The U.S. Census Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics for February 2026, according to a March 11 announcement. The data provide updated information on new business applications and formations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
These statistics are important because they offer timely insights into economic activity and trends in entrepreneurship at both national and regional levels. Policymakers, researchers, and business leaders use this information to track changes in the business landscape.
The monthly release includes all twelve series of the dataset: four related to business applications and eight focused on actual business formations. Data are available for the nation as a whole, by region, and by state. Additionally, four monthly business application series are published specifically for Puerto Rico as part of the standard product. The statistics include both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted figures.
The Business Formation Statistics are developed through research collaboration between the Census Bureau and economists from several institutions, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the University of Maryland, and the University of Notre Dame.
No separate news release accompanied this announcement; it was distributed as a tip sheet only.
