Census shares biz data with econ stats bureau
Published Date: 10/2/2026
Notice
Summary
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Data sharing to cut duplicate surveys and improve stats
The Census Bureau and BEA say they will use the shared data to eliminate duplicative collections, reduce reporting burdens, and improve the quality and accuracy of U.S. economic statistics (including national, industry, international, and regional measures). They also state company-level comparisons may support new or expanded public data products without adding burden to respondents.
Census begins sharing specific business surveys
Starting October 2, 2026, the Census Bureau will share company-level data from specific voluntary business surveys with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The surveys named include the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS); Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS/MARTS); Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey (MWTS); Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, & Orders (M3); Quarterly Services Survey (QSS); Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization; Emergency Economic Collections; Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions; and Construction Progress Reporting Surveys.
Confidentiality limits and penalties for BEA access
Only authorized BEA employees who are sworn to uphold Title 13 confidentiality protections will have access to the shared Census data, must complete annual Title 13 Awareness Training, and will be advised of penalties for improper disclosure. The notice states penalties under 13 U.S.C. 214 include imprisonment for no more than five years, a fine of no more than $250,000, or both.
Federal tax information will not be shared
The Census Bureau will not provide any Federal Tax Information (FTI) to BEA as part of this data-sharing activity.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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.
2026-20155, 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.
2026-20167, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
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2026-19301, Proposed Data Sharing Activity
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.
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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