
Standard
Statistical Establishment List
Purpose: To
provide a current and comprehensive database of U.S. business establishments and companies
for statistical program use. The United States Code, Titles 13 and 26, and a 1968
designation by the Office of Management and Budget, authorize this program.
Coverage: Establishments
of all domestic employer and nonemployer businesses (except private households and
governments) and organizational units of multiestablishment businesses. Businesses are
legal or administrative entities assigned an Employer Identification Number (EIN) by the
Internal Revenue Service, and units include divisions, subsidiaries, companies, and other
affiliated organizations. The Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL) covers more
than 180,000 multiunit companies, representing 1.5 million affiliated establishments, 5
million single-establishment companies, and nearly 14 million nonemployer businesses.
Content: SSEL
information is establishment-based and includes business location, organization type
(e.g., subsidiary or parent), industry classification, and operating data (e.g., receipts
and employment). The scope, detail, and reference period for SSEL information vary by
establishment type and size; and the source of list information. SSEL information is
maintained separately for each establishment, company, and major intra-company
organizational unit.
Frequency: Continuously
since 1972; before 1994 nonemployers were included only for years ending in "2"
and "7." SSEL listings are initiated and updated continuously with the latest
and best information available from Census Bureau and other Federal statistical and
administrative records programs. The frequency for updating individual data items varies
from every quarter to every 5 years.
Methods: A
database maintained as 2 cross-classified lists; one for single-establishment businesses
and EINs and one for multi-establishment companies. List information for single
establishments and EINs is updated continuously; including employment and payroll data
based on payroll tax records, and receipts data based on income tax records from the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Information for establishments of multi-unit companies is
updated annually based on responses to the company organization survey and annual survey
of manufactures. Other routine sources of update information include Census Bureau current
surveys (e.g., Current Industrial Reports) and the economic and agriculture censuses. To
maintain SSEL information by establishment, organizational unit, and company, a system of
cross-classification is used that links location, organization, and operating information
from diverse sources, over time, and for the same and related establishments. The system
includes unique Census- assigned identification numbers, incorporates EINs issued for
Federal tax purposes, and includes industry classifications assigned by the Social
Security Administration. Since 1991, industry classifications for some businesses have
also been obtained and improved through periodic comparisons with classifications of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Products: The
SSEL is used throughout Census Bureau economic data programs, but data for individual
establishments are not available for public use because Federal law prohibits disclosure
of individual business information. However, SSEL information is the primary source of
summary statistics published in annual County Business Patterns and ZIP Business Patterns
reports, and is a resource used in responding to requests for special summary reports and
reimbursable tabulations.
Uses: The
SSEL is integral to most Census Bureau economic census and survey statistical operations,
including preparation, mail-out, data processing, quality assurance, and disclosure
avoidance. The SSEL is also used to support decennial population census place-of-work
coding operations, and as a sampling frame for special reimbursable surveys. The
SSEL is the primary source of summary statistics published in the annual County Business
Patterns reports. These reports provide statistics for each county and 4-digit SIC
industry, including number of establishments, payroll, and employment. It also is the
primary source of summary statistics. In the annual ZIP Business Pattern CD-ROMs, which
provides statistics for each 5-digit ZIP code and 4-digit SIC industry. The SSEL is
used to respond to requests for special reports and reimbursable tabulations (particularly
for small area data). Recipients of such summary statistics have included the Bureau of
Economic Analysis; the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development;
Small Business Administration; state and local economic development agencies; and private
businesses.
Special Features: Provides
the most complete, current, and consistent source of establishment- based information
about U.S. businesses, and is essential to assuring full coverage and high quality in
Federal economic statistics programs.
Related Programs: Census
of Construction Industries, Census of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate, Census of
Manufactures, Census of Mineral Industries, Census of Retail Trade, Census of Service
Industries, Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities, Census of Wholesale
Trade, Company Organization Survey, County Business Patterns, Annual Survey of
Manufactures, and Industrial Products
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