Census Wants to Swap Business Secrets for Better Econ Stats?
Published Date: 9/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The Census Bureau wants to share some business data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to help improve economic reports. This change affects businesses whose data is collected and aims to make government info more useful without extra costs. People have until November 23, 2026, to share their thoughts on this plan.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory response remains required for listed surveys
Response to the listed surveys is mandatory under 13 U.S.C. 224 and 225. Businesses required to respond to the Economic Census and the other listed surveys remain legally obligated to provide the requested information.
Data sharing aims to reduce duplicative burden
The Census Bureau and BEA state they will identify opportunities to eliminate duplicative collections, reduce reporting burdens, and reduce statistical program costs while improving data quality, consistent with 44 U.S.C. 3576(b). The notice says sharing existing data can achieve efficiencies and improvements without additional burden to respondents.
Census will share company-level business data
The Census Bureau plans to provide BEA with select company-level data from specific surveys, including the Economic Census, Commodity Flow Survey, Quarterly Financial Report, Annual Integrated Economic Survey, Business and Professional Classification Survey, and the Annual Business Survey (including historical Business Enterprise and Research Development survey data). BEA will use the data exclusively for authorized statistical purposes to improve national, regional, industry, and international economic statistics.
Federal tax information will not be shared
The Census Bureau states it will not provide any Federal Tax Information to BEA as part of this data-sharing activity. Company-level Census data will be shared, but federal tax return information is excluded.
Strong confidentiality rules and penalties apply
BEA employees granted access to Census confidential data must obtain Census Bureau Sworn Special Status, complete annual compliance training, and are subject to penalties for improper disclosure of up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both under 13 U.S.C. 214. The shared data will be used only for statistical purposes.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20249, Notice of Data Sharing Activity
Starting October 2, 2026, the Census Bureau will share some business survey data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to help make U.S. economic stats more accurate and efficient. This affects businesses that voluntarily provide info in Census surveys, with no legal pressure to share. Only trusted BEA staff sworn to keep data secret will see the info, and there’s no cost impact for businesses.
2026-20167, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
The Census Bureau is asking for approval to collect info from 230 workforce training groups linked to Manufacturing USA and two grant programs. This new data will help track how well these training programs work by connecting participant info with Census data. The goal? To make smarter decisions about future workforce investments without adding too much extra work—each group spends just 1-2 hours a year on this.
2026-20155, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)
The Census Bureau wants to keep collecting data for the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, which helps track jobs and workers over time. They’re asking the public to comment by November 30, 2026, before they get final approval from the Office of Management and Budget. This keeps the data flowing without adding extra hassle or cost to businesses and workers.
2026-20153, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Quarterly Services Survey (QSS)
The U.S. Census Bureau wants to keep running the Quarterly Services Survey for three more years without changes. This survey asks certain U.S. service businesses for info to help track the economy. If you’re involved, you can comment by November 30, 2026, but there’s no new cost or extra paperwork planned.
2026-18481, Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions
The Census Bureau is proposing to add two new parts to the Code of Federal Regulations governing the decennial census of population and housing. First, the Census Bureau is proposing to add a part outlining the residence criteria used for identifying each person's "usual residence," as needed to determine whether and where to count them in the census of the population throughout the United States. Second, the Census Bureau is proposing to add a part establishing standards and restrictions for the inclusion of certain demographic questions on the decennial census short-form questionnaire and any other questionnaire used for the enumeration of the population. The Census Bureau is considering these two additions to better prioritize and fulfill its Constitutional mandate to count for apportionment the "whole number of persons in each State" based on the concept of "usual residence"--a process that factors in an element of allegiance but otherwise should be colorblind and should not be distorted in any way by questions about immaterial personal characteristics, such as race. Although these two parts are somewhat related and complementary, each is being proposed independently based on its own merits. These proposals are intended to ensure fidelity to the Constitution, improve and protect the core decennial census data, and promote efficiency.
2026-18304, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Business Trends and Outlook Survey
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