The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) will conduct the following current three mandatory business surveys in 2026: (1) Annual Integrated Economic Survey; (2) Annual Business ...
The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) will conduct the following current three mandatory business surveys in 2026: (1) Annual Integrated Economic Survey; (2) Annual Business Survey; and (3) Business and Professional Classification Report. We have determined that data collected from these surveys are needed to aid the efficient performance of essential governmental functions and have significant application to the needs of the public and industry. The data derived from these surveys, most of which have been conducted for many years, are not publicly available from nongovernmental or other governmental sources.
DATES:
The Annual Integrated Economic Survey is typically mailed starting in March each year. The Annual Business Survey is typically mailed starting in July each year. The Business and Professional Classification Report is typically mailed out at the beginning of each calendar quarter.
Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop, Associate Director for Economic Programs, Telephone: 301-763-1696; Email:
Deirdre.Dalpiaz.Bishop@census.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The following three surveys described herein are authorized by 13 U.S.C. 131 and 182 and are necessary to furnish current data on the subjects covered by the major censuses: (1) Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES); (2) Annual Business Survey (ABS); and (3) Business and Professional Classification Report. These surveys are made mandatory under the provisions of 13 U.S.C. 224-225. These surveys will provide continuing and timely national statistical data for the period between economic censuses. The data collected in the surveys will be within the general scope and nature of those inquiries covered in the Economic Census. The most recent Economic Census was conducted in 2023 for the reference year 2022. The next Economic Census will occur in 2028 for the reference year 2027.
Notice of specific reporting requirements for each survey, including who is to report, the information to be reported, the manner of reporting, and the time and place of filing reports, will be provided by mail or by email only to those required to complete these surveys.
Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES)
The AIES collects data on key economic measures, including employment, revenue (
e.g.,
sales, shipments, and receipts; taxes; contributions, gifts, and grants; products; and e-commerce activity), and operating expenses (
e.g.,
payroll, benefits, purchased services, rental payments, utilities, interest, materials and supplies, and equipment). Additionally, the AIES captures information on capital expenditures, inventories, and robotic equipment. The survey's sample is drawn from a frame of approximately 5.9 million employer companies, built using the Census Bureau's Business Register (BR), which is the Census Bureau's master business list.
The AIES delivers timely and continuous national and subnational economic statistics, serving as a valuable resource for government program officials, industry leaders, economists, business owners, and researchers across academia, business, and government.
The ABS measures business owner demographics, research and development (R&D), innovation, and other topics of interest among businesses in the United States. The ABS is a joint statistical project between the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Census Bureau.
The Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) Survey and ABS are being combined to increase data quality, reduce respondent burden, and to allow the Census Bureau to operate more efficiently. Content previously collected on the BERD survey will now be collected as part of the ABS. The BERD survey will no longer be fielded independently.
The Business and Professional Classification Report collects one-time data on a firm's type of business activity from a sample of businesses that were recently assigned Federal Employer Identification Numbers or recently added to the scope of the Census Bureau's current business surveys. The data are used to update the sampling frames for our current business surveys. Additionally, the business classification data will help ensure businesses are directed to complete the correct report in the Economic Census.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501et seq.) unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. In accordance with the PRA, OMB approved the surveys described in this notice under
( printed page 56836)
the following OMB control numbers: AIES, 0607-1024; ABS, 0607-1004; and Business and Professional Classification Report, 0607-0189.
Based upon the foregoing, I have directed that the current mandatory business surveys be conducted in 2026 for the purpose of collecting these data.
Dated: September 1, 2026.
George Cook,
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Affairs performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Director of the Census Bureau.
www.census.gov/programs-surveys/aies/information.html
13 U.S.C. 131
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202601-0607-002