WASHINGTON — Over the past few months, the U.S. Census Bureau mailed 2012 Economic Census forms to 4.2 million U.S. businesses, including laundry services and dry cleaners. Those that received this form are required by law to respond, and the deadline for submitting completed forms is next Tuesday, Feb. 12.
All businesses have the option to file on paper or electronically. For more information or help completing the form, see the Census Bureau’s business help site at econhelp.census.gov or call 800-233-6136.
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke has called this census “indispensable to understanding America’s economy.” Taken every five years, the Economic Census “assures the accuracy of the statistics we rely on for sound economic policy and for successful business planning,” he says.
There are a lot of interesting facts from the last Economic Census available about laundry and dry cleaning businesses at business.census.gov. Examples there illustrate how Census Bureau economic statistics are used by local businesses for marketing and planning, as well as by government agencies and researchers.
The first 2012 Economic Census reports are slated for release next December.
