U.S. Census Bureau today released estimates for U.S. business investments in new and used capital goods in 2002.

     The report, Annual Capital Expenditures: 2002, defines capital goods as business assets with an expected use of more than one year that generally are depreciated.

     The report shows capital investment spending for 130 separate industry categories based on the 1997 North American Industry Classification System. It covers spending on buildings and other structures, machinery and equipment, furniture, computers and vehicles. While the report shows estimates of investment by all nonfarm businesses, only businesses with employees were asked to report investment by operating industries.

     Industries covered include health care and social assistance, manufacturing (durable and nondurable goods); finance and insurance; information; utilities; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; and mining.

     Data are subject to sampling variability, as well as nonsampling errors. Sources of nonsampling error include errors of response, nonreporting and coverage. Further details concerning survey design, methodology and data limitations are available in the full report at <http://www.census.gov/csd/ace/>.

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