USES The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the estimates as an input to estimate sales and inventories for the Gross Domestic Product. The Council of Economic Advisers uses the estimates for assessing near term economic activity. The Department of the Treasury uses the estimates to research economic trends. The Census Bureau uses the data to benchmark results from the monthly wholesale trade survey. Individual businesses use the estimates to gauge their sales to the overall industry.
National associations use the estimates as a leading indicator in forecasting future demand.
They also use the annual estimates to benchmark their own sampling operations.