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Questions and Answers about the 2007 Economic Census

This December, 2007, most businesses across the nation received their 2007 Economic Census forms. The forms were due February 12, 2008.

Why does the government take the Economic Census?

Good public policy depends on accurate information. The Economic Census provides official measures of output for industries and geographic areas, and serves as the cornerstone of the nation’s economic statistics, providing key source data for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other indicators of economic performance.

How many businesses received 2007 Economic Census forms?

About 4.7 million businesses received census forms, most in the week of December 17. See estimates for your industry or geographic area.

How do businesses get picked for the Census?

Economic Census forms are sent to all but the smallest businesses in every industry and geographic area of the U.S. Although the precise cutoff varies from industry to industry, most businesses with four or more paid employees, and a sample of smaller ones, will receive a census form.

What should a business person do if his or her business did not receive an Economic Census form?

Generally, nothing. To reduce the burden on American businesses, the Census Bureau does not send Economic Census forms to most very small firms. At companies with more than one location, all forms are sent to the company headquarters; so most staff never see a census form.

Can businesses report electronically?

Yes! Businesses can report electronically, downloading special software with an spreadsheet-style look and feel, and returning their data in a highly secure environment. See www.census.gov/econhelp for more information.

How can a business get assistance if they have questions about filling out the forms?

Businesses can reach a Census Bureau representative at our toll-free "help line" (1-800-233-6136), 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday excluding holidays.

An Internet-based "Business Help Site" (www.census.gov/econhelp) answers many questions and provides business services.

Businesses can send e-mail messages through a secure area of the Business Help site (www.census.gov/econhelp/securemail)

Are business responses to the Economic Census kept confidential?

Yes! Business answers are protected by federal law — Title 13, United States Code — under penalty of fines or imprisonment. Individual responses are seen only by persons sworn to uphold the confidentiality of Census Bureau information and may be used only for statistical purposes. Confidential information on census forms is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. No business competitor can obtain the responses of another company, and even copies retained in respondents’ files are immune from legal process.

What is the penalty for not responding?

The census law (Title 13, United States Code, Section 224), coupled with the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (Title 18, Sections 3551, 3559, and 3571), provides for penalties of up to $5,000 for failure to report, and $10,000 for intentionally providing false information.

Why do we need an Economic Census when surveys provide more timely figures?

The Economic Census provides comprehensive details about the United States economy, from the National to the local level. Surveys — like Retail Sales — provide timely information, but only for particular industries or sectors. Since surveys are based on samples that include only a small fraction of all businesses, they can't supply the geographic and other details that are unique to the census.

Economic Census data about industries, their inputs and outputs, and how they relate to each other, are available nowhere else. Census totals also serve as benchmarks to keep our surveys accurate.

What’s new about the 2007 Economic Census?

• Questions about franchising, outsourcing and health and pension benefit expenses were added to selected forms to better measure changing business characteristics.
• More industries will report sales and revenue sources according to the new North American Product Classification System, which will provide product data that are comparable across government agencies.
• Questions about leased employees, supply chain, and e-commerce have been deleted from report forms.

When and how will people see the results of the 2007 Economic Census?

The first census results will be available in early 2009 when the “Advance” report provides totals for all economic sectors right at the start. All census results will be issued on the Internet over a 2-year period.

Can businesses use Economic Census results?

Economic Census data help businesses...

• compare industries and locations
• develop business plans
• locate facilities, define markets, gauge the competition, attract investment, manage sales and assess efficiency

There are many examples of how people use the data.

What other information can I get on this Web site?

business.census.gov has:

• Samples of every 2007 Economic Census form
• Estimates of the number of forms being mailed by state, county, and metro area, and by industry sector
• Data from the 2002 Economic Census for every industry and for each state, county, city, or metro area.
• Materials you can use to tell your colleagues, members, or readers about the Economic Census

Counting American Business.   Charting America's Progress.