To provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about financial, insurance, and real estate establishments and their activities. The United States Code, Title 13, requires this census and provides for mandatory responses.
All domestic establishments that provide financial, insurance, or real estate services. These are businesses classified in SIC Division H. Prior to 1992, land subdividers and developers, except cemeteries (SIC 6552), were covered by the census of construction. In 1992, there were an estimated 2.5 million employer and nonemployer establishments in these industries, with total receipts of $1.9 trillion.
Basic data obtained for all reporting units include kind of business; geographic location; revenue; annual and first quarter payroll; and the number of employees for the pay period including March 12. Establishments receiving a census form provide additional data such as revenue by source and other industry-specific measures. Multi-unit firms in certain industries report revenue and related output measures consolidated to the state level. These industries are commercial banks; savings institutions; credit unions; life insurance; hospital and medical service plans; fire, marine, and casualty insurance; and surety insurance.
Every 5 years, beginning in 1992, for years ending in "2" and "7." Data collection begins in December of the census year and reports are due in about 8 weeks. Data are requested for activities taking place during the census calendar year.
A mail-out/mail-back data collection for all establishments of multi-unit companies and most single-establishment employers; administrative records data for some small employers and all nonemployers. Most multi-unit firms receive a census form for each establishment; however, multi-unit firms in selected industries receive only a census report for each state in which the firm operates.
Single establishment employer firms receive a census form if they are not classified as insurance agents and brokers (SIC 64), or if they are classified in this industry and have annualized payrolls above a size cutoff. Employer establishments in SIC 64 that are below the size cutoff are sampled using a stratified sample with strata based on kind of business and geography. Basic data for small employers not selected in this sample and all nonemployers are obtained from Federal administrative records. For SIC 64, estimates of revenue by source and other industry-specific data are based partly on small employer sample results.
Geographic Area Series reports will consist of one publication with data by kind of business for the U.S., each state, the District of Columbia, and metropolitan areas. Tabulations will present statistics for establishments with payroll, including number of establishments, revenue, annual and first quarter payroll, and employment.
The Nonemployer Statistics Series will consist of one publication. Tabulations for the U.S. and states will show number of establishments and revenue by kind of business for all establishments, establishments with payroll, and establishments without payroll. Tabulations for metropolitan areas will summarize these data only for establishments without payroll.
Subject Series reports will consist of 3 volumes: Establishment and Firm Size, Sources of Revenue, and Miscellaneous Subjects.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis will use the data to benchmark the national income and product accounts and input-output tables. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will use data in developing productivity measures. The Census Bureau will use the data in sampling and benchmarking coverage of real estate agents and managers in the service annual survey.
Trade associations will use census data to analyze their industry. Financial, insurance, and real estate enterprises will use census data to determine their market share, evaluate their performance relative to the rest of the industry, and develop marketing strategies.
The first complete enumeration of key service industries, and only source of detailed industry and geographic data.
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revised 07/31/96
