Current Mandatory Business Surveys

Issuing agencies

Abstract

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.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 171 (Friday, September 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56835-56836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18176]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

[Docket Number: 260820-0005; RTID 0607-XC085]


Current Mandatory Business Surveys

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

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SUMMARY: 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.

ADDRESSES: The Census Bureau will make available the reporting 
instructions to the organizations included in the surveys. Respondent 
information for the Annual Integrated Economic Survey can be found at: 
<a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/aies/information.html">https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/aies/information.html</a>. 
Respondent information for the Annual Business Survey can be found at: 
<a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs/information.html">https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs/information.html</a>. 
Respondent information for the Business and Professional Classification 
Report can be found at: <a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sq-class/information.html">https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sq-class/information.html</a>. Additional copies are available upon written 
request to the Director, 4600 Silver Hill Road, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Washington, DC 20233-0101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop, Associate 
Director for Economic Programs, Telephone: 301-763-1696; Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3571505c475147501b715459455c544f1b775c465d5a457556505b4640461b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afebcac6ddcbddca81ebcec3dfc6ced581edc6dcc7c0dfefcccac1dcdadc81c8c0d9">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

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.
    More information regarding the AIES can be found in the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) on March 20, 2026, at the following link: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202601-0607-002">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202601-0607-002</a>.

Annual Business Survey (ABS)

    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.
    More information regarding the ABS can be found in the ICR approved 
by OMB on May 15, 2026, at: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202602-0607-001">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202602-0607-001</a>.

Business and Professional Classification Report

    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.
    More information regarding the Business and Professional 
Classification Report can be found in the ICR approved by OMB on August 
15, 2024, at: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202405-0607-003">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202405-0607-003</a>.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    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. 3501 et 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

[[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.
[FR Doc. 2026-18176 Filed 9-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P


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