The U.S. Census Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics for March 2026, according to an April 8 announcement. The data provide monthly updates on new business applications and formations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
These statistics are important because they offer timely information about trends in entrepreneurship and economic activity at both national and regional levels. Policymakers, researchers, and businesses use this data to track changes in the business environment.
The Business Formation Statistics dataset includes twelve series: four that track business applications and eight that monitor actual formations. The full dataset is updated monthly with information available by nation, region, and state. Additionally, four application series are published specifically for Puerto Rico each month as part of the standard product. The release covers both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted figures.
The BFS is a standard product from the Census Bureau developed through collaboration with economists from 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.
There was no formal news release associated with this announcement; it was distributed as a tip sheet only.
