WASHINGTON - The 2007 Economic Census forms will be received by more than 4 million American businesses this December.

According to the Census Bureau, it is highly important that businesses participate in order to gain a comprehensive measure of business and industry.

“Economic census forms that businesses receive in December will tell us how we are changing as a nation,” said Thomas Mesenbourg Jr., the Census Bureau’s associate director for economic programs.

“Important economic indicators, such as gross domestic product, are directly related to the quality of the data we get from businesses in every industry and every locality.”

Firms in more than 1,000 industries will receive forms. They will be asked to report information such as employment, payroll and the value of goods and services sold.

Forms must be returned to the U.S. Census Bureau by Feb. 12, 2008. Businesses that receive forms are required by federal law to respond. Information about individual firms is kept confidential, and only aggregate industry data are published.

To help businesses understand the Economic Census and how it benefits them, FAQs, a secure way to communicate directly with the Census Bureau, and tips to help businesses use the data are available online.

For more information, visit www.business.census.gov.

Publication date:12/10/2007