FCSM Determining and Harmonizing Content in Developing the Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES)

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Blynda Metcalf 

November 2021

Any views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau has reviewed this data product for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. (Approval ID: CBDRB-FY22-ESMD-006-002)

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Annual Integrated Economic Survey Content

Phase I: Annual Content Determination

AIES High-level Recommendations

Phase II: Annual Content Harmonization

Collection Instrument Modular Design

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Phase I:  Annual Content Determination

Review, evaluate, and coordinate content for selected annual programs, in alignment with the National Academies of Science (NAS) recommendations and the Economic Directorate’s vision to transform and modernize economic programs 

In-scope annual programs:

Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS)

Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS)

Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM)

Service Annual Survey (SAS)

Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES)

Manufacturers’ Unfilled Orders Survey (M3UFO)

Build content repository

Assign topics and subtopics to existing annual content

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Phase I:  Annual Content Determination (continued)

Examples of Topics and Subtopics assigned to annual content:

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Phase I:  Annual Content Determination (continued)

Review, evaluate, and determine content on the in-scope annual surveys

Identify content that could be migrated from the economic census to the annual program

Identify content that could be collected on an infrequent or rotating basis

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Phase I:  Annual Content Determination (continued)

Consult with stakeholders:

Identified and documented stakeholder needs and uses of annual data

How does the stakeholder use data item?

Is this data item critical to the stakeholder?  

If data item is not critical, why and what other source is being used?

Is the stakeholder using an estimate, trend, or further manipulating value?

If the stakeholder manipulates value, why?

What stakeholder product is produced using data item?

What NAICS level and geographic level is needed?

When does the stakeholder need data item?

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AIES High-Level Recommendations 

Holistic view:

Develop Company-Centric Instruments

Standardize/Harmonize Content and Item Numbers

Identify and resolve definitional differences where possible

Create Company Centric Survey Design

Collect data inclusive to entire company

Design Company Centric Database 

Align databases

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AIES High-Level Recommendations (continued)

New Products:

Produce Geographic Data for Select General Statistics Data Items

Region

Division

State

Align Product Broad Lines to Economic Census

Utilize Standard Classification Systems (NAICS/NAPCS)

Align Detailed Expense Suite to Stakeholder Needs

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AIES High-Level Recommendations (continued)

Program Alignment:

Integrate Economy-wide E-Commerce Tables into the annual program

Release E-Commerce data tables as part of the annual program

E-Commerce data tables would replace E-Stats report

Create One Capital Expenditure Module

Module would replace the existing ACES survey and capital expenditure content collected on the ASM

Produce one set of capital expenditure data that meets stakeholder needs

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AIES High-Level Recommendations (continued)

Additional Considerations:

Key impacts to the high-level recommendations:

EC22 final content

Cognitive testing

Additional and ongoing stakeholder feedback

Sample design

Tools and platforms

New content proposed

Resources

Other

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Phase II:  Annual Content Harmonization

Content Harmonization (In progress)

Continue to engage stakeholders and identify data gaps

Work with other AIES teams to develop a collection framework

Research feasibility of high-level recommendations

Standardize all content for in-scope surveys

Align with the economic census where possible

Question wording and item numbers where possible

Topic headings

Instructions

Include/exclude statements

Additional information pop-ups

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Phase II:  Annual Content Harmonization (continued)

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Phase II:  Annual Content Harmonization (continued)

Future Goals & Milestones:

Finalize content by February 2022

Standardize variable names 

Incorporate cognitive testing and pilot survey results

Develop plans for programming content in the production collection instrument

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Collection Instrument Draft Modular Design

Draft - For Internal Use Only - Not Cleared for Public Release

Module 3

Assets

Liabilities

Inventories

Capital Expenditures

Module 4

All other topics not previously covered

Module 1

Business Classification

Business Characteristics

Operational Status

Organizational Change

High-level Company Totals

Collection Process

Module 2

Detailed Revenues

Products

Detailed Expenses

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Blynda.K.Metcalf@census.gov – AIES Product Owner

Heidi.M.St.Onge@census.gov – AIES Content Determination and Harmonization Team lead

Contact Information

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