Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce helps create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity across the United States. It supports businesses, communities, and workers through trade, technology, data, and economic development.

Census and Economic Data

The Department oversees the U.S. Census Bureau and the allocation of congressional seats. It also provides essential statistics through agencies such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis, helping policymakers and businesses understand the economy.

Trade, Standards, and Innovation

Commerce helps promote international trade, enforce export rules, and review foreign investments for national security risks. Through NIST and NTIA, the Department also advances standards, cybersecurity, and communications policy.

Business Support and Development

The Department works with companies and communities to strengthen competitiveness, encourage innovation, and support local economic development. Its programs include export assistance, intellectual property support, and tools that help American businesses grow at home and abroad.

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Dive Deeper Into Department of Commerce

Bureau of Economic Analysis

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is a federal agency within the Department of Commerce…

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National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is the federal government's principal advisor on telecommunications…

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All Articles on Department of Commerce

How the Census Shapes Political Power and Funding

See how census counts shape House seats, Electoral College votes, and federal funding, and which groups get undercounted most.

How Congressional Seats Are Divided Among the States

Learn how 435 U.S. House seats are divided among states after the 2020 census, using the method of equal proportions…

The Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge: Why PCE Matters More Than CPI

When inflation makes headlines, most Americans hear about the Consumer Price Index. However, inside the Federal Reserve—the institution controlling interest…

What Impact Would Removing Undocumented Residents from Census Have?

The U.S. Constitution requires a national census every ten years for one fundamental purpose: to determine how political power is…

How the Department of Commerce Reviews Foreign Investments for National Security Risks

At the heart of United States economic policy lies a fundamental tension: the nation actively encourages foreign direct investment for…

EU-US Data Privacy Framework: How Commerce Manages Transatlantic Data Flows

The flow of data across borders drives the global economy, particularly between the United States and European Union. This relationship…

How the Government Champions International Standards for U.S. Economic Power

From the smartphone in your pocket to the safety features in your car and the quality of the air you…

How the Commerce Department Fights the $4.5 Trillion Counterfeit Goods Market

The global trade in counterfeit goods has become a criminal enterprise worth between $1.7 trillion and $4.5 trillion annually. This…