SCAG Toolbox Tuesday Highlights Availability and Potential of Economic Data

SCAG hosted the “Understanding Economic Statistics From the U.S. Census Bureau” Toolbox Tuesday session on May 12 to explore U.S. Census Bureau tools that businesses and government organizations can use to understand current economic trends.

The Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES) and the Economic Census are the largest economic survey programs at the U.S. Census Bureau.  

The AIES, launched in 2024, replaces seven separate annual surveys with one streamlined program, providing national, regional, divisional, and, for some sectors, state-level annual estimates on revenues, expenses, payroll, and employment. The AIES is the only annual source of comprehensive nationwide data on business earnings; online sales; costs and inventory; investments; and local revenue, jobs, and payroll. This data can help planners understand market trends and economic conditions, making it a valuable resource for decision-making.

The Economic Census is the official five-year measure of businesses in the United States, providing comprehensive statistics at the national, state, and local levels. The Economic Census benchmarks current economic activity, such as the Gross Domestic Product and Producer Price Index, for 19 sectors and nearly 950 industries. The 2022 Economic Census included new content on telemedicine, cannabis, and electric vehicles, among others.  

The Toolbox Tuesday session featured U.S. Census Bureau staff, who explained how businesses and planners can use the modern data access, new visualization tools, and faster releases offered by both tools for decision-making. The entire presentation is available on YouTube.