USES Businesses compare their sales to census totals for their industry or area to make plans and evaluate performance. Companies use census data to lay out territories, allocate advertising, and locate new stores or offices. Firms supplying goods and services to other businesses use census data to target industries for marketing. Consultants and researchers use census data to analyze changes in economic structure and location. Associations and news media study census data to find key business facts and project trends.
Legislators use census data in the preparation and evaluation of new laws.
State and local governments monitor census data to understand their economic base and attract new business. The Census Bureau uses census data in sampling and benchmarking for surveys. The only source of detailed industry statistics for small geographic areas and industry-specific measures.