ECONOMIC CENSUS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE ISLAND AREAS: PUERTO RICO
(formerly Economic Census of Outlying Areas)

PURPOSE

To provide periodic and comprehensive data on economic activity and structure at the municipio level. The United States Code, Title 13, requires this survey and provides for mandatory responses. The Puerto Rico Planning Board provides assistance.

COVERAGE

All establishments with paid employees that are engaged in construction, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, or certain service activities. In 2002, over 44,000 establishments were enumerated.

CONTENT

All contacted establishments provide data on total sales, receipts, or value of shipments, kind of business, legal form of organization, employment, annual and first quarter payroll, sources of sales, and other industry specific measures such as number of hotel rooms or manufacturing export shipments.

FREQUENCY

Every 5 years, currently taken for years ending in "2" and "7" coinciding with the U.S. economic censuses. The five year cycle began in 1949. A census of manufactures was taken in 1909 and continued at 10-year intervals through 1949 except for 1929. Retail trade, wholesale trade, and service industries censuses were added in 1939. Construction industries was added in 1967. Reported data are for activity taking place throughout the census year.

METHODS

A mail-out/mail-back census of employer establishments. All known employers report data on one form and no information is collected for establishments without payroll.

A memorandum of understanding outlines the responsibilities for conducting the censuses between the Census Bureau and the Puerto Rico Planning Board. The Planning Board is consulted during the design stage; provides data on lottery and horse racing from their administrative records; and helps in publicizing the census.

PRODUCTS

For 2002, a series of 3 reports are published under the title Economic Census of Island Areas, Puerto Rico.

The Manufacturing report contains general employer statistics for industry groups by legal form of organization, sales and receipts by size, employment by size, and value of shipments exported. Statistics on industry groups are presented by the municipio and metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

The Construction report contains general employer statistics for industry groups by legal form of organization, and employment by size. Statistics on industry groups are presented by the municipio and MSA level.

The Geographic Area Statistics report contains statistics for Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, and Service Industries. This report includes general statistics for industry groups by the municipio and commercial region level, as well as data on merchandise line sales by kind-of-business. .

USES

The Commonwealth Government uses data to benchmark estimates of net income and gross product of Puerto Rico. Municipio governments use census data to assess business activities within their jurisdiction and estimate municipio revenue. The private sector uses the data to forecast general economic conditions; analyze sales performance; lay out sales territories; and measure potential markets.