FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                          THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2003

                                
Mike Bergman                                                    CB03-36
Public Information Office
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e-mail: pio@census.gov                               Quotes & radio sound bites


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Responses Required by Law 

                 Deadline Passes for Economic Census; 
                   Businesses Can Still File Forms

  The Commerce Department's Census Bureau today encouraged businesses that
missed the Feb. 12 deadline for returning their 2002 Economic Census forms
to complete and return them either via the Internet or by mail. Businesses
that received the forms late last year are required by law —— Title 13 of 
the U.S. Code —— to respond.

  "The economic census is more important than ever," said Commerce
Secretary Don Evans. "Participation by business is an act of corporate
good citizenship and is critical to understanding the underpinnings of our
ongoing economic recovery."

  Census Bureau Director C. Louis Kincannon said, "The quicker businesses
respond, the faster we can compile the data and avoid costly efforts to
get mandatory information. Answering this census promptly will save time
and money for both government and business."

  The economic census produces widely used business statistics and is the
primary benchmark for measuring 96 percent of the gross domestic product.

  The Census Bureau said businesses can request a 30-day reporting
extension via the Internet www.census.gov/econhelp or by 
calling a toll-free number, (800) 233-6136, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST,
Monday through Friday.
          
  The Census Bureau sent economic census forms to 5 million businesses.
Firms without paid employees and most companies with few workers did not
receive the forms. Answers to questions can be reported either on the
Internet at the above address or on paper questionnaires returned by mail.

  Data on 1,000 industries will be processed this year, with the first
results expected in early 2004.