Your Say on How Goods Move: Census Bureau Seeks Input on Key Survey

You might care about this because the U.S. Census Bureau is asking for your comments on a very important survey called the Commodity Flow Survey, or CFS. This survey is the only complete and public source of information about how goods are transported across the United States. It collects details on things like the value, weight, type of goods, and their origin and destination. This information is gathered in partnership with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Government agencies at all levels use this data to plan for transportation needs, assess energy use, and look at safety and environmental concerns. Businesses, researchers, and analysts also rely on this data to understand shipping trends, map goods movements, and forecast future demands for transportation and related infrastructure. The Census Bureau plans to bring back this survey for 2027 with some changes. They want to make it easier for businesses to respond. This notice invites the public to comment on these proposed changes before the survey plan is sent to the Office of Management and Budget for final approval. This notice is particularly interesting because it highlights the ongoing effort to collect essential economic data while trying to reduce the reporting burden on businesses. The Commodity Flow Survey provides unique and critical data that many different groups depend on. For example, federal, state, and local transportation planners use this information to make decisions about infrastructure projects, traffic management, and resource allocation. Businesses use the data to understand market dynamics, optimize supply chains, and make informed investment decisions. The proposed changes for the 2027 survey are also noteworthy. The Census Bureau is actively seeking ways to streamline the reporting process. They are reducing the number of businesses surveyed, offering options for consolidated reporting for larger companies, and using machine learning to help classify products. These improvements aim to make participation less time-consuming for businesses while ensuring the data remains accurate and useful for all stakeholders. This balance between data collection and respondent burden is a significant aspect of this notice. Many different groups of people would be interested in this legal document. Business owners, especially those in the mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and certain retail and service sectors, are a key audience. These are the types of businesses that are selected to participate in the Commodity Flow Survey, and their feedback on the proposed changes is directly relevant. Transportation professionals, including planners and policymakers at federal, state, and local government agencies, will also find this notice important. The survey's data directly supports their work in developing transportation policies and infrastructure. Researchers and analysts in fields such as economics, logistics, and supply chain management rely on the CFS data for their studies and forecasts. Any organization or individual interested in the movement of goods within the United States, economic statistics, or government efforts to improve data collection efficiency would find this document highly relevant.