The 2019 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) marks the second time that capitalized expenditures for robotic equipment were collected to fill a data gap in response to growing interest and high demand by researchers and congress, etc. on measuring robotics as part of official government statistics. Specifically, measures of robot adoption intensity and the impact on employment and productivity.

In order to meet the needs of its data users, the Census Bureau has made it a priority to:

1. Measure the industries that are using robotic equipment and meet the needs of the data users.
2. Publish the robotic equipment expenditures data annually in conjunction with the ACES report.

Capital expenditures for both industrial and service robotics were collected from employer businesses at the company level and assigned to the company's primary business activity.

The robotic equipment tables provide national level estimates of capital expenditures for robotic equipment by 2-digit NAICS sector (Table 1a) and select 3-digit and 4-digit NAICS industries (Table 2a).

Robotic equipment expenditures in 2019 totaled $7,524 million and accounted for 0.7 percent of total equipment expenditures.

Three sectors (manufacturing, retail trade, and healthcare and social assistance) accounted for 87.3 percent of total robotic equipment expenditures.

The Manufacturing sector was the leading investor with $4,947 million and accounted for 65.7 percent of all robotic equipment expenditures.

The Retail trade sector spent $1,051 million for robotic equipment and accounted for 14.1 percent of all robotic equipment expenditures.

The Healthcare and social assistance sector invested $529 million and accounted for 7.1 percent of all robotic equipment expenditures.

• 2019 ACES Questionnaire   
  
• Tables
  
• Figures  
  
• Graphs
  
• Power Point Presentation

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