ECONOMIC CENSUS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE ISLAND AREAS: AMERICAN SAMOA
(formerly Economic Census of Outlying Areas)
PURPOSE AND USES OF THE ECONOMIC CENSUS
The economic census is the major source of facts about the structure and functioning of the
economy. It provides essential information for government, business, industry, and the general
public. Title 13 of the United States Code (Sections 131, 191, and 224) directs the Census Bureau
to take the economic census every 5 years, covering years ending in 2 and 7.
The economic census furnishes an important part of the framework for such composite measures
as the local gross product, input/output measures, and other statistical series that measure shortterm
changes in economic conditions. Specific uses of economic census data include the following:
• Policymaking agencies of the federal government use the data to monitor economic activity and
to provide assistance to business.
• Local governments use the data to assess business activities and tax bases within their jurisdictions
and to develop programs to attract business.
• Trade associations study trends in their own and competing industries, which allows them to
keep their members informed of market changes.
• Individual businesses use the data to locate potential markets and to analyze their own production
and sales performance relative to industry or area averages.
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