Census Keeps Tabs on Store Sales with Quick Monthly Surveys
Published Date: 12/3/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau is asking to keep running its Monthly Retail Surveys, which track how much stores and restaurants sell each month. About 13,000 businesses will keep sharing quick 7-minute reports, helping everyone understand how the economy is doing. No changes or extra costs are planned, and the public can comment for 30 more days starting December 3, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Monthly Retail Survey Continues
If your business is an employer in retail trade or food services, the Census Bureau plans to continue the Monthly Retail Surveys. About 13,000 businesses will keep providing a short monthly report that averages 7 minutes per response, with total burden hours of 18,200; the submission is an extension without change and is voluntary.
30-Day Comment Period Open
The public can submit written comments on the Monthly Retail Surveys for 30 days starting December 3, 2025. Comments should be submitted via www.reginfo.gov using the OMB Control Number 0607-0717 or the collection title.
Retail Data Supports Economic Measures
The Monthly Retail Surveys produce estimates of monthly retail sales, end-of-month merchandise inventories, and quarterly e-commerce sales that the Bureau says are critical to accurately measuring total economic activity. Continuing the surveys maintains these monthly statistics used by government, business, and other users to track the economy.
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