Transaction Microdata
CFS, EXP, IMP, LFTTDRestricted-Use Transactions Microdata
Commodity Flow Survey (CFS)
Survey Unit: Establishment
Frequency: Various
Time Periods: 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007
Number of Observations: 2,470,000 in 2002
Sponsor: Department of Transportation
The Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) is the primary source of national and state-level data on domestic freight shipments by American establishments in mining, manufacturing, wholesale, auxiliaries, and selected retail industries. It is a shipper-based survey and is conducted every five years as part of the Economic Census. It provides a modal picture of national freight flows, and represents the only publicly available source of commodity flow data for the highway mode.
Additional Information
Foreign Trade Data – Exports (EXP)
Survey Unit: Transaction
Frequency: Monthly
Time Periods: 1992-2011
Number of Observations: 32,600,000 in 2010
Sponsor: Census Bureau
This database contains transactions level data on the exports of the universe of firms operating in the U.S. that engage in merchandise export to a foreign destination. Information is compiled from copies of the Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) forms except for transactions with Canada. The United States substitutes Canadian import statistics for U.S. exports to Canada in accordance with a 1987 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Census Bureau, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Canadian Customs, and Statistics Canada. Exports measure the total physical movement of merchandise out of the United States to foreign countries whether such merchandise is exported from within the U.S. Customs territory or from a U.S. Customs bonded warehouse or a U.S. Foreign Trade Zone.
Additional Information
Foreign Trade Data – Imports (IMP)
Survey Unit: Transaction
Frequency: Monthly
Time Periods: 1992-2011
Number of Observations: 55,100,000 in 2010
Sponsor: Census Bureau
This database covers the universe of firms operating in the U.S. that engage in merchandise import from a foreign destination. Information is compiled from automated data submitted through the U.S. Customs’ Automated Commercial System. Data are also compiled from import entry summary forms, warehouse withdrawal forms and Foreign Trade Zone documents as required by law to be filed with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Data on imports of electricity and natural gas from Canada are obtained from Canadian sources.
Additional Information
Longitudinal Foreign Trade Transactions Database (LFTTD)
Survey Unit: Transaction
Frequency: Monthly
Time Periods: 1992-2011
Number of Observations: 27,750,000 (2009, exports), 43,410,000 (2009, imports)
Sponsor: Census Bureau
LFTTD links individual trade transactions to firms in the United States. This dataset has two components: (i) transaction-level export data (Foreign Trade Data – Export) linked to information on firms operating in the United States; (ii) transaction-level import data (Foreign Trade Data – Import) linked to information on firms operating in the United States. The firm identifiers on the LFTTD can be used to link trade transactions by firms to many other Census data products (LBD, Economic Censuses, surveys, etc.)