Annual Capital Expenditures Survey

The Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) is a firm-level survey designed to collect industry-level data on capital investment in new and used structures and equipment. In certain years, additional detail on expenditure by asset type (by industry) is collected. All non-farm sectors of the economy are covered by the survey. The ACES provides data on the amount of business expenditures for new plant and equipment and measures of the stock of existing facilities are critical to evaluate productivity growth, the ability of U.S. business to compete with foreign business, changes in industrial capacity, and measures of overall economic performance.

Use of this data requires Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approval. The Census Bureau will coordinate all additional necessary reviews.