At Commerce’s Census and Economic Information Center, Data Works for Montana Industry
The Montana Department of Commerce’s Census and Economic Information Center, the state’s designated data center for the U.S. Census Bureau, is the primary resource for economic and census data in Montana. The CEIC is housed in the Research and Information Services Bureau at Commerce. CEIC assists new businesses and entrepreneurs with data-driven support for business planning and market research.
RIS Bureau Chief Mary Craigle said, “Most folks think of population data for Census, but the ‘E’ in CEIC is Economics Data. There are dozens of datasets, but one of the most important for Montana is the Economics Census. Collected every five years from 130,000 Montana businesses, it is an official measure of commerce providing data on business payroll and revenue and is the basis for the Gross Domestic Product.”
The U.S. Economic Census is the most comprehensive measure of business activity in the country. It offers detailed insights into industries at national, state and local levels, with information covering employment, payroll, revenue and output across more than 19,000 North American Industry Classification System sectors. It serves as the statistical foundation for key indicators such as GDP, establishing an empirical baseline for assessing the U.S. economy’s health.
When state officials and leading economists tout Montana’s strong economy, the metric used is GDP. Montana’s total GDP for 2025 is $60.2 billion, an increase of 3.8% over 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
The U.S. Economic Census also helps state agencies, policymakers and economic developers analyze growth patterns, understand regional industry performance and optimize economic strategies that build on local strengths. Census data informs investment decisions in counties such as Gallatin and Yellowstone, where diversified industries are fueling population and job growth.
Local governments and chambers of commerce use the insights to attract new investors, plan infrastructure projects and ensure economic development aligns with long-term goals. Businesses leverage sector-level data to identify expansion opportunities, evaluate competition and benchmark their performance against industry standards. The data’s use extends to workforce training initiatives, helping educational institutions align curricula with market needs, especially in growing industries like advanced manufacturing and health services across Montana’s urban and rural areas.
Ultimately, the Economic Census functions as Montana’s economic compass — guiding evidence-based decisions that foster balanced growth across sectors and regions. In an era of rapid economic transformation, these data not only document where Montana stands today but also illuminate the pathways to a resilient, diversified and prosperous future.
For more information about the U.S. Economic Census or Commerce’s Census and Economic Information Center, visit commerce.mt.gov/data-research.
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