In 2008, the nation’s international trade defi cit in goods 

and services decreased $23.2 billion from 2008. Exports 

were up $197.2 billion, or 12 percent, and imports were 

up $174.1 billion, or 7.4 percent (Source: U.S. Census 

Bureau, U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, 

FT-900, December 2008).

What Is the Economic Census 

and Why Is It Important?

The Census Bureau conducts an economic census 

every 5 years, in years ending in “2” and “7.” 

The economic census collects and produces 

useful business statistics and publishes summary 

information about each industry and geographic 

area. The economic census is important because 

it produces complete “snapshots” of the economy 

and widely used business statistics. Census 

Bureau statistics feature economy-wide coverage, 

exceptional accuracy, encyclopedic detail, and 

historic comparability. They are used in private 

business plans, public policy development, and 

statistical program quality control. 

What Is the Census of 

Governments and Why Is It 

Important? 

Like the Economic Census, the Census Bureau 

conducts a Census of Governments every 5 years, 

in years ending in “2” and “7.” The Census of 

Governments is the only source of comprehensive 

and uniformly classifi ed data on economic activities 

of state and local governments. The Census of 

Governments provides public and private data 

users with the necessary information to understand 

government functions, relationships among 

governments, and the impact of governments on 

people and the community.

The U.S. Census Bureau: At Work for You

The U.S. Census Bureau does more than just 

count the number of people in the country once 

every 10 years. About 12,000 Census Bureau 

employees gather, analyze, and regularly deliver 

helpful information on hundreds of topics 

about the nation’s people and its economy. The 

readiness of the Census Bureau staff to innovate 

continually improves the quality of the data 

we deliver.

Why Is the Census of 

Population and Housing 

Important?

Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution 

places the decennial census at the core of our 

democratic system of governance. It mandates 

a count of the nation’s populace every 10 years. 

The decennial census provides information 

that is the cornerstone of knowledge about the 

American people. It is the basis for virtually all 

demographic information used by educators, 

policymakers, and community leaders. 

Information collected by the Census Bureau 

directly aff ects decisions made on matters 

of national and local importance, including 

education, employment, veterans’ services, 

public health care, rural development, the 

environment, transportation, and housing. 

• Many federal programs are statutorily required 

to use information from censuses to develop, 

evaluate, and implement their programs.

• Federal, state, and county governments use 

Census Bureau information to guide the 

annual distribution of hundreds of billions of 

dollars in critical services.

• Congressional seats are reapportioned and 

legislative districts are drawn based on 

decennial census data.

• Statistics from the Census Bureau are also 

used to monitor and enforce compliance 

with civil rights statutes, including the Voting 

Rights Act of 1965, and employment, housing, 

lending, and education antidiscrimination 

laws.

Pledge of Confi dentiality

Title 13 of the U.S. Code explicitly 

prohibits Census Bureau employees 

from revealing confi dential census 

information that would identify any 

individual, household, or establishment. 

Data collected may be used only 

for statistical purposes. Title 13, as 

amended, provides a fi ne of up to 

$250,000 or up to 5 years in jail, or 

both, for any Census Bureau employee 

who violates this statute.

All employees are sworn to secrecy at 

the time they are hired. Employees are 

reminded annually of this pledge.

The Census Bureau is committed to 

producing quality statistical data, while 

upholding its mandate to safeguard 

privacy and protect confi dentiality of all 

individuals who share their information 

with us.

The American Community Survey (ACS) is 

part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program. 

It is a nationwide survey designed to provide 

communities with reliable and timely 

demographic, social, economic, and housing 

data every year. Since the ACS is conducted 

every year rather than once every 10 years, 

it will provide more current data throughout 

the decade.

Female-Owned Firms for All 

Sectors: 2002

What Other Information Does 

the Census Bureau Collect?

Besides the decennial census, economic 

census, and census of governments, the 

Census Bureau conducts nearly 100 other 

demographic and economic surveys and 

censuses every year. Information is obtained 

monthly, quarterly, or annually and released 

accordingly. Many of these are done on a 

cost-reimbursable basis for other federal 

agencies such as:

• Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

• Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

• Department of Housing and Urban 

 Development (HUD)

• National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

Why Are Demographic Surveys 

Important?

With a population as changing and diverse as 

ours, separate surveys of households provide 

more in-depth and current information on characteristics of the American people such as labor 

force participation, income, crime victimization, 

incarceration rates, and measures of health. 

Recurring demographic surveys include:

• American Housing Survey (AHS)

• Current Population Survey (CPS)

• National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

• Survey of Income and Program 

 Participation (SIPP)

• Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CES)

• National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Why Are Economic Surveys 

Important?

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts numerous 

economic surveys in addition to the economic 

census. These surveys help present a clear 

picture of the many facets of our diverse and 

changing economy, and are used by planners 

and analysts in both the public and private 

sector. The data gathered from economic 

surveys are also used by the White House, the 

Federal Reserve Board, and the Bureau of 

Economic Analysis to develop important 

economic indicators. 

Economic surveys include:

• Construction Spending

• Manufacturers Shipments, Inventories, 

 and Orders

• Monthly Retail Trade Survey

• Service Annual Survey

• U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services
Who Uses Census Bureau Data?

Data from censuses and surveys are used to make 

short- and long-range decisions by government 

offi cials at all levels, business and industry 

executives, educators, librarians, transportation 

planners, market researchers, real estate 

developers, think tanks, health and emergency 

service providers, and many others. 

What Other Programs, Products, 

and Services Are Off ered by the 

Census Bureau?

• Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding 

and Referencing, or TIGER®, is the name of the 

system and digital database developed at the 

Census Bureau to support mapping needs. 

 It defi nes the location and relationship of streets, 

rivers, railroads, and other features to each 

other and to the numerous geographic entities 

for which the Census Bureau tabulates data 

from its censuses and surveys, and automates 

mapping and related geographic activities. 

For more information about TIGER® or other 

geographic products, visit <www.census.gov 

/geo/www/index.html>.

• The Statistical Abstract of the United States, 

the Census Bureau’s fl agship publication, 

has been published every year since 1878, 

and is available online, in print, and on 

CD-ROM. It provides valuable statistics on the 

social, political, and economic organization 

of the United States. Also included are data 

and nearly 1,400 tables from many statistical 

publications, both government and private. 

Learn more about the Statistical Abstract of the 

United States at <www.census.gov/compendia 

/statab/>.

• The International Data Base, available on the 

 Census Bureau Web site, provides populationrelated data for countries and areas around the 

world. Visit <www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb>.

How Can I Obtain Census Bureau 

Data?

Accessing Census Bureau data is free and easy. 

Most Census Bureau statistical data are housed at 

<www.census.gov>. A specially designed database 

called American FactFinder is located on the Census 

Bureau Web site and provides quick and easy access 

to major demographic and economic data fi les. If 

you need local assistance obtaining Census Bureau 

data, you may contact one of our 12 regional 

offi ces. See back page for contact information. 

Printed maps, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and on-demand 

printed reports are available at nominal prices from 

the Census Bureau’s Customer Services Center at 

1-800-923-8282.

Bookmark us:

www.census.gov

Need More Information?

• Visit the Census Bureau’s Web site at 

<www.census.gov> or call the Customer Services 

Center at 1-800-923-8282. 

• Call or visit a Census Bureau regional offi ce. For the 

address and phone numbers of the regional offi ce 

nearest you, visit <www.census.gov/fi eld/www/>.

• Visit your local library. Many major university 

and public libraries participate in the Federal 

Depository Library Program and receive copies of 

Census Bureau reports and discs. Learn more about the 

program at <www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html>. 

• Call or visit one of 1,800 state and local planning 

groups, libraries, chambers of commerce, and others 

that participate in the Census Bureau State Data Center 

and Census Information Center program. For contact 

information, see <www.census.gov/sdc/www/> and 

<www.census.gov/cic/>.

Issued July 2009

MSO/09-AWFY(RV)

The U.S. Census Bureau:

At Work for You U S C E N S U S B U R E A U

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

www.census.gov www.census.gov