Sources Index
Purpose and Scope
This page is the single canonical reference for every primary data source used on Business Initiative. If you want to verify our numbers, start here.
Primary Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau
| Dataset | Abbreviation | What It Covers | Official URL | Typical Vintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Community Survey | ACS | Population, income, education, housing, commuting, self-employment | census.gov/programs-surveys/acs | 1-year and 5-year estimates; latest available is 2023 |
| Annual Business Survey | ABS | Business owner demographics, technology adoption, financing, innovation | census.gov/programs-surveys/abs | Annual; latest available is 2022 |
| Business Dynamics Statistics | BDS | Firm entry/exit, job creation/destruction, survival rates, firm age | census.gov/programs-surveys/bds | Annual; latest available is 2022 |
| County Business Patterns | CBP | Establishment counts, employment, payroll by industry and geography | census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp | Annual; latest available is 2022 |
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
| Dataset | What It Covers | Official URL | Typical Vintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Economic Accounts | GDP by state, personal income, proprietor income, disposable income | bea.gov/data/economic-accounts/regional | Quarterly and annual; latest available is 2023 |
| Industry Economic Accounts | GDP by industry, value added, compensation | bea.gov/data/industries | Annual; latest available is 2023 |
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
| Dataset | What It Covers | Official URL | Typical Vintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | Wages by occupation, industry, and geography | bls.gov/oes | Annual; latest available is 2023 |
| Current Employment Statistics (CES) | Employment, hours, earnings by industry | bls.gov/ces | Monthly |
| Producer Price Index (PPI) | Input cost trends by industry | bls.gov/ppi | Monthly |
| Current Population Survey (CPS) | Self-employment rates, labor force participation | bls.gov/cps | Monthly and annual |
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
| Dataset | What It Covers | Official URL | Typical Vintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRED Database | GDP, unemployment, interest rates, inflation, employment, money supply | fred.stlouisfed.org | Varies by series; many are monthly or quarterly |
How We Use These Sources
- We pull data from official APIs and published data tables only. We do not estimate or fabricate values.
- Every statistics page cites its specific source dataset and vintage year.
- When we combine data across sources, we document the methodology on the page and in our Methodology document.
Data Freshness
Federal agencies typically release data 6-18 months after the reference period. We update our pages when new data becomes available. Each page displays the data vintage it uses.
We do not backfill or forward-project official statistics unless explicitly labeled as a forecast, in which case the projection methodology is disclosed on the page.
Verification
You can verify any number on our site by:
- Checking the source citation on the page.
- Looking up the dataset in this index.
- Visiting the official agency URL and pulling the same data.
If you find a discrepancy, please report it per our Accuracy & Corrections policy.
Not Professional Advice
The data referenced on this page and throughout Business Initiative is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Consult qualified professionals before making binding decisions. See our Disclaimer.
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Contact
Questions about our data sources? Email [email protected].
Last updated: March 2026