MARCH 12, 2024 — Today the U.S. Census Bureau released the first publication of the experimental data product, “Monthly Puerto Rico Business Applications.” This experimental data product features four monthly business applications series for Puerto Rico and uses the same methodology for business applications as the existing monthly Business Formation Statistics (BFS).

The Monthly Puerto Rico Business Applications measures business initiation activity as indicated by applications for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) on the IRS Form SS-4. The new data product provides a historical data series of monthly business applications for Puerto Rico from July 2004 to February 2024. The Census Bureau plans to publish this data product monthly on both the BFS website and the Experimental Data Products website.

The Census Bureau is conducting the Monthly Puerto Rico Business Applications as part of the agency’s Experimental Data Series; as such, data products may not meet some of the Census Bureau’s statistical quality standards. The agency is seeking feedback on the quality and usefulness of this new product. If this product demonstrates sufficient user demand and meets the agency’s quality standards, it may enter regular production as a standard data product and be included in the existing BFS Time Series.

Feedback may be shared by email at <eid.bfs@census.gov>.

No news release associated with this announcement. Tip sheet only.