Economic Census
- Economic Census"Every 5 years, the U.S. Census Bureau collects extensive statistics about businesses that are essential to understanding the American economy. " Includes data such as Total Number of Establishments; Value of Sales, Shipments, Receipts, Revenue; Primary Business Activity; Total Number of Employees; Total Annual Payroll; Total First Quarter Payroll; and industry specific statistics. You may want to search by state or release.
- Economic Census: Publications"All publications from economic censuses from 1967 onward are available online. " Some are listed on this page or on pages described here.
- Economic Census: Geographic CoverageTables for 2017 and 2012 census showing coverage at the US, States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places. Other table showing other economic programs and their coverage.
- Economic Census Prior to 2012Link to FTP access to the Economic Census prior to 2012.
- History of the Economic CensusUS Census Department's history of the Economic Census and other surveys.
Other Census Reports & Tools
- Census Business Builder (CBB)US Census Bureau products to access to demographic and economic data in dynamic formats. The two tools are the Small Business Edition and the Regional Analysts Edition. Each tool provides interactive maps, customizable dashboards, and download features.
- Economic Indicators (Census)Census Department release calendar with recent data and links.
- Longitudinal Employer-Household DynamicsUS Census data, coupled with state data, on employment.
Topics include commuting, employment density, employment by sex, age, and industry, employee turnover, etc. Features the On the Map dynamic mapping tool.
Note: In addition to the Economic Census, the Census Bureau published several popular survey, which are listed on the Guide to Data Sources. Some of these include: the Annual Survey of Manufactures, Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, County Business Patterns, Current Industrial Reports, Service Annual Survey, and Survey of Business Owners.
Agriculture Census
- Census of Agriculturemain page at NASS for Agriculture Census data
- Census of Agriculture Historical ArchiveCensus of Agriculture data back to 1840 from the Department of Agriculture.
Note: Starting with the 1992 Agriculture Census, this data is produced by the Agriculture Department.
Economic Census Comparability
Comparability of statistics
Comparability over time is possible, to some extent, with the Economic Censuses. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) scheme, by which most information in the reports was organized through 1992, underwent a drastic revision in 1972. Comparability of recent data with that from Censuses dated before this time, therefore, is essentially impossible. The introduction of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in 1997 presents other continuity problems. Finally, there is also some variation of geographical definitions from census to census.
More information on comparability can be found in History of the Economic Censuses. C 3.253/3:982,987,992,997, includes chapters on comparability of statistics over time as well as discussions of data gathering, sample forms, definitions, etc., for the years indicated. The chapter in the 1997 edition on the NAICS system is particularly important for issues of comparability with previous Censuses, which used the SIC system.
For more details on Census geography look at the Geographic Reference Manuals. C 3.253:EC [yr.]-R-1, which gives numerical codes used to identify counties, places, metropolitan areas, etc. Editions for the 1977,1982, 1987 and 1992 Censuses are available.
- Comparing Historical DataCensus Bureau essay on the issue of comparing data published in the Economic Census
- Concordances (SIC & NAICS)Tables providing detailed descriptions of the relationships between classification systems.
Print: Economic Census
The Economic Censuses are a set of surveys of economic activity taken every five years.The Blume Library has reports in some series back to 1963. The yearly schedule has shifted somewhat, but for most of this period the Censuses are dated in years ending in -2 or -7. For example: 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, etc.
The 2002 Economic Census is the last one for which the Library has printed or CD reports. We will not be receiving data in tangible form for later dates. More recent data is available from the Census Bureau website.
CDs and DVDs must be requested at the Circulation Counter and may be checked out by St. Mary's students, faculty and staff for 7 days. Non-St. Mary's users may use them in the Library. They are located in a filing cabinet in the Government Documents area, in the Blume Library office.
Economic CensusCall Number: C 3.277Various years of the Economic Census. The 2002 Economic Census is the last one the library has in print or on CD.
Print: Other Economic Census Publications
- Census of AgricultureCall Number: C 3.31Some complete, some selective reports from 1925 to 1992. Note: the Census of Agriculture is available online from 1840-present.
- Census of Construction IndustriesCall Number: C 3.245:1967-1992. Part of the 5-year Economic Census cycle. Statistics are available by industry and by geographic area. Preliminary reports may be received in microfiche. Starting with 1987, major report series are also received on CD-ROM. Starting with the 1997 Census, information is available online at the Census Bureau.
- Census of Outlying AreasCall Number: C 3.253/21972-1997. Outlying Areas include Guam, Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands.
Print: Other Economic Reports
The Census Bureau conducts other surveys of economic activity in addition to the Economic Censuses. Most of these series are annual.
- Annual Survey of ManufacturesCall Number: C 3.24/91962-1996. Some years and subseries are not available. Data is given for the nation, states, cities, and selected industrial counties.
- Consolidated Federal Funds ReportsCall Number: C 3.266/21984-1996. This survey is no longer taken; latest 2010. Some comparable data is available for more recent years at USASpending.gov.
- Construction ReportsCall Number: C 3. 215/41963-2000, some series do not cover this entire period. Statistics on construction activity.
- County Business PatternsCall Number: C 3.2041964-1998. This major survey of economic activity at the county level gives data by SIC code on number of establishments, employment and payroll.
Statistical Abstract of the United StatesCall Number: Ref HA 202 .U51 & US Docs C 3.134: (2nd Floor)Publication Date: 1878-2023Standard annual summary of US demographic, social, political and economic statistics with recent time series. Some international data.
1878-2012, with some years missing, is online at the US Census Bureau site.
1878-2012 is also available at Hein Online.
1915-2012, with some years missing, is in US Documents C 3.134:. The US Documents editions may be checked out.
2013-2023 is in the print Reference Collection at REF HA 202 .U51.- U.S. Exports/Imports of MerchandiseCall Number: C 3.278/2,3:1989-2015. The Library keeps annual and multi-year cumulations of this data on commodities and countries