Firm Microdata
ACES, ARTS, AWTS, BES, QFR, SBORestricted-Use Firm Microdata
Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 1993-2010
Number of Observations: 77,000 in most recent year
Additional Information
Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 1999-2010
Number of Observations: 35,000 in 2009
Sponsor: Census Bureau
The Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS) provides national estimates of total annual sales, e-commerce sales, end-of-year inventories, inventory-to-sales ratios, purchases, total operating expenses, inventories held outside the United States, gross margins, and end-of-year accounts receivable for retail businesses and annual sales and e-commerce sales for accommodation and food service firms located in the United States.
Additional Information
Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 1995-2010
Number of Observations: TBD
Sponsor: Census Bureau
AWTS provides detailed industry measures of sales and inventories for wholesale trade activities. Merchant wholesalers and manufacturers’ sales branches and offices (MSBOs) provide estimates on annual sales, end-of-year inventories, inventory valuation, purchases, operating expenses and e-commerce data. The AWTS also began collecting sales, commissions, and operating expenses data for agents, brokers, and electronic markets (AGBRs) in 2005.
Additional Information
Business Expenditures Survey (BES)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Every 5 Years
Time Periods: 1992-2007
Number of Observations: 110,000 in 2002
Sponsor: Census Bureau
BES compiles statistics on business operating expenses. All sampled businesses in the BES are asked to provide data on total and detailed operating expenses for the year covered. The Business Expenses Survey covers wholesale, retail, and service sectors.
Additional Information
Business Research & Development and Innovation Survey (BRDIS)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 2008-2009
Number of Observations: 40,000 in 2008
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The BRDIS collects a broad range of R&D data from both manufacturing and service companies along with select innovation data. The BRDIS replaces the SIRD. Measures include financial measures of R&D activity, measures related to R&D management and strategy, measures of company R&D activity funded by organizations not owned by the company, measures related to R&D employment, and measures related to intellectual property, technology transfer, and innovation.
Additional Information
Enterprise Summary Report (ESR)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Every 5 Years
Time Periods: 1977-1992
Number of Observations: 6,200-11,000 depending on year
Sponsor: Census Bureau
The Enterprise Statistics program is based on establishment data collected in the Economic Censuses. Selected data of these establishments are aggregated to the enterprise level to provide comprehensive data for entire companies and their owned establishments, including auxiliary establishments (i.e. headquarters offices, research and development facilities, and data processing centers). Consolidated company data include sales, employment, payroll, form of organization and enterprise industry classification. Supplementary data for large companies include inventories, assets, fringe benefits, capital and research and development (R&D) expenditures, and depreciation.
Exporter Database (EDB)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 1997, 2002, 2004-2010
Number of Observations: 32,000,000 in 2010
Sponsor: International Trade Administration
The data, provided in A Profile of U.S. Exporting Companies (Exporter Profile), are compiled by the Foreign Trade Division of the U. S. Census Bureau, using the Exporter Database. The Exporter Profiles are developed to provide both government and private sector users with information about the exporting community including employment size, type of company, and major foreign markets.
Additional Information
Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 2004-2010
Number of Observations: TBD
Sponsor: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Kauffman Firm Survey must be used in conjunction with Census Bureau restricted-use microdata.
Additional Information
Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Monthly
Time Periods: 1992-2011
Number of Observations: TBD
Sponsor: Census Bureau
The Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey provides broad-based, monthly statistical data on economic conditions in the domestic manufacturing sector. The survey measures current industrial activity and provides an indication of future business trends.
Additional Information
Quarterly Financial Report (QFR)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 1977-2011
Number of Observations: TBD
Sponsor: Census Bureau
The QFR data provides up-to-date aggregate statistics on the financial position of U.S. corporations. Based upon a sample survey, the QFR presents estimated statements of income and retained earnings, balance sheets, and related financial and operating ratios for manufacturing corporations with assets of $250,000 and over; and mining, wholesale trade and retail trade corporations with assets of $50 million and over. The statistical data are classified by industry and by asset size.
Additional Information
Service Annual Survey (SAS)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually
Time Periods: 1991-1998; 2002-2010
Number of Observations: 100,000 in 2009
Sponsor: Census Bureau
SAS provides estimates of revenue and other measures for most traditional service industries. Collected data include operating revenue for both taxable and tax-exempt firms and organizations; sources of revenue and expenses by type for selected industries; operating expenses for tax-exempt firms; and selected industry-specific items. In addition, starting with the 1999 survey, e-commerce data were collected for all industries, and export and inventory data were collected for selected industries.
Additional Information
Survey of Business Owners (SBO)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Every 5 Years
Time Periods: 1982-2007
Number of Observations:
Sponsor: Census Bureau
The Survey of Business Owners (SBO) provides the only comprehensive, regularly collected source of information on selected economic and demographic characteristics for businesses and business owners by gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status. Title 13 of the United States Code authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory responses.
Additional Information
Survey of Industrial Research and Development (SIRD)
Survey Unit: Firm
Frequency: Annually (Discontinued)
Time Periods: 1972-2007
Number of Observations: 4,000-13,000 depending on year
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The SIRD is the primary source of information on R&D performed by industry within the United States from 1953-2007. In 2008, the SIRD was replaced by the BRDIS. Key variables include expenditures on R&D, sales, employment, source of financing (company or Federal), character of R&D work (basic research, applied research, and development), R&D scientists and engineers (full-time equivalent), and type of cost (salaries, fringe benefits, etc.).