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.