Annual Retail Trade Survey

The ARTS sample covers employer businesses that are classified in the retail trade sector and located in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. ARTS excludes data for businesses located in the United States territories. Firms without paid employees, or nonemployers, are included in the estimates through imputation or administrative data provided by other federal agencies.The sampling frame used for ARTS has two types of sampling units represented: single-establishment firms and multiple-establishment firms. The information used to create these sampling units was extracted from data collected as part of the 2012 Economic Census and from establishment records contained on the Census Bureau's Business Register as updated to October 2015.

ARTS is an annual survey. Firms receive a mailing with instructions to provide responses online via Centurion. Due date and follow-up mailings are also conducted during the collection period. Phone calls are also utilized to follow up with firms that fail to respond. Data may also be obtained in this manner. For more information on data collection see https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/arts/technical-documentation/methodology.html.

Alpha. Oalpha. BRID?

• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• County FIPS code
• State FIPS code
• State name
• Zip code
• Other (see Linkage Capabilities description)