JULY 28, 2021 —Robotic equipment expenditures totaled $7,524 million and accounted for 0.7% of total equipment expenditures in 2019, according to new Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. ACES estimates by kind of business add detail to the national-level estimates of investment in machinery and equipment.

The new ACES data tables provide national-level estimates of robotic equipment capital expenditures based on the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), at the two-digit and select three- and four-digit NAICS levels. These estimates are released as an experimental data product.

Other highlights:

• Three sectors (Manufacturing, Retail Trade, and Healthcare and Social Assistance) accounted for 87.3% of total robotic equipment expenditures.
• The Manufacturing sector was the largest investor and accounted for 65.7% of all robotic equipment expenditures.
• General medical and surgical hospitals invested $427 million in robotic equipment and accounted for 80.7% of overall spending for robotic equipment in the health care and social assistance sector.

Capital expenditures for both industrial and service robotic equipment were collected for the first time in the 2018 ACES. The growing interest and high demand by researchers, congressional members and other groups led to the specific measuring of robot adoption intensity and the impact on employment and productivity.

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

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