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.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is a federal agency within the Department of Commerce…
View All →The U.S. Census Bureau serves as the federal government’s primary data engine for understanding America’s…
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a federal agency within the Department…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a Department of Commerce agency that provides…
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is the federal government's principal advisor on telecommunications…
View All →The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a federal agency under the Department…
See how census counts shape House seats, Electoral College votes, and federal funding, and which groups get undercounted most.
Learn how 435 U.S. House seats are divided among states after the 2020 census, using the method of equal proportions…
When inflation makes headlines, most Americans hear about the Consumer Price Index. However, inside the Federal Reserve—the institution controlling interest…
The U.S. Constitution requires a national census every ten years for one fundamental purpose: to determine how political power is…
At the heart of United States economic policy lies a fundamental tension: the nation actively encourages foreign direct investment for…
The flow of data across borders drives the global economy, particularly between the United States and European Union. This relationship…
From the smartphone in your pocket to the safety features in your car and the quality of the air you…
The global trade in counterfeit goods has become a criminal enterprise worth between $1.7 trillion and $4.5 trillion annually. This…