Enterprise Statistics

Historical Enterprise Statistics Data

From the 1954 through the 1992 Economic Censuses, the Census Bureau published a collection of Enterprise Statistics reports. As stated in the most recent report of this series (for 1992):

"Essentially, the enterprise statistics program involves aggregating the census data records of establishments that are under common ownership or control and assigning company codes to show various economic characteristics of the firms that own or control the establishments."

Over the years, the number of reports published in each census has varied. In 1954, two reports were published — a company summary report and a report on auxiliary units (central administrative offices and auxiliaries). For 1958, 1963, and 1967, a report linking census establishment reports with tax return reports was published but subsequently discontinued due to limited use (though these tables were still provided to the Bureau of Economic Analysis for several more censuses). In later economic censuses, tables on mergers and acquisitions and tables presenting data for large companies were published. The last report was published in 1992; it included a company summary, large company data, and data on auxiliary units.

For the 1992 and earlier Enterprise Statistics Programs, the following reports were published:

Large Companies reports provide national statistics for companies with 500 or more employees about two and one-half years after the reference year. Data include selected company operating and financial data by industry, industry diversification patterns, employment and asset size, and historical comparisons.

Auxiliary Establishment reports provide national and state data for auxiliary establishments about 3 years after the reference year. Statistics include location, primary functions, employment by type of work, and selected operating and financial data.

Company Summary reports provide basic data for all census covered multi-unit companies about three and one-half years after the reference year.