Economic Census of Island Areas

Versión en Español

Industry Classifications  Historical Information  Scope   Sources of Data

Economic Programs

Economic Programs are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during non-decennial census years. These programs cover virtually every sector of the economy, feature unique industry and geographic statistics, and provide information that is critical for understanding the changing economic structure and performance of the United States and its territories. They yield data products from the economic census covering years ending in "2" and "7." For the United States, a variety of current surveys are also conducted on a more frequent basis (monthly, quarterly, and annually). Economic Programs statistics are widely used by policy officials, economic analysts, business decision-makers, and the news media.

Purposes and Uses of the Economic Census of Island Areas

The Economic Census of Island Areas is the major source of facts about the structure and functioning of the economy of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. 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 of Island Areas furnishes an important part of the framework for such composite measures as the gross domestic product/gross island product estimates, input/output measures, and other statistical series that measure short-term 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, as well as 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.

Comparability

The 2007 and 2002 Economic Censuses present data based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The changes between 2002 and 2007 NAICS have had a much smaller impact on the comparability of data between the 2007 and 2002 censuses than the change from SIC to NAICS had between the 1997 and 2002 censuses. Additional information about NAICS is available from the NAICS website.

For the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, 2007 employment figures are not comparable with 2002 data due to changes introduced in the employment question. The 2007 economic census questionnaire requested the respondents to provide the number of employees for the pay period including March 12, 2007 for whom Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes were withheld, as well as the employees for whom FICA taxes were not withheld. Whereas, in 2002 the survey question requested the number of employees for whom FICA taxes were withheld. The number of respondents who provided total FICA or non-FICA number of employees in 2002 is unknown.

The economic census includes, for the first time since 1992, the Petroleum Refineries (NAICS 32411) for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The inclusion of government-operated business data in the 2007 Economic Census limits the comparability of several sectors within the island areas. See below a list of the sectors that are affected for each island area:

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

• Sector 48-49, Transportation and Warehousing (NAICS 4881, Support Activities for Air Transportation)
• Sector 52, Finance and Insurance (NAICS 5221, Depository Credit Remediation and 5241, Insurance Carriers)
• Sector 56, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS 5615, Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services).

Guam

• Sector 22, Utilities (NAICS 2213, Water, Sewage and Other Systems and 22111 Electric Power Generation)
• Sectors 48-49, Transportation and Warehousing (48831, Port and Harbor Operations)
• Sub-sector 517, Telecommunications, NAICS 517211, Paging and 517212, Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications were re-grouped into NAICS 51721, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite). Additionally, industry group 5173, Telecommunications resellers, is classified under 517911, Telecommunications Resellers, and 5175, Cable and Other Program Distribution is classified under 51741, Satellite Telecommunications.

U.S. Virgin Islands

• Sector 22, Utilities (NAICS 22111, Electric Power Generation)
• Sector 56, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS 56211 Waste Collection)
• Sector 48-49, Transportation and Warehousing (NAICS 48831 Port and Harbor Operations).

American Samoa

• Sector 22, Utilities (NAICS 22111, Electric Power Generation).

Historical Information

The economic census has been taken at 5-year intervals for the following areas, except where noted below:

• American Samoa — Since 2002
• Guam — Since 1958
• Commonwealth the Northern Mariana Islands — Since 1982
• U.S. Virgin Islands — Since 1958
• Puerto Rico — Economic censuses were conducted beginning with a census of manufactures for 1909 and continuing at 10-year intervals through 1949, excepting 1929. Wholesale and retail trades and services industries were included as part of the economic censuses for 1939. Starting with 1949 through 2002, the censuses of wholesale and retail trades and service industries have been conducted concurrently with the census of manufactures. The census of construction industries has been included since 1967. Congress has authorized the economic censuses to be taken at 5-year intervals covering years ending in "2" and "7."

The range of industries covered in the economic census for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico was broadened in 2002. Sectors added for the first time in 2002 include information, finance and insurance, real estate, health care, and other service industries.

Printed statistical reports from the 2002 and earlier censuses provide historical data for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and are available in some libraries. Printed reports from 1997 and earlier censuses provide historical data for Puerto Rico. Reports for 1992 and 1997 are also available in portable document format (PDF) on the Internet.

Geographic Area Coding

Accurate and complete information on the physical location of each establishment is required to tabulate the census data for municipalities, districts, towns, villages, counties, municipios, or islands. Respondents were required to report their physical location (street address or location description and municipality, district, town, village, county, municipio, or island) if it differed from their mailing address. For those establishments that did not provide acceptable information on physical location, location information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax forms or from the previous census is used as a basis for coding.

Geographic Areas Covered

The level of geographic detail covered varies by island. Data may be presented for:

• The Island (American Samoa (AS), Guam (GU), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (VI))
• County equivalent areas (districts (AS), election districts (GU), municipalities (CNMI), municipios (PR) and islands (VI))
• Place equivalent areas (counties (AS) and towns (VI))
• Commercial regions (Presented only for PR Geographic Area Series (GAS).)
• Metropolitan Statistical Areas (Presented only for PR construction and manufacturing industry series, including Combined Statistical Areas (Combined Areas) Metropolitan Statistical Areas (Metro Areas) and Micropolitan Statistical Areas (Micro Areas).) Almost all geographic areas (including places, counties, commercial regions and metropolitan areas) published in the 2007 Economic Census are as of January 1, 2007. Therefore, if a geographic entity has changed boundaries since that date, those changes are not reflected in the 2007 Economic Census tabulations.

A detailed overview of the geographies for the 2007 Economic Census can be found in the "Geography" topic in the Guide to the Economic Census. The information presented includes geographic area definitions, reference maps, and geographic notes that outline changes within each island since the 2002 Economic Census. Also provided are reference lists of places added and dropped for the 2007 Economic Census.

Basis of Reporting

The economic census is conducted on an establishment basis. A company operating at more than one location is required to file a separate report for each store, factory, shop, or other location. Each establishment is assigned a separate industry classification based on its primary activity and not that of its parent company.

Sources of Data

The 2007 Economic Census of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands was conducted by mail. The economic census for American Samoa was conducted using a combination of mail and personal enumeration. Descriptions of the sources of data for the island areas follow:

1. Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — A census form was mailed to all employer firms (employers of one person or more) in operation at any time during 2007 and classified as being within the scope of the census. One single report form was used to collect data for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nine separate report forms (Utilities, Transportation, and Warehousing; Construction; Manufacturing; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing; Accommodation Services; Services; and General Schedule) with English and Spanish versions were used to collect data for Puerto Rico. Firms were instructed to return their completed report form by mail. A telephone follow-up was conducted to obtain information from selected firms that failed to return their report form.
2. The governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, under the provisions in Title 13 of the United States Code, Section 191(b), were responsible for contacting respondents about overdue census forms. The Chief Economist of the Department of Labor in Guam and the Director of the Central Statistics Division, Department of Commerce in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, supervised the local activities. Staff from the Census Bureau trained the project leaders, supervisors, and interviewers in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively. Staff from the Department of Labor in Guam and the Department of Commerce in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, who worked with census data, were sworn to uphold the confidentiality of the data. The Census Bureau worked with the Department of Labor and the Central Statistics Division to collect information for nonrespondent establishments. Interviewers were instructed to contact establishments by telephone to obtain the required information. Personal interviews were conducted to obtain data from establishments that requested a personal visit or could not be contacted by telephone. Quality checks were performed to ensure that the necessary reports were obtained.
3. American Samoa — A combination of mail and personal enumeration was used to conduct the economic census of American Samoa. Data were collected for establishments with and without employees that were in operation during 2007. A single report form was used to collect data for American Samoa.
   
   
   1. Employer establishments — Establishments with payroll were sent a report form to be completed and returned to the Census Bureau by mail. A telephone follow-up was conducted to collect information for establishments that failed to answer the census.
   2. Nonemployer establishments — Data for nonemployer establishments were collected through personal enumeration. The Government of American Samoa collected the data under the provisions in Title 13 of the United States Code, Section 191(b). The Chief Statistician of the Statistics Division at the American Samoa Department of Commerce supervised the field enumeration and follow-up of nonemployer and nonrespondent employer establishments referred by the Census Bureau. All persons working with census data were sworn to maintain the confidentiality of Census Bureau information. Census Advisors trained the project leader as well as the interviewers. The advisors worked with local staff to ensure that Census Bureau standards and procedures were followed.
   3. American Samoa was divided into four enumeration zones — Manu'a Islands, Eastern, Central, and Western districts of Tutuila. Nonemployer establishments were identified from the American Samoa Government Business License List. Interviewers were provided with an assignment list that included the establishments assigned for interview and a labeled report form for each establishment listed. The interviewers obtained information about months in operation, physical location, sales/receipts, employment and payroll, expenses, kind of business, sales by class of customer, description of merchandise sold, construction work done, products produced, or services provided, legal form of organization, ownership status, and status of the establishment at the end of 2007. A consistency review was performed on every report form to ensure the accuracy of the reported data.

The report forms used to collect information for establishments in the island areas are available at the Get Forms Page.

A more detailed examination of census methodology is presented in the History of the 2007 Economic Census.

Industry Classification of Establishments

The classifications for all establishments are based on the North American Industry Classification System, United States, 2007 manual. The method of assigning classifications and the level of detail at which establishments are classified depends on whether a report form was obtained for the establishment.

• Establishments that returned a report form are classified on the basis of their self-designation, detail/description of product lines sold, type of construction work done, products produced, or services provided, and other industry-specific inquiries.
• Establishments that did not return a report form are classified on the basis of information obtained from previous survey data and administrative records of other government agencies.

Industry Classifications

Data from the 2007 Economic Census are published primarily according to the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas covers the following NAICS sectors:

• 21 Mining
• 22 Utilities
• 23 Construction
• 31-33 Manufacturing
• 42 Wholesale Trade
• 44-45 Retail Trade
• 48-49 Transportation and Warehousing
• 51 Information
• 52 Finance and Insurance
• 53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
• 54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• 55 Management of Companies and Enterprises
• 56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
• 61 Educational Services
• 62 Health Care and Social Assistance
• 71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
• 72 Accommodation and Food Services
• 81 Other Services (except Public Administration)

(Not covered in the economic census are the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting sector (NAICS 11), Elementary and Secondary Schools (NAICS 6111), Junior Colleges (NAICS 6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (NAICS 6113), and the Public Administration sector (NAICS 92). The economic census includes, for the first time since 1992, the Petroleum Refineries (NAICS 32411) for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The 18 NAICS sectors are subdivided into 86 subsectors (3-digit codes), 286 industry groups (4-digit codes), and 650 NAICS industries (5-digit codes).

Scope

Data from the 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas are published using the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The structure of the NAICS system becomes progressively narrower with successive additions of numerical digits. An establishment is classified in a particular industry on the basis of its self-designation, as well as answers to other survey questions. The 2007 Island Areas Economic Census covers the following NAICS sectors:

21 Mining

The mining sector comprises establishments that extract naturally occurring mineral solids, such as coal and ores; liquid minerals, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gas. The most common type of mining activity in the island areas comprises stone quarrying. The mining sector distinguishes two basic activities: mine operation and mining support activities. Establishments are grouped and classified according to the natural resource mined or to be mined. Industries include establishments that develop the mine site, extract the natural resources, and/or those that beneficiate (i.e., prepare) the mineral mined.

22 Utilities

The utilities sector comprises establishments engaged in the provision of the following utility services: electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply, and sewage removal. Activities associated with the utility services provided vary by utility: electric power includes generation, transmission, and distribution; natural gas includes distribution; steam supply includes provision and/or distribution; water supply includes treatment and distribution; and sewage removal includes collection, treatment, and disposal of waste through sewer systems and sewage treatment facilities.

23 Construction

The construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector.

Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the owners of construction projects or (2) contracts with other construction establishments.

Establishments primarily engaged in contracts that include responsibility for all aspects of individual construction projects are commonly known as general contractors, but also may be known as design-builders, construction managers, turnkey contractors, or (in cases where two or more establishments jointly secure a general contract) joint-venture contractors. Construction managers that provide oversight and scheduling only (i.e., agency) as well as construction managers that are responsible for the entire project (i.e., at risk) are included as general contractor type establishments. Establishments of the "general contractor" type frequently arrange construction of separate parts of their projects through subcontracts with other construction establishments.

Establishments primarily engaged in activities to produce a specific component (e.g., masonry, painting, and electrical work) of a construction project are commonly known as specialty trade contractors. Activities of specialty trade contractors are usually subcontracted from other construction establishments, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, the work may be done directly for the owner of the property.

Establishments primarily engaged in activities to construct buildings to be sold on sites that they own are known as operative builders, but also may be known as speculative builders or merchant builders. Operative builders produce buildings in a manner similar to general contractors, but their production processes also include site acquisition and securing of financial backing. Operative builders are most often associated with the construction of residential buildings. Like general contractors, they may subcontract all or part of the actual construction work on their buildings.

There are substantial differences in the types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by establishments in this sector. To highlight these differences and variations in the underlying production functions, this sector is divided into three subsectors.

Subsector 236, Construction of Buildings, comprises establishments of the general contractor type and operative builders involved in the construction of buildings. Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, comprises establishments involved in the construction of engineering projects. Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors, comprises establishments engaged in specialty trade activities generally needed in the construction of all types of buildings.

Information for the construction sector is not included in the Geographic Area Series data files for Puerto Rico.

31-33 Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Manufacturing establishments from this sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and materials-handling equipment. The subsectors in the manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the workers home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing.

The tabulations for this sector do not include central administrative offices, warehouses, or other establishments that serve retail establishments within the same organization. Data for such establishments are classified according to the nature of the service they provide. For example, separate headquarters establishments are reported in NAICS sector 55, Management of Companies and Enterprises.

The economic census includes, for the first time since 1992, the Petroleum Refineries (NAICS 32411) for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Information for the manufacturing sector is not included in the Geographic Area Series data files for Puerto Rico.

42 Wholesale Trade

The wholesale trade sector comprises establishments engaged in wholesaling merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The wholesaling process is an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise. Wholesalers are organized to sell or arrange the purchase or sale of goods for resale (i.e., goods sold to other wholesalers or retailers), capital or durable nonconsumer goods, or raw and intermediate materials and supplies used in production. Wholesalers normally operate from a warehouse or office. This sector comprises two main types of wholesalers: those that sell goods on their own account known as wholesale merchants and those that arrange sales and purchases for others generally for a commission or fee.

44-45 Retail Trade

The retail trade sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise. Retailers sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public. This sector comprises two main types of retailers: store and nonstore retailers. Store retailers operate fixed point-of-sale locations to attract walk-in customers. Nonstore retailers, also serve the general public by reaching customers and marketing merchandise with methods, such as the broadcasting of "infomercials," the broadcasting and publishing of direct-response advertising, the publishing of paper and electronic catalogs, door-to-door solicitation, in-home demonstration, selling from portable stalls (street vendors, except food), and distribution through vending machines.

48-49 Transportation and Warehousing

The transportation and warehousing sector includes industries providing transportation of passengers and cargo, warehousing and storage for goods, scenic and sightseeing transportation, and support activities related to modes of transportation. The modes of transportation are air, rail, water, road, and pipeline. This sector distinguishes three basic types of activities: subsectors for each mode of transportation, a subsector for warehousing and storage, and a subsector for establishments providing support activities for transportation. In addition, there are subsectors for establishments that provide passenger transportation for scenic and sightseeing purposes, postal services, and courier services.

51 Information

The Information sector comprises establishments engaged in producing and distributing information and cultural products, providing the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications, and processing data. The main components of this sector are the publishing industries, including software publishing, and both traditional publishing and publishing exclusively on the Internet; the motion picture and sound recording industries; the broadcasting industries, including traditional broadcasting and those broadcasting exclusively over the Internet; the telecommunications industries; the industries known as Internet service providers and Web search portals, data processing industries and the information services industries.

52 Finance and Insurance

The finance and insurance sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in financial transactions and/or in facilitating financial transactions. Three principal types of activities are identified: Raising funds by taking deposits and/or issuing securities and, in the process, incurring liabilities; pooling of risk by underwriting insurance and annuities; and providing specialized services facilitating or supporting financial intermediation, insurance, and employee benefit programs. Monetary authorities charged with monetary control are also included in this sector.

53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

The real estate and rental and leasing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in renting, leasing, or otherwise allowing the use of tangible or intangible assets, and establishments providing related services. This sector also includes establishments engaged in managing real estate for others, selling, renting and/or buying real estate for others, and appraising real estate.

54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector comprises establishments that specialize in performing professional, scientific, and technical activities for others. The establishments in this sector specialize according to expertise and provide to a variety of industries and households. Activities performed include: legal advice and representation; accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll services; architectural, engineering, and specialized design services; computer services; consulting services; research services; advertising services; photographic services; translation and interpretation services; veterinary services; and other professional, scientific, and technical services.

55 Management of Companies and Enterprises

The management of companies and enterprises sector comprises establishments that hold the securities of companies and enterprises for the purpose of owning a controlling interest or influencing management decisions or establishments (except government establishments) that administer, oversee, and manage establishments of the company or enterprise and that normally undertake the strategic or organizational planning and decision-making role of the company or enterprise. Establishments that administer, oversee, and manage may hold the securities of the company or enterprise.

56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

The administrative and support and waste management and remediation services sector comprises establishments performing routine support activities for the day-to-day operations of other organizations. Establishments in many sectors of the economy often undertake these essential activities in-house. The establishments in this sector specialize in one or more of these support activities and provide these services to clients in a variety of industries and, in some cases, to households. Activities performed include: office administration, hiring and placing of personnel, document preparation and similar clerical services, solicitation, collection, security and surveillance services, cleaning, and waste disposal services.

61 Educational Services

The educational services sector comprises establishments that provide instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects. This instruction and training is provided by specialized establishments, such as schools, colleges, universities, and training centers. These establishments may be privately owned and operated for profit or not for profit, or they may be publicly owned and operated. They may also offer food and accommodation services to their students.

The economic census of island areas excludes Elementary and Secondary Schools (NAICS 6111); Junior Colleges (NAICS 6112); and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (NAICS 6113).

62 Health Care and Social Assistance

The health care and social assistance sector comprises establishments providing health care and social assistance for individuals. The sector includes both health care and social assistance because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the boundaries of these two activities. The services provided by establishments in this sector are delivered by trained professionals. All industries in the sector share this commonality of process, namely, labor inputs of health practitioners or social workers with the requisite expertise. Many of the industries in the sector are defined based on the educational degree held by the practitioners included in the industry.

71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector includes a wide range of establishments that operate facilities or provide services to meet varied cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of their patrons. This sector comprises establishments that are involved in producing, promoting, or participating in live performances, events, or exhibits intended for public viewing, establishments that preserve and exhibit objects and sites of historical, cultural, or educational interest, and establishments that operate facilities or provide services that enable patrons to participate in recreational activities or pursue amusement, hobby, and leisure time interests.

72 Accommodation and Food Services

The accommodation and food services sector comprises establishments providing customers with lodging and/or preparing meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate consumption. The sector includes both accommodation and food services establishments because the two activities are often combined at the same establishment.

81 Other Services (except Public Administration)

The other services (except public administration) sector comprises establishments engaged in providing services not specifically provided for elsewhere in the classification system. Establishments in this sector are primarily engaged in activities such as equipment and machinery repairing, promoting or administering religious activities, grantmaking, advocacy, and providing drycleaning and laundry services, personal care services, death care services, pet care services, photofinishing services, temporary parking services, and dating services.

(Not covered are the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting sector (NAICS 11); Elementary and Secondary Schools (NAICS 6111); Junior Colleges (NAICS 6112); Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (NAICS 6113); and the Public Administration sector (NAICS 92). The economic census includes, for the first time since 1992, the Petroleum Refineries (NAICS 32411) for the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

Relationship to Historical Industry Classifications

Prior to the 2002 Economic Census of Island Areas, data were published according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. While many of the individual NAICS industries correspond directly to industries as defined under the SIC system, most of the higher level groupings do not. Particular care should be taken in comparing data for retail trade, wholesale trade and manufacturing, which are sector titles used in both NAICS and SIC, but cover somewhat different groups of industries. Where changes are significant, it may not be possible to construct time series that include data for points both before and after 2002.

Most industry classifications remained unchanged between 2002 and 2007; but NAICS 2007 includes slight revisions within the Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33), Information (NAICS 51), Finance and Insurance (NAICS 52), Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (NAICS 53), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (NAICS 54), and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS 56) sectors.

Reliability of Data

All data compiled in these sets of data files originated from a complete enumeration and, therefore, are not subject to sampling variability. However, the data are subject to nonsampling errors. Nonsampling errors can be attributed to many sources including: inability to identify all cases in the actual universe; inability or unwillingness on the part of respondents to provide correct information; definition and classification difficulties; response errors and bias; errors in collection or processing; misinterpretation of questions; and other errors of recording, keying, and estimation for missing or misreported data.

No direct measurement of these effects has been obtained. Precautionary steps were taken in all phases of the collection, processing, and tabulation of the data in an effort to minimize the effects of nonsampling errors. More information on the reliability of the data is included in the Methodology.

Dollar Values

All dollar values presented are expressed in current dollars. All dollar values are shown in thousands of dollars.

Disclosure

In accordance with federal law governing census reports (Title 13 of the United States Code, Section 9), no data are published that would disclose the operations of an individual establishment or business. However, the number of establishments in a kind-of-business classification is not considered a disclosure; therefore, this information may be released. Cell values that have a potential for revealing confidential information must be suppressed or have their values perturbed by using the "Noise Infusion" technique described below.

Noise Infusion

Noise infusion is a method of disclosure avoidance in which values for each firm are perturbed prior to table creation by applying a random noise multiplier to the magnitude data (i.e., characteristics such as receipts, payroll, and number of employees) for each company. Disclosure protection is accomplished in a manner that results in a relatively small change in the vast majority of cell values. For the 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas, each published cell value has an associated noise flag, indicating the relative amount of distortion in the cell value resulting from the perturbation of the data for the contributors to the cell. The flag for ‘low noise’ (G) indicates the cell value was changed by less than 2 percent with the application of noise, and the flag for ‘moderate noise’ (H) indicates the value was changed by 2 percent or more but less than 8 percent. Cells that have been changed by 8 percent or more are suppressed from the published tables. Additionally, other cells in the table may be suppressed for additional protection from disclosure or because the quality of the data does not meet publication standards. Though some of these suppressed cells may be derived by subtraction, the results are not official and may differ substantially from the true estimate.

The number of firms in a particular tabulation cell is not considered a disclosure of confidential information about an individual establishment; therefore, this information may be released without the infusion of noise. For an introduction to the noise confidentiality protection method, see Using Noise for Disclosure Limitation of Establishment Tabular Data [PDF 105KB] by Timothy Evans, Laura Zayatz, and John Slanta in the Journal of Official Statistics (1998).

Treatment of Nonresponse

Census report forms included two types of inquiries: general inquiries and industry-specific inquiries. Data for the general inquiries, which include location, kind of business or operation, payroll, and number of employees, were available from a combination of sources for all establishments. Data for industry-specific inquiries, tailored to particular kinds of business, were available only from those establishments that completed the appropriate inquiries on the report form.

For total nonresponse cases (report forms not returned) and missing items, the establishment's administrative records information was used in conjunction with industry averages, prior period data, and outside reference sources to estimate general and industry-specific inquiries. Large nonresponse cases were contacted to obtain information for general and industry-specific inquiries, as appropriate.

When reporting was incomplete or inadequate, product-line data for Puerto Rico wholesale and retail trades were expanded on the premise that data for those establishments not reporting this information are similar to product-line data for those establishments in the same kind of business that reported this information. In the 2007 Economic Census, the method used to account for nonresponse to product-line inquiries was to expand the total of reported data to represent 100 percent of the universe. Data presented for product lines were expanded in direct relationship to total sales of all establishments included in the category. A similar expansion was done using the number of establishments that reported product lines to adjust the establishment count.

Availability of Additional Data

Electronic Data Files

All results of the 2007 Economic Census will be available on the American FactFinder system at the Web site (www.census.gov). The system allows selective retrieval and downloading of the data. For more information, including a description of electronic data files being released, see the Internet site, write to U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0801, or call Customer Services at 301-763-4100.

Special Tabulations

Special tabulations of data collected in the 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas may be obtained, depending on availability of time and personnel, in electronic or tabular form. The data will be summaries subject to the same rules prohibiting disclosure of confidential information (including name, address, kind of business, or other data for individual business establishments or companies) that govern the regular data files.

Special tabulations are prepared on a cost basis. A request for a cost estimate, as well as exact specifications on the type and format of the data to be provided, should be directed to the Chief of the Economic Census Branch, Company Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-6400.